BUDGET BILLING OFFERED JACKSON UTILITY USERS

JACKSON -- Residents watching their pocketbooks may get some help from the city of Jackson.

The Board of Aldermen approved a budget billing program Monday, which eliminates the problem of paying unusually high electric bills in hot and cold months and paying low bills during moderate temperatures.

Any Jackson utility customer who has been billed at the same address for 12 months and has had few delinquencies qualifies for the program. Sign-ups begin today at Jackson City Hall in the city clerk's office.

Mayor Paul Sander said the program was created in response to citizen requests.

"We worked on this for several months, and we really think it is a step in the right direction for people on fixed incomes and for budget-minded folks," he said.

Under the program, utility customers should receive 11 equal bills computed from 12 months of records and then one bill that will compensate for actual costs. It may be a higher payment or a refund.

Also at Monday's meeting, City Administrator Steve Wilson announced the selection of Jackson's canine unit officer, Shawn Davis.

Davis came to the Jackson Police Department eight months ago from the Reynolds County Sheriff's Department, where he worked with a drug dog. Davis has eight years in law enforcement, also working with the Ellington Police Department.

Wilson said he hopes to have dog and officer working together by the Homecomers Celebration in the fall.

In other action, the board voted to create an R-4 zoning designation for single-family dwellings and duplexes. Any homes with more than two units will continue to fall under the R-3 multi-family designation.

"There has been some interest in this from developers," Wilson said. "We had a hodgepodge of dwellings in some zones. This will assure people that if they move into an R-4 zone, there won't be anything built there besides single-family homes and duplexes.

"There won't be a high-rise apartment building going in next door."

JACKSON BOARD OF ALDERMEN AGENDA

* Conducted hearing on annexation of some Missouri Highway 25 right of way.

* Established a budget billing plan for residential electricity customers.

* Authorized the request for bids for an electric substation and transformers.

* Approved request of Jackson Jaycees to hold annual Fourth of July celebration in City Park and authorize a contribution of $1,000 to annual fireworks display.

* Accepted the low bid of $2,100 from Environmental Engineering Consultants in regard to city's application for Title V Operating Permit under the Clean Air Act.

* Authorized pay request of $46,345.68 to Penzel Construction Co. under City Hall renovation contract.

* Established an R-4 zoning classification designating a one and two-family residential district.

* Paid annual dues of $5,294.16 to Southeast Missouri Solid Waste Management District.

* Set public hearings at 7:30 p.m. on April 15 to rezone 2421, 2505 and 2519 E. Jackson Blvd. and a portion of Fairfield Estates and to approve special-use requests at 100 W. Independence and 560 S. Shawnee.