MO. EXTENSION SERVICE TO BUILD ON JACKSON INDUSTRIAL TRACT

JACKSON -- The University of Missouri Extension Service plans to build a new office in a 20-acre commercial tract along Jackson Trail.

The multi-story building, to be occupied by the end of 1998, would house offices for Cape Girardeau County extension staff along with meeting rooms that will be available to the public. The service has five people on its staff.

The building will be 7,000 square feet, which is about three times the size of the extension service's current offices on Highway 25. The service rents those offices in a building shared by the United States Department of Agriculture.

The new building will be owned by the Cape Girardeau County Extension Council, which administers the University of Missouri extension and outreach programs.

The Jackson Board of Aldermen Tuesday night authorized the city's staff to negotiate an agreement with the Cape Girardeau County University of Missouri Extension Service for purchase of the property. The city will exercise its option on the land, which is known as the Byron Lang Tract.

Gerald Bryan, the county program director and agronomist, said the building will include one meeting room for 50 people, a conference room for 15 people and a large meeting room that can handle between 200 and 300 people.

Other agencies that use satellite training methods will also use the building, according to Bryan.

The service is moving because it needs more space, Bryan said.

The extension service currently has only one room that can accommodate 30 to 40 people. "We had 96 meetings that were at or exceeded capacity last year," Bryan said.

Many of those meetings had to be moved elsewhere. "The bulk of those could be handled in the new facility," he said

"This gives us the means to expand educational opportunities both of on-hand staff and via satellite through interactive video," he said.

The commercial tract is adjacent to the industrial tract where Lee Rowan and other businesses already are located.

The USDA also plans to move into a building already under construction on the tract. Owned by Chris Weiss, the building will give the USDA a one-stop shop. The USDA's area office in Cape Girardeau, which provides administrative services for 24 counties, will move to Jackson once the building is ready for occupation, probably in June.

"One of the initiatives of the USDA was to combine our presence in any county," says Dave Owen, a district conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The USDA has about 20 staffers in its agencies, which include farmer services, rural development and natural resource conservation.

The USDA has been at its current location for about 25 years.

In other business, the Board of Aldermen:

-- Accepted the bid of CNA Insurance, through the St. Louis firm of Swinford-Hoffman and Associates Inc., to provide employee health insurance for the city beginning March 1 and continuing through May 31, 1999. The city's current insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, had projected a 30 percent increase in premiums for the city.

City Administrator Steve Wilson said switching insurers will save the city $32,000 over the life of the contract. Aldermen Kerry Hoffman and Fred Leimer abstained on the vote. Hoffman's brother, Dave, is one of the partners in the insurance firm. Leimer is Dave Hoffman's brother-in-law.

-- Accepted the bid of Dumey Excavation Inc. of Benton for replacing the Washington Street bridge over Hubble Creek. The bid is $172,920.25. The bridge is expected to be completed by early summer.

-- Heard plans for an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. March 2 at the Jackson Fire Department in honor of retiring Fire Chief Gary Niswonger.

Jackson Board of Aldermen Agenda

Tuesday, Feb. 17

City Hall

Public hearing

-- Held hearing to consider proposed voluntary annexation of property owned by Pascal and Danielle Dunod.

Action items

Power and Light Committee

-- Authorized advertisement for bids for a TV/camera inspection system for the wastewater department. The system will be used to inspect sewer lines.

-- Accepted the low bid of Flynn Drilling Inc. of Troy in the amount of $165,125 for the construction of a public drinking water well. The well, to be drilled behind the Jackson Middle School, is expected to be operational by fall.

-- Authorized the purchase of a new F2560E front deck mower and accepting a bid of $9,480 by Bangert Ford Tractor Sales, Jackson.

-- Accepted the quote of CNA Insurance, through Swinford-Hoffman and Associates Inc., for proving employee health insurance for the period from 3-1-98 to 5-31-99. The board also authorized a contractual agreement with DNA Insurance.

Street Committee

-- Authorizing staff to negotiate a contractual agreement with the Cape Girardeau County University of Missouri Outreach and Extension Service for the purchase of property for industrial or commercial development.

-- Approved the voluntary annexation of property owned by Paul and Peggy Fisher.

-- Accepted a deed of dedication from John W. And Glenda I. Bollinger relative to the dedication of right of way for June Lane.

-- Accepted dedication of easements for the construction, maintenance and repair of a water line from Virginia Kies et al., Walter M. and Sally K. Pierce , Brent Crites, Margaret J. Kies, Reorganized School District R-II, Elaine J. Illers, Paul and Joretta Allee and Melvin Biester.

-- Approved license application for 5% beer by drink for Douglas Stacy Sr., dba Dog House Deli, at 511 E. Jackson Blvd.

-- Accepted the low bid of Dumey Excavation Inc. of Benton in the amount of $172,920.25 for the replacement of the Washington Street bridge. The board also authorized a contractual agreement with the company.