JACKSON GOLF COURSE DISCUSSED

JACKSON, Mo. -- A proposal for a lighted golf course that would allow play until midnight on weekends was discussed before the Board of Aldermen in a public hearing Monday night.

So far, the numbers favor the golf course.

Ronald Clark, who wants to construct a 9-hole course on slightly more than 16 acres at 1600 N. High St., brought 177 favorable petitions and one man who would be a neighbor to the course before the board.

Clark wants the course to echo the family values espoused on the billboards welcoming people to Jackson.

"I want this to be for kids who can't afford to go to more expensive courses," Clark said.

He estimates a 9-hole round of golf with a cart would be $17.

Only one man came to tell the board that the golf course was unnecessary.

"We already have several courses," said Dave Claybaugh, who lives adjacent to the proposed course. "None of the ones we have now are at full capacity."

Clark had altered his proposal after attempts to zone it as entirely commercial property failed before the board in February. Now he is seeking a special-use permit for part of the property and general commercial zoning for the remainder.

Clark also told the board he has agreed to 14 conditions for building the golf course as presented to him by the city's Planning and Zoning Board.

Mayor Paul Sander said the board will take action on the results from Monday's public hearing on Aug. 7.

In another public hearing, Farris Nabors asked aldermen to reconsider the zoning of property that he wants to develop along north Highway 61. His proposal to construct buildings in the area that is presently zoned for single family residential housing has been opposed by planning and zoning because of increased flood potential added by more building and the project's lack of conformity to the city's comprehensive plan.

The property is in an area with banks, a nursery and other businesses, said Scott Fetterhoff, an attorney representing Nabors at the board meeting.

There are also measures that can be taken to eliminate the 3-to-4-inch increase that building would cause in the area's base flood elevation, said Chris Koehler of Koehler Engineering in Cape Girardeau.

With the removal of brush to improve water flow and the widening of the waterway's channel, the small increase is eliminated, Koehler said.

Koehler said he had not presented this information before the Planning and Zoning board at the time they chose not to recommend rezoning.

Jackson Board of Aldermen action

Monday, July 17

Public Hearings

• Held a hearing to consider the rezoning of all the property addressed as 504 W. Jackson Boulevard form I-1 (light industrial) to C-2 (general commercial) as submitted by Philip Penzel.
• Held a hearing to consider the rezoning of approximately 5.3 acres of property situated along North High Street form R-2 (single family residential) to C-2 (general commercial) as submitted by Farris Nabors.
• Held a hearing to consider the rezoning of 15.9 acres of property from R-2 (single family residential) to C-2 (general commercial) and a special use permit for 16.8 acres of property at 1600 N. High Street for the establishment and operation of a golf course in an R-2 district as submitted by Ronald Clark.

Action Items

Power and Light Committee

• Approved the semi-annual financial statement ending June 30, 2000.
• Approved a motion to set a public hearing for Monday, Aug. 21, 2000, at 7:30 p.m. to consider the 2000 library tax rate.
• Approved a motion accepting the big of Robinson Mechanical Contractors, Inc., of Perryville, Mo., in the amount of $1,406,646 under the Biosolids Facilities Improvement Project.
• Approved a bill proposing an ordinance accepting the dedication of sewer line easements from Paul Horton and Dana Horton and Dave Bill and Carole Bill.
• Approved a motion approving Pay Request #1 in the amount of $56,060.53 to the L.E. Myers Co. under the 4kV to 12kV Distribution Line Conversion Contract.

Street Committee

• Approved a motion granting permission to local civic organizations and businesses to sell YELL newspapers on city streets, excluding signaled intersections, on Sept. 12, 2000.
• Approved a motion authorizing closure of Barton Street, Court Street, Main Street between Court Street and Hope Street and South High Street between Main Street and Adams Street between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Aug. 14 in observance of the 150th anniversary of Immaculate Conception Church.
• Approved a bill proposing an ordinance accepting the dedication of street right-of-way, general utility and drainage easements from Betty L. Hennecke, Albert Klob and Rebecca Klob, Patricia A. Lange, Lavern J. Bangert and Dragana Henshaw, aka Donna Momich Henshaw.

Executive Session

• Approved motion to have executive session to discuss litigation, personnel and purchase of property.