COMMUNITY UPDATE: MODOT ADDS NEW INTERCHANGE

Recently the Missouri Department of Transportation announced its five-year plan of funded construction projects for Missouri roadways. Included in the plan for the first time was the much needed new I-55-East Main Street interchange that will connect to phase two of our East Main Street Extension in 2006.

This is welcome news and when completed will provide another direct route in and out of Jackson to I-55. The interchange and East Main Street Extension will spur orderly residential and commercial growth for decades to come.

The benefits will be endless, not only to Jackson, but also to Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County and Southeast Missouri State University.

We look forward to working in a cooperative fashion with the other local government entities to make this interchange improvement a team effort for the betterment of Cape County.

The effort to get this needed interchange scheduled with MoDOT was finally successful after more than seven years of going to meetings, presenting proposals, and pleading the case of our growing city and county.

Over time many of us at City Hall have been critical of the Missouri Highway Commission for its lack of attention to Cape County. Now is the time to say thank you to the commission for realizing our need and scheduling this long-awaited project.

We will keep you updated in the months to come as much work will need to be done before the actual 2006 interchange construction takes place.

Engineering work, acquisition of right of way and easements will begin as early as 2003. Stay tuned; this is all great news for the future of Jackson and Cape County.

Several weeks ago the Planning and Zoning Board presented a list of nearly 20 street improvement suggestions to the City Council. Upon receipt of P&Z's suggestions, I immediately appointed a City Council subcommittee to review the plan. After consideration, the full City Council and I have decided to hire a professional traffic engineering firm to do a complete study of the city's traffic flows and make suggestions on how to best solve some of our continuing traffic concerns and plan for future streets that will benefit our city.

Upon completion of the study, which will probably take nine months to a year, the council, with input from P&Z and the public, will chart a course for long-term traffic flow and street construction improvement.

The certified public accounting firm of Beussink, Hey, Roe and Associates recently completed the city's 2000 comprehensive audit. I am happy to report the city passed the audit with no recommended changes needed.

Thanks very much to the Jackson Jaycees for once again putting on a great Fourth of July show in Jackson. The day was full of fun activities, and the fireworks were bigger than ever. Thanks again, to the Jaycees for all your hard work to make our Fourth of July holiday more enjoyable.

Building permits for the first half of 2001 are running steady to the 2000 figures. Through June, 45 single-family home permits have been issued. These figures indicate that while single-family home building is not quite as strong as it was several years ago, it does remain very good for a town of Jackson's size. This continued strong building climate helps the local economy remain sound.

The City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at City Hall. Your input and suggestions on how to make Jackson a better place are always welcome.