JACKSON MAYOR GIVES UPDATE ON MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CONFERENCE

The Missouri Municipal League held its annual Legislative Conference in Jefferson City last week. Several Jackson aldermen, City Administrator Steve Wilson, Public Works Director Jim Roach, and myself attended this conference.

The primary objective of the legislative conference is to develop closer relationships between City officials and the members of the Missouri House and Senate. It also provides a forum for discussion of many legislative proposals that directly affect the City of Jackson and other municipalities.

The Municipal League's priority is to recognize the potential for passage of detrimental legislation and to support good bills and make municipalities such as Jackson aware of the pros and cons of issues that would affect local governments.

It then becomes our job as elected officials to support issues that would benefit Jackson and oppose those that would adversely affect our growing city. As usual, we learned a lot at this year's conference, which was well attended by elected city officials and their staffs from all over the state.

Public Access Channel 5 is now available to the citizens of Jackson to display their announcements and upcoming events. An agreement reached between the City of Jackson and the City of Cape Girardeau allows joint use of the channel. Application forms and rules concerning placement of a Public Service announcements can be picked up at the City Hall or the Jackson Chamber of Commerce office. We are very pleased to be able to offer this service to the residents of Jackson.

The Rotary Lake in the Jackson City Park will re-open this spring. As you know, the lake was drained and then made deeper in 1995. This helped eliminate the algae-type substance that grew on the lake and made a better environment for the fish that were stocked in the lake. Watch for an announcement soon on the lake's grand opening.

Fishing rules and regulations will be posted at the lake. The citizens of Jackson should be able to enjoy improved fishing at the lake for years to come.

Shane Anderson is Jackson's first Parks and Recreation Director. The primary objective of this position will be to enhance existing park events and to start new programs for people of all ages in Jackson. If you have a question or suggestion concerning our Parks and Recreation Department, Shane would enjoy hearing from you. He can be reached at his office in City Hall during normal business hours.

The East Main Street extension, phase one, is scheduled to go out for bids by June 30, 1998. Phase one will complete the link between Shawnee Street and Oak Hill Road. After phase one is completed we will continue planning for phase two which would connect with I-55. We will be seeking approval from MoDot and the Missouri Highway Commission for a new interchange at I-55.

The completion of phase two of this project is dependent on approval and construction of this new interchange. This additional Jackson exit at I-55 would provide a needed relief to traffic on E. Jackson Boulevard and also be a direct route to downtown Jackson. We will continue to work hard towards this future link of Jackson and I-55.

The council meets every Monday night at City Hall at 7:30 p.m. Your ideas and suggestions on how we can improve Jackson are always welcome.

Paul Sander serves as mayor of Jackson.