Jackson Homecomers to remain in same location, on same days next year

Despite recent requests by several uptown Jackson merchants to either adjust the hours or location of the city’s annual Homecomers celebration, members of the Jackson Board of Aldermen indicated Monday night they are not inclined to make any changes to next year’s Homecomers plans.

More than a dozen members of the Jackson American Legion post, which sponsors the street festival each summer, attended the board meeting where the 2020 Homecomers was the first item on the aldermen’s study session agenda.

Several uptown merchants have said they lose business every year because the Homecomers carnival closes sections of Main and High streets south of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, discouraging customers from shopping at their stores during the week.

The merchants have suggested either moving Homecomers activities one block south to keep High Street open or shortening the event to lessen the street closure’s impact on economic activity.

However, it was noted at Monday night’s study session moving the event would require installation of temporary electrical and water lines and shortening it would mean less revenue for the American Legion, which uses Homecomers’ profits to support a variety other organizations and civic activities.

“There’s simply no plan that’s better than leaving it the way it is,” Alderman Paul Sander said. He also suggested the carnival operators should be “more receptive to the ideas of the merchants to possibly help them as well as the legion.”

Alderman David Hitt said the merchants should consider adjusting their hours during Homecomers week to take advantage of pedestrian traffic each evening.

“I think if uptown merchants would stay open, they would benefit,” he said, adding merchants “knew Homecomers would be there five days every summer when they put their businesses there.”

Dates for the 2020 Homecomers celebration have not been announced.

Other discussion items

In addition to Homecomers, other subjects discussed, but not voted on, during the aldermen’s Monday night study session included:

• The potential development of two tracts of land between Bent Creek Golf Course and Jackson’s northern city limits with a proposed ordinance to allow development as long as there is access via dedicated public right of ways to the property.
• A proposal to renew the health insurance program for Jackson city employees.
• Bids for reconstruction of Jackson City Park’s Pavilion No. 5, which suffered storm damage in late June.
• An engineering services proposal for a separate storm sewer system permit program.
• A report from the Jackson Police Department regarding traffic speed on East Main Street and a police recommendation there be no changes to the street’s posted speed limits.