City to pursue $200,000 grant for senior center

By Sam Blackwell ~ Southeast Missourian

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen voted Monday night to seek a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant on behalf of the Jackson Senior Citizens Center.

The money would go toward a new $500,000 center the seniors organization hopes to build. The center would double the size of the current building, which the group says is too small for its needs.

An application for a $300,000 CDBG grant for the center made earlier in the year was denied.

The center owns its current building at 402 E. Washington. It is valued at $140,000. The center has some funds of its own but would have the raise the remaining amount.

In other business, Jackson Mayor Paul Sander asked the council to discuss at its next study session the meeting he, Alderman Joe Bob Baker and Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones attended with the Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission on Friday. At the meeting, the commission denied their request to reconsider MoDOT's decision to widen Highway 34/72 through Jackson to four lanes instead of five.

But Sander said the group received a positive response to their request for more access points along the 3 1/2-mile stretch. The commission was "very interested" in putting more access points along the route, Sander said.

Under the current plan, vehicles would be able to turn left only at stoplights. Providing more left turns, Sander said, "will be a good compromise."

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182