JACKSON BOARD SETS PUBLIC HEARING FOR DISGRUNTLED RESIDENTS

JACKSON -- What started out as a few mild complaints from Oak Hill Road residents has turned into an all-out battle between the city of Jackson and property owners.

The city is seeking an order of condemnation against four Jackson couples -- John and Ruth Powers, Cletus and Sue Urhahn, Bradley and Teri Bowman and Greg and Christy Withers. All live on Oak Hill Road, which was recently improved from gravel, and all of their driveways were damaged during road work.

Each couple claims the city won't replace their driveways at an acceptable grade. City officials say they have done all they can to answer the residents' complaints and were forced to seek the condemnation, which would allow the city to take possession of the land and fix the driveways.

Both parties were in circuit court Friday, where the judge granted a continuance.

In a separate issue, the couples called for a public hearing on the tax bills resulting from road improvements. John Powers and Cletus Urhahn have been vocal in their objections to tax bills of $36.75 per foot of frontage. They believe it is too much.

Monday night, at the regular Jackson Board of Aldermen meeting, aldermen set the public hearing for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20.

"After the public hearing, the council will have the option of amending the tax bills or leaving them the way they are," Mayor Paul Sander said. "Then the property owners can accept the tax bills or file legal action."

Sander drew up guidelines for the public hearing, allowing most of the discussion to be between the couples' attorney, Howard Dillard, and the city's attorney, David Beeson.

In other action Monday, the board rezoned four lots along East Jackson Boulevard from single-family residential to general commercial.

The lots, east of Burger King, were part of Kimbeland Country Club. Reportedly, Kimbeland will trade the lots for some other land, allowing for its golf course to be remodeled.

JACKSON BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Monday's Action

A. Accepted proposal to provide aerial photographs of city at a cost of $1,280.

B. Recorded the disposal of city records which have met their retention schedule

C. Authorized quarterly payment of $600 to Cape County Transit.

D. Approved amendment to power sales contract with the city of Sikeston.

E. Approved bids for change order in the amount of $74,577 to Penzel Construction Co. Inc., bringing City Hall project to completion.

F. Authorized annual payment of $2,000 to Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

G. Approved the rezoning of property owned by Kimbeland Country Club on East Jackson Boulevard from R-2, single family residential, to C-2.

H. Approved preliminary plat of Hidden Meadows Subdivision.

I. Set a public hearing for March 4 at 7:30 p.m. to consider the establishment of an R-4, one and two family residential district, zoning classification.

J. Accepted petition of the residents of the 500 block of Elwanda Drive requesting pavement of the cul-de-sac.

K. Set public hearing on Oak Hill road tax bills for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20.