CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ON SCHEDULE; THE PLAN SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF JUNE

Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Executive Director Tom Tucker said Jackson's comprehensive plan is coming along on schedule and he looks for it to be ready by the end of June.

Of course, before the plan is adopted the people will get a public hearing and any changes that are needed will be made before the final draft is completed.

The economic analysis, physical environment and transportation plan sections still are incomplete, but should be completed in this spring.

The contract for the city's comprehensive plan was signed in December 1996. The contract called for around $40,000 for services rendered.

When the contract was approved at a board of aldermen meeting in November 1996 Mayor Paul Sander said "They'll do exactly what we want them to do. They'll make maps, a master street plan which will plan for future streets. They map the areas of the most likely and least likely areas for growth and they'll advise us on future water and sewer systems. The comprehensive plan is the most important aspect of orderly growth and we intend to use this one."

The last time the plan was updated was in 1981, but the planning and zoning commission and the board of aldermen plan to update the plan in the future every five to six years.

"It needs to be considered the city's Bible. Once you commit to it you should use it," Dave Reiminger, Jackson alderman, said.

Reiminger said it's important the plan be the simplest version of a comprehensive plan so that it will be workable. In Reiminger's opinion the 1981 plan "had too much additional verbiage that was confusing."

Tucker said the comprehensive plan could save the city a lot of money if it is followed.

"I think it's the cost of doing business. It's hard to put a number on how much money it could save, the whole thing is making the council use it," Reiminger said.

With the upcoming joint meeting of Jackson and Cape Girardeau's city councils comprehensive planning becomes extremely important as the two cities further develop next to each other.

Reiminger again reiterated that "only good things can come of the meeting between Jackson and Cape Girardeau. It's a big step in the right direction."