JACKSON OKs WATER, SEWER PLANS

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday night cleared the way for the city to proceed with sewer and water improvements.

The aldermen hired Horner and Shifrin Inc. to analyze sewer charges, an essential step to financing sewer and water improvements through the issuance of low-interest bonds from a state revolving fund.

Mayor Paul Sander said the city will save $3.1 million by securing the funding through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources rather than issuing conventional bonds.

The city has been seeking to make sewer and water improvements since voters approved a $10.5 million bond issue in August 1997.

Sander said problems with engineering services and the city's desire to rely on the state's revolving fund for the issuance of bonds had delayed getting the funding in place.

"We felt it was worth the $3 million in savings," he said.

The bonds will be retired over 20 years. Sewer and water rates are being hiked over three years to pay for the bonds, said City Administrator Stephen Wilson.

Wilson said the DNR must approve the plans before work can proceed.

But that shouldn't be a problem. Sander said Jackson's project ranks first among 65 projects considered for funding.

Wilson said the proposed water and sewer improvements, include replacing undersized pipes with larger ones.

Wilson said Jackson could receive the bond money by this fall.

Sander said the sewer and water improvements will benefit Jackson and allow for future growth.

"This puts us in a better position to serve our community," he said.