JACKSON RESIDENTS' PROTESTS PUT PLAN TO IMPROVE STREETS ON HOLD

JACKSON -- Residents who oppose a plan to pave three city streets have until Sept. 3 to change their minds or the project will die.

Aldermen Monday night heard comments about the project from residents along Independence, Olive and Forest streets.

Engineering estimates for paving Independence and parts of Olive and Forest put the cost for residents at $46.68 per foot for the road frontages on their property. The total size of the paving project to be paved is 1,720 linear feet.

Last year, a group of homeowners in the neighborhood asked aldermen to put together an engineering plan for the project, said Mayor Paul Sander. As part of the project, the city would have kicked in approximately $140,000 to pave Independence Street west to Highway 61 and build a low-water bridge over Hubble Creek.

Monday night's public hearing was requested by 14 residents who protested the project and their costs for improving the streets.

Some of the residents said their costs would come to $6,000 and up to more than $15,000, depending on how much street frontage their properties include.

Aldermen agreed that if a majority of the property owners affected said no, the project would be called off -- including the improvements to West Independence and the construction of the low water bridge.

Sander said the group at Monday night's meeting included some property owners who had originally asked the city to get the engineering estimates.

He also said two of the residents who had registered protests against the project changed their minds Monday and he felt others might be "wavering."

If enough property owners change their minds and ask the city to go ahead by the Sept. 3 deadline, the city will put the project out for formal bid.

Under state law, Sander said, the project can proceed if bids come in under or equal to engineering estimates.

If bids exceed the engineering estimates of $46.68 per foot, the project will not proceed.

"The reason we're even considering paving the street is at the residents' request," Sander said. "We're not trying to force it down your throats."

The three streets are now gravel and are graded and maintained by the city. City policy dictates that residents pay for paving gravel streets.

If enough residents do not change their minds and become a majority, Sander said, "the project will remain dead and the project will not go forward."

JACKSON BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Monday, Aug. 19 7:30 p.m.

Public Hearings

-- Held a hearing on the Olive, Forest and Independence Street Improvement Project.

-- Held a hearing on the 1996 tax rate.

Action Items

Power and Light Committee

-- Approved resolution accepting petitions for voluntary annexations from Chris Bowen and Charles and Julia Roberts and setting a public hearing for Monday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

-- Accepted certified election results.

-- Accepted the audit report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1995, prepared by Beussink, Hey, Martin and Roe, CPAs.

-- Tabled ordinance authorizing contractual agreement for extension of water main on Ridge Road.

Street Committee

-- Approved 1996 tax rate.

-- Granted permission to local civic organizations and businesses to sell "YELL" newspapers on city streets Sept. 10

-- Approved ordinance vacating Madison Street between Missouri and Russell streets.

-- Approved ordinance accepting the dedication of right of way from Mr. and Mrs. Milton Nitsch.

-- Approved ordinance accepting the dedication of right of way from Margaret Puchbauer.

-- Approved ordinance providing for the improvement of Gloria Street.