BOLLINGER COUNTY SEES SIGNS OF GROWTH

MARBLE HILL -- Bollinger County officials view economic progress one store at a time.

Increasing sales tax revenue is a major challenge in a county that has no shopping malls and few industries.

Its largest city is the county seat of Marble Hill with a population of about 1,500.

But David Jackson, Marble Hill's city administrator, and the Bollinger County Commission see signs of economic growth.

A new post office opened in Marble Hill two years ago and a number of merchants have given a facelift to their storefronts.

A Dollar General Store has set up shop on the outskirts of the city, along Highway 34.

Construction is under way on a Country Mart supermarket, scheduled to open this summer.

The city has an industrial park that is home to several businesses.

Businessman Loyd Ivey has opened several enterprises and has purchased land at Marble Hill's small airport, where a high-tech electronics plant may be built some day.

Business growth generates more sales tax revenue for the county.

The rural county of 12,000 people prides itself on its rustic environment.

"We don't want to lose why people move here," said Rod Jetton, second district commissioner.

But Jetton said business expansions and new industry are needed too.

The county operates on a $1.8 million budget, with half of that going to maintain the county's roads and bridges.

Most of that revenue comes form sales taxes.

"We have to have sales tax," said Jetton. But many Bollinger County residents go to Cape Girardeau County to work and shop.

That generates sales tax revenue for Cape Girardeau County at the expense of Bollinger County, officials said.

But the recent new businesses and some residential growth argue well for the county's future, county commissioners said.

Jetton said a number of new homes have been built in the county by people who want to live in a rural setting.

The Black River Electric Co-Op has been busy trying to keep up with all the requests for electric connections, he said.

Traffic has picked up too, from 2,200 cars a day to 5,500 a day at the highways 34 and 51 intersection in Marble Hill.

The Missouri Transportation Department is looking at constructing a Highway 34 bypass around the city of Jackson.

That could shorten the time it takes to travel between Marble Hill and Cape Girardeau, and encourage economic growth in Bollinger County, City Administrator Jackson said.

Ultimately, he hopes the state will improve the dangerous stretch of Highway 34 from Marble Hill to Piedmont.

Even with such improvements, the county commission doesn't expect to see a huge increase in sales tax revenue.

The commissioners said Bollinger County will continue to have a no-frills government.

Jetton said the county's residents don't want more regulations or taxes. "I think they want us to work with what we've got," he said.