JACKSON CREATES TIF COMMISSION

JACKSON -- Entering what City Administrator Steve Wilson called "new territory for the city," the Board of Aldermen Monday night authorized the creation of a Tax Increment Financing Commission.

The city intends to establish a TIF district along either side of Center Junction at Interstate 55 and stretching to the proposed East Main Street interchange.

Wilson said one or more industries are interested in locating in the area.

A TIF district would capture 50 percent of the sales tax within its boundaries to be used for infrastructure improvement and other projects within the district.

The TIF commission will hold public hearings on redevelopment plans and projects within the district. Members of the commission appointed Monday are Wilson, Mayor Paul Sander and Aldermen David Reiminger, Larry Cunningham, David Hitt and David Ludwig.

The Jackson R-2 School District and the Cape Girardeau County Commission both will appoint two members to the commission, and the 11th member will come from the other taxing districts affected.

Wilson said schools usually become wary when cities begin talking about creating TIF districts but he assured Jackson's schools that "we would not want to create any undue burden."

Wilson said notices will be sent to all the taxing districts within the area today.

The land that would be in the district currently is unoccupied.

In other business, the board criticized the Missouri Department of Transportation's tardiness in installing turn lanes and roadside flashing lights at the new Jackson R-2 South Elementary School on Highway 25. Sander said the city had been assured by MoDOT eight months ago that the turn lanes would be in place by the beginning of school.

Jackson Board of Aldermen Agenda

7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17

City Hall

Public hearing

-- Held hearing to consider the request for a special use permit for the establishment and operation of a day care facility in a R-3 (general residential) district at 1321 E. Main St. as requested by Don Harris.

-- Held hearing to consider the proposed 1998 tax rate to be set by the mayor and Board of Aldermen.

Action items

Power and Light Committee

-- Approved payment of $6,176.54 to Hastings and Chivetta Architects, Inc., relative to the Multipurpose Building Feasibility Study.

-- Approved Pay Request #1 to Horner & Schifrin, Inc., in the amount of $9,904.83 relative to city's Inflow and Infiltration Study.

-- Approved Pay Request #2 to KAJACS Contractors, Inc., in the amount of $59,738.27 under the Phase VI Water Project (Jackson Trail to Grandview Acres) Contract.

-- Tabled an ordinance accepting dedication of easements from Kenneth E. and Elwanda M. Seabaugh, Midwest Cable Splicing, Inc., and Jerrel E. and Patricia B. Busey, for the construction, maintenance and repair of sewer lines.

-- Authorized a contribution of $1,000 to the Information and Referral Network for services provided.

-- Approved Change Order #1 in the amount of $46,795 and Pay Request #2 in the amount of $73,900 to Flynn Drilling Co., Inc., for the new West Water Well.

-- Approved an ordinance authorizing the creation of a Tax Increment Financing Commission and the approval of city representatives appointed to the commission.

-- Accepted a petition for voluntary annexation of property owned by the Byron L. Lang and Margaret E. Lang Trust and set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Street Committee

-- Approved the 1998 tax rate.

-- Approved a special use permit for the establishment and operation of a day care facility in a R-3 District at 1327 E. Main St. as requested by Don Harris.

-- Approved a special use permit for the establishment and operation of a day care facility in a C-2 District at 974 W. Independence St. as requested by Michael Lackamp.

-- Approved amendments to the Zoning and Land Subdivision Regulations relative to condominiums and condominium subdivisions.