Jackson aldermen receive updates on dispatch center, police station

Updates on Jackson's new police station building project and the dispatch center set to combine the city's and Cape Girardeau County's emergency service dispatchers were on Monday night's board of aldermen regular meeting agenda, along with other action.

Capt. Scott Eakers of the Jackson police told board members the dispatch center project began about two years ago, when the city needed to replace its dispatch equipment. The city and Cape Girardeau County made a collective decision to consolidate, he said, and now, construction is progressing on the new center. Drywall is up, he said, plumbing and electrical are roughed in, and the offices are done.

The center should be complete in late October or early November, he said.

The radio system was another big project, he said, paid for out of the city's coffers.

"It's paying big dividends with President [Donald] Trump coming," Eakers said, referring to the planned rally set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. The Secret Service will be able to use the radio network with their equipment, Eakers said, along with other law enforcement agencies.

There is no cost estimate yet, Eakers said, but "we're moving right along."

Randy Davis with Jackson Fire Rescue said one piece of the dispatch center is the 911 emergency service. The 911 system is funded by a tax on landlines and, he said, with so many households dropping landline phone service and going to cellphones only, the 911 system is low on funds.

Recent statewide legislation allowed for each county in Missouri to decide how to fund 911 services, Davis said, and Cape Girardeau County has not made final plans.

Roach said the county has appointed Ken Eftink to explore options and create a proposal, possibly ready within the next few months.

"It's an issue," Roach said. "We'll come up with proposals to address it, but it'll have to be addressed soon."

As to the police station project, George Harris, the city's design-build project manager, said city staff will take both design-build teams on a site walk-through Tuesday.

Nov. 1 is the target date for each team to provide their submittals, Harris said. Those submittals will be scored and the winning team will be awarded the project.

Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson and Kiefner Brothers Inc. of Cape Girardeau are competing for the job. Both contractors have teamed with architectural and construction firms to offer proposals.

Public works director Kent Peetz gave an update on the city park restroom project.

The prefabricated concrete building was installed in July, and Peetz said the building will likely be open by the end of September, though city staff will have a walk-through Wednesday.

The new lift station installed for the restroom has been tested and works, Peetz said.

Alderman Larry Cunningham said the completion date for the project has passed and asked whether fines would be levied against the contractors. Peetz said that has yet to be determined.

Alderman Paul Sander then said at least four other restrooms in the main park are not in good shape, in his opinion. Sander asked whether there was a plan for any restroom upgrades to those.

City manager Jim Roach said the problem is, as a whole, the parks board is not well funded, and upgrades such as fresh paint and new lighting have been completed.

Alderwoman Katy Liley said when she was on the parks board, she was told the reason the restroom at Safety City doesn't have doors is, several years ago, a person was trapped in a stall and sexually assaulted, and it was her understanding those doors were removed for safety.

Alderman Larry Cunningham suggested the staff could address that with parks and recreation director Shane Anderson, to general agreement.

Other action

• The aldermen approved a rezoning request from Delmar Welker for 304 N. Missouri St. The tract will be zoned C-3, or central business district. During the public hearing, Welker said he and Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Paul Koeper have had a "gentlemen's agreement" for about two to three years Welker would sell the property to the county for use in the planned Justice Center building project. No one spoke against the rezoning request during the public hearing.
• The aldermen approved a special-use permit for Running Bear Western to sell guns as part of a retail establishment at 105 E. Adams St. in uptown Jackson. Owner Brian Blankenship said the shop is a retail business "committed to the traditional way of life of our forefathers," particularly a Western lifestyle. Offerings will include home decor items, artisan-crafted pieces, artwork, outdoor clothing and sculptures, he said.

Sander asked whether every retail establishment needs a special-use permit to sell guns. Building superintendent Janet Sanders said "no," the permit is required in C-3, the central business district, but not the other retail districts, such as district C-2, out along the highway.

Sander then asked whether the special-use permit would stay with the business if it sold, or would the new owners need to re-apply.

Sanders said the special-use permit is applied for and granted to the building owner, in this case Schooley Holdings LLC, and as long as the business itself was purchased and continued as the same business without a break of two years, the permit would not need to be re-applied for, but the board of aldermen could revoke the permit if that was deemed necessary.

Blankenship said he plans to have the store open in October.

• City vehicles will have oil changes performed by Charlie's Fast Lube at 1901 E. Jackson Blvd. in 2018. The price per oil change will be $25.99.
• Darrell and Cheryl Roddenberry granted a temporary construction easement to the city to construct a roadway for the Oak Hill Road and East Main Street intersection. A lighted traffic signal will be installed at the intersection.
• A crosswalk will be added to South Missouri Street, 140 feet north of its West Madison Street intersection, and a crosswalk will be added at Jackson Middle School's driveway intersection with West Independence Street (Route D).
• Whitney Tate was appointed to the park board, term ending May 2019.
• In the study session, Mayor Dwain Hahs spoke about proposing a resolution to ask voters to educate themselves about Proposition D, a statewide transportation bill that would fund road improvements by increasing Missouri's fuel tax by 2.5 cents per year for four years.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

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