JACKSON PAY HIKES REJECTED

JACKSON -- By a 4-3 vote, with Mayor Carlton Meyer breaking a 3-3 tie, the Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday night rejected a pay increase for themselves and the mayor.

But the board voted unanimously to raise the salary of City Administrator Carl Talley from $35,500 to $39,050.

There was no discussion on the proposal that would have increased the monthly compensation to the mayor and aldermen by $25. If approved, the bill would have become effective May 1, 1993. Aldermen now receive $50 per month and the mayor $100.

Aldermen voting in favor of the pay increase were LeRoy Brown, Glenn Oldham and Phil Johnston. Voting against the measure were Aldermen Valeria Tuschhoff, Kevin Sawyer and David Ludwig. The mayor cast a no vote.

Aldermen Paul Sander and Jack Piepenbrok were not at the meeting. Talley was not present because of a death in his family.

In other business, the board gave the go-ahead for the start of phase two of the East Jackson sanitary sewer extension project. Acting City Engineer Rich Bowen said the project should be ready for bidding by the third week of July.

The second phase of the project will extend sewer lines eastward along East Jackson toward I-55 from the top of the hill near the Milton Nitsch property, where sewers have been built as part of phase one.

Bowen said a sewage lift station will be built just south of the Mid-America properties near the former Goggins horse arena on Stout Road. A pressured sewer main will extend westward from the new lift station to the top of the hill near the Nitsch property, where the pressurized sewer main will tap into a gravity flow main to the Williams Creek lift station.

Bowen said lateral sewer lines will extend from the lift station to take in the Goggins property and several other properties along Stout Road.

There will be a bore under East Jackson Boulevard for a sewer line to hook into an existing sewage-treatment plant serving Crader Tire Co. and a nearby small commercial subdivision. Bowen said the same line will be extended northward to take in another tract of land on the west side of I-55.

Commenting on the second phase of the sewer project, Meyer said it will complete the entire project to extend sanitary sewer lines to all of the area that was promised as part of the annexation agreement nearly two years ago.

Bowen said the first phase of the East Jackson Boulevard water main project is about 95 percent complete. "All that's left now is to run about 500 feet of water main from the west side of Williams Creek and tie in with the existing water main at Old Cape Road," said Bowen.

He said specifications are now being prepared for the second phase of the East Jackson water-main extension that will extend water lines to all of the remaining properties taken in by the city during the recent annexation of land along the west side of I-55.

Bowen said another part of the second phase, which has not started, is construction of an elevated water storage tank and an additional pump at the water plant to pump water into the storage tank. Bowen said work on the tank and pump would begin at the discretion of the Board of Aldermen.

The engineer said the West Main Street improvement project should be ready for bidding in about seven to 10 days. He said there is a problem with about four or five utility poles along the south side of the street that will be closer than desired to the curb.

Bowen said the poles could be set back if the city obtained an easement from the property owners on that side of the street.

Oldham asked if the poles and utility lines could be relocated behind the commercial buildings on West Main. He said this would enhance the appearance of the buildings and West Main Street after the improvement project is completed.

The mayor said the city staff would look into the possibility of relocating the utility poles.

The board also approved ordinances that:

Authorize the city to seek assistance from the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission to prepare a 1992 community block grant application.

Update the cooperative agreement authorizing Jackson's participation in the major case squad.

Establish a new policy on political activities for all city employees, full time or part time, except elected officials, including members of the board of aldermen.

Establish regulations governing abandoned, wrecked, or junked cars on public and private property, with a 14-day time limit.

The political activities ordinance specifies what type of activities would be prohibited. Employees could serve on non-profit boards such as the school board or library board.

Tabled was an ordinance to regulate dogs in the city and action on a petition to abandon Olive, James and Short street.

The board also approved a request from the Jackson American Legion Post to change its beer license back to a 5 percent license. The board had just recently approved a request from the legion to switch its license from 5 to 3.2 percent.

Prior to Monday's meeting, a public hearing was held on a petition seeking voluntary annexation of a tract of land near Independence Street (Route D) owned by James and Deborah Maevers. There was no opposition. An ordinance to annex the property will be given first reading at the board's July 15 meeting.