JACKSON TO INCREASE SEWER, WATER RATES

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance Monday night that will incrementally increase the average family's sewer and water rate from the current $16.20 per month to $24.70 per month in 2000.

The ordinance makes law the wishes of Jackson voters who last August approved a $10.54 million bond issue for sewer and water system improvements. The rate increases will occur in three yearly increments, ending once the debt is serviced. The increase will be in force as of Dec. 1 and will be reflected in the Jan. 1, 1998, monthly billing.

Jackson voters approved the bond issue on a vote of 715 to 225. The bonds will pay for improvements that will be phased in over six years.

The improvements will include the addition of at least one new well, installation of larger water mains, boosting filter capacity at the water plant to increase output, and an improved sanitary sewer collection system.

The sewer improvements total $7.375 million, and the water projects will cost $3.165 million.

Some of the sewer lines to be upgraded date from the 1920s. City officials say new gravity sewer lines will allow the removal of 18 expensive sewage pump stations.

The water line improvements are expected to increase the city's fire rating, making possible reductions in homeowners liability rates of 9 to 11 percent.

The average Jackson homeowner uses about 4,500 gallons of water monthly.

In other business Monday, the board:

-- Authorized advertisement for bids for aerial photography of the city. City Public Works Director Jim Roach said the digital photographs will allow the city to map its infrastructure and create a computerized database of the information.

-- Set a general election for April 7, 1998, to fill the offices of aldermen of Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4. The filing period for those offices is Dec. 23, 1997, to Jan. 20, 1998.

-- Increased fees for cemetery plots and for digging cemetery plots in city cemeteries. The increase is the first since 1979. "We're just covering our costs," Mayor Paul Sander said.

-- Established a subcommittee chaired by Alderman Jack Piepenbrok to provide a recommendation on Missouri Department of Transportation proposals to improve transportation corridors between Jackson and Cape Girardeau.

Jackson Board of Aldermen

City Hall

7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24

Action items

Power and Light Committee

-- Authorized advertisement for bids for aerial photography of city.

-- Set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, 1997, to consider the 1998 proposed budget.

-- Approved an ordinance calling for a general election on April 7, 1998, to fill the offices of aldermen for the City of Jackson.

-- Approved an ordinance amending user charges relating to city's wastewater treatment system.

-- Approved an ordinance amending Chapter 23 of the Code of Ordinances relating to Personnel Rules and Regulations and establishing specific provisions for training, travel expense and special license and membership fees.

Street Committee

-- Authorized barricading of streets for annual Christmas Parade at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.

-- Approved an ordinance approving the voluntary annexation of property owned by Earl Norman and Bobby Barks.

-- Approved an ordinance amending Chapter, 26, Section 26-4, of the Land Subdivision Regulations of Jackson.

-- Approved an ordinance accepting dedication of easements from Jackson Reorganized School District R-II.

-- Approved an ordinance amending Section 7-7 of the Code of Ordinances relating to the price of cemetery plots and other associated fees.