JACKSON TO GET WEBSITE, CONSIDER BUILDING

JACKSON -- The city of Jackson is venturing into cyberspace.

The Board of Aldermen approved a joint effort with the Jackson Chamber of Commerce to establish a 60-page website that will highlight the city's recreational, industrial, educational and residential benefits.

"There's a lot more pluses than minuses," Jackson Mayor Paul Sander said. "It could enhance tourism and business opportunities immensely."

The site will be constructed by University Computers, which is run by two recent Jackson High School graduates, Jon Mark Milde and Chris Dittmer. Milde and Dittmer attend Washington University in St. Louis where they operate their business.

The aldermen committed unanimously to the project with the understanding that the $2,000 startup and $500 annual fees will be split evenly with the chamber.

"I don't think there will be a problem with that," Sander said. "They've been talking about this for a while."

Milde and Dittmer said they have plans to establish a site that is not only informative but creative. "We want to do something we can all be proud of," Milde said.

The council also accepted 58 volunteers to serve on a Jackson Multipurpose Building Feasibility Study Committee. The committee will have its first meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 in the committee room of City Hall.

Sander said he hopes the first order of business for the new group will be to elect a chairman, vice chairman and secretary and establish subcommittees. Sander is a member of the board but stated he would not like to see any city official serve as an officer of the committee.

At least four subcommittees will probably spring from this first meeting, Sander said, including groups to study possible locations for the building, financing, design and what the public feels should be included in the project.

"With this committee we are not building a building; we are starting a project," he said. "One of this committee's main responsibilities will be to see if this building is even needed. I think it is, but we need to walk before we can run."

Sander said he was pleased with the number of people who asked to be on the committee. He was hoping 30 people would serve, and 45 of the 58 members called him to offer their services.

The aldermen also authorized the mayor to establish depository agreements with Boatmen's National and Union Planters banks. The agreements will allow the city's treasurer to invest idle funds in certificates of deposit.

The investments will be made in $100,000 or more sums into time certificates of deposit. The banks will bid for these investments with favorable rates of return or interest.

The city also annexed the new southside elementary school. The voluntary annexation was considered a positive move for both the city, which will get water and sewer revenue from the deal, and the school, which will save money on water and sewer services.

The matter was approved after no opposition was raised at a December public hearing.