JACKSON OKs 1998 BUDGET BOOST; INCRESE WILL HELP COVER CITY'S EXPANSION PROJECTS

JACKSON -- The 1998 budget of $12.565 million approved by the Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday night represents a 6 percent increase over the 1997 budget, a boost City Administrator Steve Wilson called "significant."

Also significant are the capital expenditures the city plans to make in 1998, specifically $916,000 the growing city expects to spend on water and sewer projects during the year.

The city also will spend approximately $1 million on a project to extend East Main Street.

"We're at the point in our growth where we have to become more aggressive and attack our infrastructure problems," Wilson said.

The city has been fiscally conservative through the years, he said. "But we're on the brink of some major expansions."

Assistant City Administrator Larry Koenig said the balanced budget factors in increases in electric, water and sewer receipts along with an increase in sales tax revenue.

Mayor Paul Sander said he is pleased with the budget. "It considers the needs of the city while providing a strong financial status for the future."

Though final tallies aren't in, the 1997 end-of-year revenues are higher than expected and the balance is better than budgeted, Sander said.

In other business, the board:

-- Approved $568 across-the-board pay increases in addition to step increases for all city employees for 1998.

-- Decided to abandon the previous plan of repairing the Washington Street Bridge in favor of building a new bridge. It authorized the city's consulting engineer to prepare plans and specifications and to authorize the advertisement for bids.

Wilson said the bridge will remain open to one-lane traffic unless it is determined at some point to be unsafe. Alderman Larry Cunningham urged replacing the bridge quickly. "Don't let that linger on for a year or a year and a half," he said.

-- Approved a resolution supporting a proposed east-west highway linking Paducah, Ky., and Van Buren via the Bill Emerson Bridge. The City of Cape Girardeau and Cape Girardeau County already have approved similar resolutions.

JACKSON AGENDA

Jackson Board of Aldermen

City Hall

Monday, Dec. 15

Action items

Power and Light Committee

-- Passed an ordinance approving the 1998 proposed budget.

-- Reappointed Steve Wilson to serve as city representative on the Board of Directors of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association for a one-year term beginning Jan. 1.

-- Accepted the bid of PR Developers, Inc., in the amount of $406,678.50 for the District Sewers No. 2R, 2R1 and 2R4 project.

-- Approved Change Order No. 1 to Hamon Power Services relative to the power plant water cooler repair and re-tubing contract.

Street Committee

-- Approved an ordinance adopting the employee pay plan for 1998 as amended.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the code relative to the compensation of the city administrator.

-- Changed the regular council meeting date from Monday, Jan. 19 to Tuesday, Jan. 20 due to the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday.

-- Passed an ordinance approving a quit claim deed from the City of Jackson to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission relative to the transfer of property at Route D and U.S. 61.

-- Approved an ordinance accepting dedication of a permanent utility easement from Southeast Missouri Medical Center, Inc.

-- Approved final payment of $33,378.12 to Apex Paving Co., Inc., under the 1997 Asphalt Street Improvement Program contract.

-- Approved a resolution accepting a petition for voluntary annexation from Paul and Peggy Fisher and setting a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20.

-- Approved an ordinance amending agreement between Paul and Peggy Fisher and the City of Jackson relative to the granting of license and easements.

-- Approved an ordinance accepting dedication of easements from Paul and Peggy Fisher.

-- Approved a resolution in support of a proposed east-west highway linking Paducah, Ky., and Van Buren via the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

-- Approved a motion authorizing the city's consulting engineer to prepare plans and specifications for the reconstruction of the Washington Street Bridge and authorizing the advertisement for bids.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the "Stop Street Schedule" to include stop designations of Eastview Court, Highway Drive and Nancy Drive.

-- Approved an application for the original package liquor license for Dalton Petroleum, dba Delta Marketing Corporation, at 2030 E. Jackson Blvd.

-- Approved an application for original package 5% beer and liquor and Sunday sales license for PAJCO, Inc., dba Rhodes 101 Stops, at 113 W. Jackson Blvd.

-- Approved an application for original package 5% beer and liquor and Sunday sales license for PAJCO, Inc., dba Rhodes 1010 Stops, at 3718 E. Jackson Blvd.

-- Approved a motion authorizing the American Legion, Post 158, to use city street for their annual Homecomers celebration scheduled for Aug. 18-22.