JACKSON OUTLAWS SOME SHORTCUTS

JACKSON -- Drivers who cut across lots to avoid stop signs and stop lights will be liable for a ticket under an ordinance passed by the Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday night.

The amendment to the City Code makes it a misdemeanor to cut across lots to avoid traffic signals. The practice is common at Old Cape Road and Shawnee Boulevard, which is often backed up at drive times. Some drivers cut across the Wink's service station parking lot at the northeast corner to avoid waiting to get to the stop sign, Mayor Paul Sander says.

"That is hazardous for people doing business there," he said.

Sander expects police will issue only warnings at first before they begin handing out tickets.

He said the city also is enforcing a state law that prohibits drivers from using the middle lane of a five-line highway to merge with traffic. The middle lane is intended for turns only. It is against the law to pull into the middle lane to wait until you can merge with traffic.

In another move affecting traffic, the board passed a motion to amend one of a number of recent no-parking designations.

The original designation prohibited parking on Old Cape Road from Shawnee Boulevard to Main Street. The change would allow parking on the north side of Old Cape Road between John and Georgia streets.

Officials said allowing some parking will help a number of residents who live along the road and have disabilities.

The amendment will be formally acted on at the board's next meeting.

In other business Monday night, the board:

* Conducted a public hearing to consider the rezoning of 16.3 acres of property at the southwest quadrant at Lacey Street and Ridgeway Drive from R-2 (single-family residential) to R-3 (general residential).

The land has been purchased by the Jackson School District, which eventually intends to build a school there.

Howard Alexander spoke in favor the rezoning but said the district could also agree to a special-use permit.

Nearby resident Rod Shelton opposed the rezoning, saying he wants to keep the area rural and prefers Lacey to remain a dead-end street.

Sander said the city and developers have always intended to extend the street.

Resident William Kirk asked questions about the impact on traffic the school would have and about the kind of lighting the school intends to install. City planning official Rodney Bollinger said those questions can't be answered yet. Sander told Kirk the city will help him find the answers.

The Board of Aldermen will take up the rezoning issue at its April 3 meeting.

* Set Spring Clean Up/Fix Up Week for April 17-21.

Jackson Board of Aldermen Agenda

7:30 p.m. Monday, March 21

City Hall

Public Hearings

* Held hearing to consider the rezoning of properties addressed as 2769 and 2791 E. Jackson Blvd. from R-3 (general residential) to C-2 (general commercial) as submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Phillips and Kevin Sawyer.

* Held hearing to consider the rezoning of 16.3 acres of property situated at the southwest quadrant at Lacey Street and Ridgeway Drive from R-2 (single-family residential) to R-3 (general residential) as submitted by Stacy Mansfield and Dr. Ron Anderson.

Action Items

Power and Light Committee

* Set a special meeting for 7 p.m. Wednesday relative to authorizing the issuance of the Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Revenue Bonds (State Revolving Fund Program) Series 2000 of the City of Jackson.

* Amended Sections 21.1-100 and 21.1-101 of the City Code relative to user fees in the City Park.

* Approved revisions to the Jackson Ball Field Rental Fee Schedule.

* Approved an ordinance amending the 2000 budget.

* Authorized a contractual agreement with the city administrator relative to formalizing an employment contract.

* Approved the mayor's appointment of Bill Fadler to fill an unexpired term on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

* Accepted dedication of sanitary sewer easements from Warren Place, L.L.C.

* Set a special joint council meeting with the Cape Girardeau City Council for 7 p.m. Monday at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau.

* Amended contract with City Water and Light of Jonesboro, Ark., relative to the purchase of additional electric capacity and energy.

Street Committee

* Accepted Ronald Clark's request for withdrawal of his revised rezoning request for property at 1600 N. High St.

* Authorized a contractual agreement with Warren Place, L.L.C., relative to the improvement of Kimbel Lane.

* Accepted the bid of Lappe Cement Finishing Inc. of Perryville in the amount of $182,651.25 relative to the 2000 Concrete Street Repair Projects.

* Authorized a contractual agreement with Lappe Cement Finishing Inc. relative to improvements under the 2000 Concrete Street Repair Projects.

* Amended Chapter 15 of the City Code by adding provisions for the towing of vehicles by the city.

* Amended Chapter 19 of the City Code by adding Section 19-265 establishing a misdemeanor for driving across lots to avoid traffic signals.

* Approved the minor subdivision plat of Hillview Subdivision.

* Set Spring Clean Up-Fix Up Week for April 17 through 21.

* Approved the final plat of Warren Place Subdivision, Phase II.