NEW JACKSON CITY HALL TO FEATURE BETTER SERVICE, COMPUTER SYSTEM

JACKSON -- When it comes to fixing up the new Jackson City Hall, the city's Board of Aldermen isn't messing around.

Last month they approved the purchase of all new desks, tables and chairs from a factory run by the Missouri Department of Corrections to employ prisoners.

Much of the 30-year-old equipment used now won't make the trip to Court Street, where workers are converting the former Boatmen's Bank building to Jackson City Hall.

Then on Monday the board voted to purchase $103,541 worth of computer hardware from IBM and $30,580 in software from SCT Public Sector Inc.

"The electric and utility billing is the primary reason for the switch," said City Administrator Steve Wilson. "The new computers will network the whole system. Anyone who is on-line will be able to gather information and help residents."

Jackson's current computer equipment is 10 years old, and Wilson cited several advances in computers since 1985. Also, there are hundreds more city utility customers now, and the old equipment can't handle record-keeping and billing for all of them.

As for physical work on city hall, construction workers are busy erecting new walls. City officials plan to move sometime during the holiday season.

"We feel our new city hall will be second to none in the way it services the public," Wilson said. "It will be worthy of a growing city."

Wilson encouraged aldermen to see the work in progress. He also asked them to note the striping work on the power plant water tower. The red and black stripes are visible from the Jackson Chamber of Commerce steps, he said, and lettering will be finished soon.

The inside of the new Interstate 55 water tower is being painted and must be sterilized before water goes in. Interim City Engineer Rich Bowen said the tower needs to be connected with city water and power, but there should be water in the tank by Halloween.

Board members also heard an update on the old Jackson landfill. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources sent a letter to Mayor Paul Sander explaining that DNR personnel inspected the landfill on County Road 341 west of Jackson and decided it was suitable for closure.

The timing is excellent, Sander said, because a solid waste transfer station is under construction at the end of Lee Avenue and should be completed around the first of the year.

JACKSON BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Action

Monday, Oct. 16

7:30 p.m.

Power and Light Committee

Accepted $103,541.88 bid from IBM for purchase of new IBM AS400 computer and other associated hardware and maintenance agreement.

Accepted $30,580 bid from SCT Public Sector Inc. for applications software for the new computer system.

Authorized partial payment of $44,093.70 to Caldwell Tanks Inc. as per 300,000-gallon elevated tank contract.

Authorized partial payment of $22,859.90 to Hogan Painting and Sandblasting as per power plant elevated water tank project.

Street Committee

Accepted portion of Bel Air Drive, from South Shawnee Boulevard east to its termination in Sappington Acres, as a public street and also accept the water and sewer systems serving those lots in Sappington Acres, thereby providing city maintenance.

Authorized contractual agreement with ASA Asphalt Inc. in the amount of $44,467.80 for the 1995 Asphalt Street Improvement Plan.

Approved a minor subdivision plat of Kenner's Addition.

Set a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 6, to consider a special-use permit for the operation of a drive-in restaurant in an industrial district at 1931 W. Jackson Blvd., as requested by Ron Cook. It will be the first item of business at the board meeting.