CITY COMMENTARY

Secretary of State Rebecca McDowell Cook, a Jackson native, was our guest speaker at the annual Jackson Industrial Development banquet. The largest crowd ever attended the event.

Many positive events took place in October, but none was larger than the announcement that the Missouri Highway Commission has added the proposed future Main Street Jackson interchange to its 15-year plan. The hard work of many paid off in making this happen.

We now can plan to finish phase 1 of the Oak Hill Road project -- Shawnee Street to Oak Hill Road -- and also plan for phase 2, Oak Hill Road to Interstate 55. It is our goal for the interchange to become reality around 2002.

Being on the Highway Commission plan is a major hurdle toward this goal of a future interchange. The interchange will provide better access and enable Jackson to continue to grow in an orderly fashion. It also will result in millions of dollars of future economic growth for the community.

The annual regional firefighters school and meeting was once again conducted in Jackson. Our local Jackson firefighters and other area firefighters are constantly training to make our lives safer in case of an emergency.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has approved our new transfer station for solid waste to be located by our existing waste-water plant on Lee Avenue. It should be operational by around the first of next year. This will provide local citizens a place to take a truckload of trash without leaving Jackson.

Through an agreement with Allied Waste, the city will save more than $2 million through reduced tipping fees for our city trucks. Your curbside service will not be affected.

The existing landfill on County Road 341 has been approved for closure by the DNR.

Most people have noticed by now the water tower in central Jackson has been repainted with "Jackson, Home Of The Indians" on both sides. The new tower along Interstate 55 will be painted with the same slogan.

I had this idea after noticing a water tower in another town that was painted in a similar fashion. It is intended to show a great pride in our school system and our community as a whole. I hope everyone agrees!

As several large projects in Jackson progress -- the water tower, new City Hall, etc. -- keep in mind that all have been done with careful planning and within budget constraints. The Board of Aldermen, staff and I are ever aware that staying within our means is of the utmost importance to our growing city. Our financial position is very strong, and we intend to keep it that way to ensure a bright future.

The Board of Aldermen meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Jackson City Hall. Residents' comments and suggestions are welcome, because we want to make Jackson a better place.