JACKSON MAYOR VETOES REZONING VOTE UNTIL HIGHWAY PLAN FINALIZED

JACKSON -- Mayor Paul Sander Monday night vetoed a vote by the Jackson Board of Aldermen that would have rezoned property at the intersection of West Jackson Boulevard and Old Toll Road from residential to commercial.

The board had voted 5-3 to approve the rezoning. Sander said he vetoed the decision because he favors waiting to rezone until the Missouri Department of Transportation decides on a plan for the future of Highway 72.

Highway 72 could become five lanes under one MoDot proposal opposed by the city.

"Until these highway improvement issues are settled and we know what the future is going to hold, this issue in question, in my opinion, is best settled by granting a special use permit and not rezone the property at this time," Sander said.

Owner David Miller wants the property at 1517 W. Jackson Blvd. rezoned commercial so he can sell ornamental plants. Petitions have been gathered both in favor and opposed to the rezoning.

Adjacent property to the west already is zoned commercial, and the Planning and Zoning Board has recommended the rezoning.

Sander, who conceded that the highway's future probably is commercial, favors a blanket rezoning once the highway issue is settled. A similar approach was taken to rezoning Highway 61 east of downtown.

A two-thirds majority of the board can override the mayor's veto at the next meeting. That would require one more alderman to vote for the rezoning.

Alderman Val Tuschhoff, one of those who voted against the rezoning, said she did so because traffic already is bad on Highway 72.

"We shouldn't do anything until we do something about the traffic out there," she said.

In other business, the board accepted the $387,925.92 bid of Penzel Construction Co., Inc., of Jackson for the construction of the Goose Creek Bridge on Old Cape Road. The approval is contingent on the city engineer's review of the bid and acceptance of the bid by MoDot.

The bid is nearly $12,000 higher than the city engineer's estimate.

Jackson Board of Aldermen

7:30 p.m. Monday

City Hall

Power and Light Committee

-- Approved pay request #2 to American Power Services Inc. in the amount of $71,900 for #8 engine radiator under the power plant water cooler repair and retubing contract.

-- Approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign a depository agreement with the Bank of Missouri.

-- Approved an ordinance amending Chapter 23 of the Code of Ordinances relating to personnel rules and regulations and establishing a specific provision for leaves.

-- Accepted the low bid of KAJACS Contractors, Inc., of Poplar Bluff in the amount of $110,261.20 for the construction of an 8-inch water line under Phase VI Water Project (Jackson Trail to Grandview Acres).

-- Authorized a contractual agreement with KAJACS Contractors, Inc., relative to the construction of an 8-inch water line under Phase VI Water Project.