Jackson OKs police station plan, sets use-tax hearing

The city of Jackson now will investigate options for funding construction of a new police station after the Board of Aldermen settled on a design for the building during Monday night's meeting.

The board also set a Jan. 4 public hearing to discuss a use-tax proposal slated to go before voters in April. The revenue from that tax likely would fund police and first responders.

The $8 million project, which includes building a new structure to house police and emergency-services dispatchers and funding renovations for the fire station, was one of three design possibilities presented to the board last month by architect Philip Smith of Cape Girardeau and Williams, Spurgeon, Kuhl and Freshnock Architects Inc. from Kansas City, Missouri.

The public hearing to discuss the use tax will take place at city hall at 7 p.m. Jan. 4.

The proposed ballot initiative would be split into two measures -- one to continue a current out-of-state vehicle tax and the other to implement a use tax for all other out-of-state purchases "to even the playing field," city attorney Tom Ludwig said.

For an April vote, the board will have to file the ballot measures with Cape Girardeau County by Jan. 26.

Mayor Dwain Hahs said he felt it important it be made clear to the residents the revenues collected from the use tax would go to first responders -- first to support and possibly expand police operations and second to the fire department and other emergency services.

The board discussed the possibility of using leftover funds for the eventual construction of a new pool, but agreed first-responder funding would be top priority.

During the meeting, aldermen also voted to allow the Jackson Boys Baseball League to be placed under the direction of the Parks and Recreation Department, effective Jan. 1.

They also voted to approve the Jackson city budget for 2016 and approved the purchase of property at 216 Francis Drive.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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