JACKSON CITY COMMENTARY: LIGHTING MAKES PARK WALKING TRAIL SAFER

Additional lighting has been recently installed at the walking trail in the city park. These new lights can be found at the west loop of the path and between the swimming pool and tennis courts. This walking trail started with wood chips and then was paved in 1996 by the Jackson Rotary Club. Distance around the entire trail is one mile. These additional lights will make the walking trail safer and more accessible to the citizens as many folks work shift work and can only walk in the evenings. This popular walking trail is open to the public daily during park hours of sunrise to midnight.

Safety City, a Noon Optimist Club sponsored project in the Park is also sporting some additional lighting. The new lights will increase safety and discourage vandalism at this much used bicycle safety track.

Our Jackson Fire Department has taken the lead in sponsoring a new Explorer Post in Jackson. This Post #4330 is available to everyone who is 14 years old and has completed eighth grade up to 20 years of age. Membership is $22 and applicants will learn actual hands on training in the areas of firefighting, emergency services through class room studies and practical situations just like actual firefighters do. There will be field trips and community involvement in this Explorer scouting program. Anyone who is interested please call the fire department at 243-1010 and ask to speak to someone about joining Explorer Post #4330 sponsored by our own Jackson Fire Department.

The Optimist Clubs "Youth in Government Day" was recently held in Jackson and Cape Girardeau. It was a pleasure to once again be a part of this annual youth program. We took the students who were elected to our local posts for a tour of city facilities and then held a mock council meeting where real life issues were discussed. I can tell you that we have a great group of high school seniors that will some day be the leaders of our city, our county and our state.

As our town continues to grow the need for a storm water control and detention ordinance has become a top priority. We are in the process of finalizing a proposed ordinance which we will send to the Planning and Zoning Board for their recommendation and then will come to council for a public hearing and our consideration. Watch for dates of upcoming hearings and give us your input as to what type of storm water control best suits our growing city. When all is said and done some type of storm water control will be a major step in a positive direction for Jackson

Thanks goes to Southeast Missouri University for hosting its annual spring football game at our Jackson High School stadium. A good crowd enjoyed the game which featured former Jackson players Kent Langston, Mike Gross and Deverie Flint. Good luck to SEMO football this fall.

Please pardon our progress as we begin an extensive street repair program this spring and summer. A number of existing streets will receive major repair while some others will get some minor work. These repairs are being made from budgeted transportation sales tax funds.

The council meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall in Jackson. Your ideas and suggestions on how we can make Jackson a better place are always welcomed.