JACKSON POLICE WILL GET COMPUTER UPGRADES

JACKSON -- The police department will soon get a significant upgrade in computer equipment that will provide road officers with additional information to better respond to calls.

The Jackson Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a motion Monday during its meeting at City Hall to spend $19,309.52 on a Computer-Aided Dispatch and Records Management unit.

The total price tag of the equipment, which includes software and hardware, will run around $30,000. The Cape Girardeau County 911 Board is expected to contribute the difference.

"Our police officers are really looking forward to this," said City Administrator Steve Wilson.

The computer upgrade is required under Missouri law.

Police Lt. Steve Compass said the system, similar to equipment already used by the Cape Girardeau Police Department, should be in operation within two months.

Compass said the CAD unit will provide officers with greater information on locations to which they respond. That information includes safety concerns about the site and if hazardous materials are present. It will also keep a running log of past calls to a particular address.

When officers run background checks on motorists and other suspects, the equipment will provide officers with more information on the criminal histories of those detained.

It will also inform officers if a car has been previously stopped in a 12-hour period.

"It simply means more access to information for officers," Compass said.

Wilson said the computer system will also cut down on the amount of paperwork officers must fill out, allowing for more efficient use of their time.

The CAD Unit will also improve the information flow during 911 emergency calls.

For recordkeeping purposes, the system will mean the department will have past incident reports at its fingertips.

"Right now if people come in looking for a particular report, we have to look through a book," Compass said. "If they don't have specific dates, it could take us days to find it.

"Now we'll be able to punch it into a computer and print it out for them."

In other business, the Board of Aldermen approved a motion to advertise for bids to build a new maintenance building for the city Park Department. The board has budgeted $35,000 for the project.

Jackson Board of Aldermen Agenda

Public Hearing

-- Held hearing to consider rezoning request for lots 67, 78, 79, 91, 103 and part of lot 66 of the Original Town of Jackson from R-3 (General Residential) to C-3 (Central Business), as submitted by John Palish, trustee for St. Paul Lutheran Church. No presentations for or against the project were made.

Action Items

-- Passed motion authorizing the Park Department to advertise for bids for new maintenance building.

-- Passed motion authorizing the city attorney to proceed with condemnation proceedings to acquire easements on Grandview Acres Sewer Project.

-- Passed ordinance authorizing contractual agreement with Edward R. and Jackie Close relative to lease of property at 129 Court St.

-- Passed resolution accepting petition for voluntary annexation from Jan and Stacy Mansfield and setting a public hearing for Monday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m.

-- Passed motion authorizing purchase of computer equipment for the Police Department under the State of Missouri Cooperative Procurement Program at the cost of $19,309.52.

-- Passed motion to set a public hearing for Monday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. to consider the inclusion of Lacey Street and Oak Hill Road as collector streets to the Major Street Plan.

-- Passed motion to set a public hearing for Monday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. to consider the request for a special-use permit for a temporary mobile office unit at 3248 E. Jackson Blvd., as submitted by Tracy Kaminsky.

-- Passed ordinance approving the final plat of Rosewood Estates Third Subdivision, as submitted by Gerald Stoverink.

-- Passed motion authorizing the city attorney to proceed with condemnation proceedings to acquire easements on the East Main Street Extension Project.