Jackson water bills to rise

~ Jackson's board of aldermen agreed to eliminate a provision giving each household 1,000 gallons of free water.

The free water in Jackson is drying up. On Monday, Jackson's board of aldermen agreed to eliminate a provision giving each household 1,000 gallons of free water each month.

Jim Roach, the city's administrator, said some of the money would be used to maintain the city's three water towers and build a fourth. In December, city officials will likely review a 10-year maintenance plan for the water tower work, he said.

"Two towers need painting now and probably needed it last year, frankly," he said.

The city's decision will raise the average water bill by about $3, Roach said, and generate about $200,000 for the city in 2008. He said residents can expect another 50 cents per bill, an annual adjustment for inflation.

Roach said electric bills -- which increased by nearly 40 percent last year to pay for infrastructure improvements -- will not go up in 2008.

The board also agreed to set two key public hearings.

The first, from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, will give the public a preview of the optional routes for Old Orchard Road. The new road will run south from the new East Main Street interchange at Interstate 55.

The second, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, will focus on how the annual $25 million budget will be spent in the city of 15,000 people.

The public hearings will be at Jackson City Hall, 101 Court St.

In addition to deciding agenda issues listed below, the Jackson board reviewed Dec. 3 agenda items. The board will consider creating a tax increment financing district (TIF); sewer improvements on Elwanda Drive and Old Toll Road; and approving the bid from Big D Electric for $543,960 with a contract to build an electric line from an Ameren substation on East Jackson Boulevard to Bainbridge Road, along Old Orchard Road. It's the first phase of a project that will extend electric service for new development as well as provide backup service for the entire city, Roach said.

Among other items the Jackson Board of Aldermen decided Monday:

• Approved the reappointment of Mayor Barbara Lohr to a one-year term, beginning Jan. 1, representing Jackson on the Cape Girardeau Area Magnet board of directors.
• Approved a master services agreement For professional engineering services with Bowen Engineering & Surveying of Cape Girardeau.
• Set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 to consider rezoning of the property addressed as 1730 E. Jackson Blvd., from R-2 (single-family residential) to C-2 (general commercial), as submitted by C. Thomas and Carol Linnet Draper.
• Approved Change Order No. 1 (final quantities) in the amount of $52,664.30, to Kluesner Concreters Inc. for East Main Street Extension Project, Phase 2.
• Approved the minor plat of Willow Bend Subdivision, No. 2 (a resubdivision of Lots 10 and 11), as submitted by Chris Brown.
• Tabled an ordinance approving the final plat of East Ridge Place Subdivision, as submitted by PB Properties LLC.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127