EX-MARBLE HILL ALDERMAN IS NOW ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

MARBLE HILL -- A former city alderman is the new administrative assistant for Marble Hill.

David V. Jackson, a Marble Hill minister and former Ward 2 alderman, was appointed Monday night to fill the position by Mayor Shirley Cooper and other members of the Board of Aldermen.

City Clerk Pauline Clubb said Jackson's duties will include serving as an assistant to the mayor and Board of Aldermen, and supervising city employees.

"Basically, I'll be responding to the needs of the citizens," Jackson said Tuesday. "And I'll be making sure those needs result in action."

Jackson was appointed alderman in July to fill an unexpired term. Jackson resigned his aldermanic post Monday, and Cooper subsequently appointed Mildred Shell to fill his Ward 2 seat until the April election.

Marble Hill has been without a city administrator since September, when Herman Skaggs resigned. Skaggs left to become city administrator at Desloge. Clubb said though Jackson's duties are similar to that of a city administrator, his title is administrative assistant.

Jackson said there are several projects beginning in Marble Hill that he looks forward to seeing through.

A new city complex along Highway 34 adjacent to the industrial park is one. The $600,000 complex will house a city pool, police station and city hall.

"Our goal is to open the complex by Memorial Day," he said. "We have just signed the contracts on the pool and we're waiting for the weather to cooperate so construction can begin."

The complex is funded by an endowment by the late Larma Wisely and is part of the Pellegrino Park development.

Jackson has been pastor of the United Pentecostal Church of Marble Hill for nine years. Before that he was an insurance agent with Shelter Insurance of Jackson.

He is a native of Marble Hill, and attended Southeast Missouri State University. He graduated from the Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minn.

Jackson said planning and zoning requirements for a new city development plan have recently been approved by the Board of Aldermen. He said the plan finalizes the merger of Lutesville and Marble Hill.

"And we're going to receive a new post office hopefully soon," he said. "Things are looking good out here."

Jackson's wife, Marcia, is a registered nurse with the Bollinger County Health Department. They have two daughters, Jill, 12, and Erica, 7.