JACKSON APPROVES UPGRADING STREETS

JACKSON -- Aldermen gave the go-ahead to improve Independence, Olive and Forest streets after several residents withdrew their protests of the project.

An ordinance authorizing the project was originally tabled Tuesday night after city attorney Steve Wilson said there might be some problems with the language in the bill, but after some alterations, aldermen went ahead and approved it.

Homeowners who have road frontage in the project area will bear the cost of paving the streets, including Independence from Forest Street to Hubble Creek, Olive Street from Greensferry Road to Forest, and Forest from Independence to Olive.

City engineer Rich Bowen estimated paving costs at $46.68 per foot, but if bids come in higher than estimated, the project will be scrapped.

Mayor Paul Sander said four of the original 14 residents against the plan withdrew their protests by Tuesday's deadline to go ahead with the project.

In total, 3,306.6 linear feet of roadway will be paved. That total includes 1,592 feet owned by residents not protesting the project, 1,236.6 feet owned by residents opposed to the project, 193 feet owned by the city and 285 feet owned by nonresidents.

Sander said 10 of the 22 homeowners in the project area are now formally opposed to the project.

At an Aug. 19 public hearing, several property owners protested the fact that they will pay the cost for improving the streets. That cost could run as much as $6,000 to $15,000 for some homeowners.

The city will also kick in about $140,000 to pave Independence Street west to Highway 61 and build a low-water bridge over Hubble Creek.

Sander said the city didn't want to force residents to pick up the tab if the majority were not in favor of the project.

In other action Tuesday night, aldermen heard comments from several residents about the proposed rezoning of several lots in the Rosewood Estates Subdivision.

Owner Gerald Stoverink is petitioning the city to rezone 68 lots in the subdivision's second addition from R-1 single-family residential to R-2 single-family residential and another six lots in the subdivision's third addition from C-2 general commercial to R-2.

The lots, recently annexed into the city limits, would be rezoned in accordance with city requirements, Stoverink said.

Residents who spoke at the public hearing said they are not opposed to the rezoning, but they do have some concern about increased traffic on streets in the neighborhood, including Farmington Road, Tanglewood, Independence Street and Route D near the Jackson Middle School.

Sander said the city is working with the state highway department to upgrade the intersection of Highway 61 and Route D to help handle the increased traffic.