Jackson to look into rust, hard water complaints

Jackson city administrator Jim Roach promised the city would work to solve problems with damaging rust and hard water reported by a handful of residents.

Brenda Wood of Royal Drive in Jackson showed towels ruined by rusty water and a water filter that should have lasted six months that had to be replaced after only two weeks to city officials in the board of aldermen meeting Monday night.

Wood said she and her husband have spent around $1,700 over the past two years replacing and repairing appliances, buying water and replacing ruined clothing. When they have contacted the city, she said, they have been told the city is "checking" on the problem.

"Something has got to be done," Wood said.

Wood also questioned information circulated by the city March 9. The city said water maintenance scheduled for Friday wouldn't affect water safety, but suggested that residents wait for the water to run clear before using it for laundry, drinking or cooking. Wood asked the board to clarify if the water was safe or not.

Roach said the city was aware the Woods have a "legitimate problem" and that about six homes in the area of Highland Drive, Royal Drive and Shady Lane share an old four-inch cast iron water line that may be responsible for the reported rust.

Water safety was not addressed, but Roach pointed to a boil-water order issued Monday by the city as part of an initial effort to investigate the problem. The order will begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday and 5 p.m. Friday. The city will be turning off water in order to dig down and look at delivery structures. All of the homes on Royal Drive, East Jackson Trail, Shady Lane and four additional residences located at 1129, 1138, 1158 and 1205 Highland Drive will be affected.

"It has been a really difficult problem to try to solve," Roach said, "We will not quit until we do."

Other business

The board passed an ordinance accepting the dedication of a utility easement deed from the Bronfin-Y-Trust. The easement will allow city electric service access to the Savannah Ridge Subdivision.

A change order was issued to Lappe Cement Finishing Inc. in the amount of $38,087.50 to complete the construction of the street pavement in time for Nordenia to move in to the Jackson North Industrial Park Improvement Project, contingent upon approval of the State of Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The board approved a final plan for Terrace Park Estates Subdivision, as submitted by Donkers Inc., which amends the original sidewalk plan.

According to building and planning superintendent Janet Sanders, "The developer is asking that the city release the subdivision's maintenance bond with only the sidewalks in place that are required by the Land Subdivision Regulations, not the additional sidewalks that they plan to have installed with each house construction."

In the study session following the meeting, Mayor Barbara Lohr and Alderman David Hitt, who is also a Cape Girardeau Area Magnet board member, presented a plaque to Mitch Robinson, former Magnet executive director, in recognition of 18 years of service to the economic development of Jackson.

Hitt asked the board to consider extending the city's contract with Magnet, which works to attract business to the area, for two years so the organization could offer a longer term position to a potential new executive director. He urged the board to consider extending the contract so that Magnet could attract the best candidate possible.

Lohr and the board asked for the names of the members of the search committee, a copy of the executive director's job description and budget information for consideration by the board in extending the contract. The board agreed to review the materials and give an informal response within a few days. No formal response can occur before the next board of aldermen meeting April 2.

"I can't emphasize how important it is to Jackson and how important it is to Magnet," Hitt said.

Seven Jackson residents joined the study session to voice their opposition to establishing a no parking zone along East Independence, Forest and Olive streets. Several said that local traffic and city vehicles drive too fast in the area and that they were worried that clearing the route would further enable speeding. Residents also said they had paid the cost of paving and wanted the right to park on their street.

Roach thanked the residents for their input and said the city would consider their comments and keep them informed about future actions.

salderman@semissourian.com

388-3648

Pertinent address:

101 Court St., Jackson, MO