JACKSON BOARD CLOSES STREET NEAR HIGH SCHOOL

JACKSON -- Traffic on Madison Street between Russell and Missouri near Jackson High School will be prohibited when school is in session.

The Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday approved an ordinance that bans all traffic except school buses on the stretch of Madison from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on days high school is in session. Signs and barricades will be placed on the street during school hours to alert motorists of its closing.

During a Missouri School Improvement Review of the Jackson School District in January, evaluators had said high school students had to cross the street when moving from building to building to change classes. That prompted the closing of the street.

In other business, City Administrator Carl Talley said he met recently with a representative of D&D Investments to discuss the easement for a traffic signal pole and control box for traffic signals at East Jackson and Donna Drive. Talley said the signals should be in operation before the start of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The board authorized the mayor to sign contracts for an East Jackson Boulevard water and sewer projects. P&R Developers of Cape Girardeau was the low bidder on both projects. Work on the water main has started and work on the sewer project should start soon, said Talley.

City Engineer Rich Bowen said the contractor was scheduled to pour concrete today in the north lane of the West Main Street improvement project. Bowen said the project is behind schedule because the contractor was late in getting started, but the work hopefully will be completed by Thanksgiving.

The board gave its permission for two parades: the Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11, starting at 5 p.m., and the Jackson Jaycees Christmas parade on Dec. 7, starting at 1:30 p.m.

The board also set Dec. 9 for the annual city employees Christmas party at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

The board asked the police department to conduct extra traffic and speed enforcement patrols on West Vale on Halloween because of the number of visitors to the Jaycees Haunted House.

A motion was approved to inform the public that the following street improvement projects are completed and open: Jackson Trails from Highway 25 to Lee Avenue; Trail Ridge; and West Adams Street.