JACKSON ALDERMAN HOSPITALIZED AFTER HEART ATTACK

JACKSON -- Jackson Alderman David Ludwig remains hospitalized, following a heart attack.

Mayor Paul Sander discussed the situation at Monday night's meeting of the Board of Aldermen.

Sander said Ludwig was stricken while driving his car last Tuesday.

The mayor said Ludwig was able to drive himself to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, where he was placed in the cardiac intensive care unit. Sander said Ludwig "was doing as well as can be expected." Ludwig remains hospitalized in Room 281 at the medical center.

At Monday night's meeting, the board heard a complaint about the lack of progress in demolishing a condemned structure in the 900 block of Woodland, and approved the final payment for the Greensferry Road improvement project.

After listening to the complaint of a nearby property owner, the mayor agreed sufficient progress has not been made in clearing away the debris from a condemned house being demolished at 906 Woodland. The house was supposed to have been razed and the property cleaned up by Sept. 17.

City Administrator Carl Talley said the building inspector reported Monday that the owner of the property has not made satisfactory progress. Sander said if the site is not cleaned up soon, the city, or a contractor hired by the city, could go in and finish the job. "We'll get the job done. It's just going to take longer than we like," the mayor promised.

The board got some good news on the recently completed Greensferry Road project. Instead of paying $90,500 for the project, the actual cost was $41,944. Acting City Engineer Rich Bowen explained the contractor did not have to remove any rock as was first thought. Bowen recommended a final payment of $22,412 to the contractor, Fronabarger Concreters Inc.

Bowen also reported work on the West Adams Street improvement project began Monday. "They're scheduled to start removing pavement Tuesday (today), and may possibly start pouring new pavement before the end of the week," he reported. Bowen said the work began at Oklahoma and will proceed eastward to Russell.