Building code changes discussed

JACKSON, Mo. -- The fastest-growing city in southern Missouri is cracking down on contractors.

Monday, the Jackson Board of Aldermen held a public hearing on a long-deliberated set of revisions aimed at strengthening parts of the city code controlling stormwater drainage, detention and erosion control along with building permits and inspections.

The board also voted to release $25,000 of the $150,000 performance bond filed by developer Stacy Mansfield on the subdivision known as Lacey Street. City Administrator Jim Roach said Mansfield has failed to meet the deadline for fulfilling erosion control provisions of the city code and for making other repairs in the subdivision. Roach said the subdivision work was supposed to have been completed last October.

Many contractors working in Jackson have been consulted in making the building code revisions, which fortify the city's requirements for erosion control and stormwater detention. But a major change from the provisions originally advanced puts the responsibility of maintaining retention basins in the hands of the property owner instead of the developer.

Planning and Zoning Supervisor Rodney Miller said he hopes the revisions will go before the board for a vote within the next two regular council meetings.

While agreeing the revisions are needed, two residents objected to certain provisions. Alan Gregory said the proposals "fail to clearly define the required results" and that they leave too much discretion to the public works director and the city engineer.

Echoing Gregory's comments, Gerald Hill said the revisions are unclear about who will enforce them, and he warned aldermen against making changes unless they know they are workable.

"Please do it right the first time," he said. "We can have a mess on our hands in just a little while."

sblackwell@semissourian.com

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