JACKSON CONSTRUCTION GROWS SUBSTANTIALLY

JACKSON -- New construction in Jackson in 1991 was up over 33 percent, compared to 1990.

During a 17-minute meeting Monday night, the Jackson Board of Aldermen received the figures for new housing and commercial construction in the city.

The board also approved an appointment to the park board. The board will consider a proposed noise abatement ordinance at its Feb. 3 meeting.

City Administrator Carl Talley said the total value of new construction in Jackson last year was $6.6 million, compared to $4.4 million in 1990.

Additions and remodeling of existing houses, apartment buildings, commercial and manufacturing buildings, and city-owned property amounted to another $2.1 million, compared to $2.23 million in 1990.

Combined, new construction and additions and remodeling totaled $8.7 million last year, compared to $6.65 million in 1990, Talley said.

Included in the 1991 additions and remodeling total was $1.21 million worth of additions to manufacturing properties, up slightly from $1.8 million in 1990.

Talley said 65 new houses that were built last year at a cost of $4.39 million made up the bulk of the new construction total. That compares with 40 new homes built in 1990, at a cost of $2.9 million.

Commercial construction last year totaled $1.65 million, compared to $615,000 in 1990. Eight new commercial buildings were built last year, compared to four in 1990.

Five new apartment buildings were constructed in 1991, at a cost of $557,000. In 1990, three new apartment buildings were built, at a cost of $835,106.

Talley said 364 new construction permits were issued in 1991, compared to 196 in 1990.

Commenting on the overall report, Talley said, "I'm quite happy with those figures."

In other business, City Attorney David Beeson advised that a proposed noise abatement ordinance will be drafted for consideration by the board at its Feb. 3 meeting.

Alderman Paul Sander said he's received complaints from residents about loud noise disturbing the peace. In particular, there have been complaints about loud noise from "jam boxes" played by youths congregating on street corners.

Beeson said the proposed ordinance would give Jackson police officers a better method to control such peace-disturbance incidents.

Also Monday night, the board appointed Joe Martin to the Jackson Park Board. Martin, who works for Procter & Gamble, will succeed Lee Fronabarger.