JACKSON TO CONSIDER TREE-TRIMMING DEAL

JACKSON, Mo. -- Because the City of Jackson produces its own electricity, keeping trees pruned in the city right of way has extra benefits.

Public Works Director Jim Roach and City Administrator Steve Wilson say the investment in tree trimming reduces the number of downed lines in wind or ice storms.

That has cut down on the number of service calls that force city workers to respond in inclement and dangerous weather. And it has reduced the overall number of problems affecting electrical customers, officials say.

Before instituting the tree-trimming program, Wilson said, "It was fairly common that we would have significant power outages."

Monday night, the Jackson Board of Aldermen will consider paying a Parker City, Ind., company $83,750 to trim trees in the city this year. The company is Townsend Innovative Clearing and Growth Control.

This will be the third year the company has taken on the project. The first year, trees were trimmed on the west side of the city, with the company switching to the east side last year. This year workers will again trim trees on the west side.

Roach said the trees are trimmed according to National Arbor Foundation guidelines. In the program's two years of operation, he said he has received only one complaint.

"They try to talk to people and tell them what they are going to do," Roach said.

Trees are trimmed to allow for 6-10 feet of clearance on the main lines and also to provide clearance on the service lines that run to houses.

The city only pays for trimming trees in its right of way. But the company is free to contract with private landowners to trim other trees while in the neighborhood.

Jackson Board of Aldermen agenda 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 5

City Hall

Action Items

Power and Light Committee

• Consider a motion accepting bid of Townsend Innovative Clearing and Growth Control of Parker City, Ind., in the amount of $83,750 for contractual tree trimming services.
• Consider a bill proposing an ordinance authorizing a contractual agreement with Townsend Innovative Clearing and Growth Control relative to providing contractual tree trimming services.
• Consider a motion accepting the bid of Monroe Plumbing & Heating Co. Inc., of Cape Girardeau in the amount of $102,965.95 relative to water system improvements under the Oak Forest/East Main Water Main Extension Project.
• Consider a bill proposing an ordinance authorizing a contractual agreement with Monroe Plumbing & Heating Co. Inc. relative to water system improvements under the Oak Forest/East Main Water Main Extension Project.
• Consider a bill proposing an ordinance accepting dedication of water line easements from Jim and Gail Voges, the Jackson Industrial Development Company and Wanda Pipkin.

Street Committee

• Consider a motion to set Spring Cleanup/Fix-up Days for May 7-11, 2001.
• Consider a motion approving a 5 percent beer by drink license for Donald E. Harris at 505 Benton Road.
• Consider a motion approving a 5 percent beer by drink license and an original package 5 percent beer license for Ted. P. Clark and Ronald D. Cook at 3582 East Jackson Boulevard, dba Stooges.
• Consider a bill proposing an ordinance amending the Parking Prohibited at All Times on Certain Streets Schedule -- Schedule IX by adding new no parking designations on South Lacey Street.