CONSTRUCTION TOTALS HIT RECORD HIGH FOR JACKSON PROJECTS

Final construction figures for 1997 show Jackson experienced a record year in total building. More than $21.3 million was spent on building projects last year. This surpasses a previous high of $18.3 million spent several years ago.

A strong building climate helps our community in many ways. It helps create jobs, stimulates retail business and causes our community to move forward and grow. One of our goals for Jackson's future continues to be orderly growth in residential, commercial, and industrial construction. By doing so we will ensure that our economic climate will be strong in Jackson for many years to come.

The updated Jackson Comprehensive Plan is moving toward completion sometime this spring. This plan, which had not been updated since 1981, will become an important tool for the future. It will be available to future councils, the school system, and the residents as a vital source of information.

Fire Chief Gary Niswonger will be retiring in a few weeks. It has been my pleasure to work with Gary and he will be sorely missed. Gary has been instrumental in keeping our full time and volunteer fire department one of the best trained and most dedicated in the area. Chief Niswonger's efforts in educating the public and our school children on fire safety has been outstanding.

A Missouri Conservation Commission meeting was recently held at the Conservation Center in Cape County Park. One of the topics of this meeting was a possible future Nature Center for the area. The request was made by Cape County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones and was supported by the City of Jackson, City of Cape Girardeau, Cape County Commission, Southeast Missouri State University and many other local groups. This Nature Center would be a nice addition to the Southeast Missouri area as an education tool and a tourist attraction.

A little over a week ago the Cape and Jackson City Councils met in joint session for the first time. This historic meeting was a total success. As we have grown together along Interstate 55, we share some common interests. It makes good sense to discuss and cooperate on issues that affect both our growing cities. Rest assured that both cities will very much maintain their separate identities. Both cities will continue to have many separate issues and this will never change. But by cooperating on issues of mutual interest only good things will result for the entire area.

The Jackson City Council meets every Monday at City Hall at 7:30 p.m. These weekly sessions are always open to the public and we encourage your ideas and suggestions on how to make Jackson a better place.

Paul W. Sander is mayor of Jackson.