PROGRESS COMES AT PRICE IN JACKSON -- MUD

JACKSON -- Progress in a growing community typically comes at a cost. In Jackson, that cost is in the form of muddy streets and lots near new housing developments.

Motorists complain about dirt that's been washed into city streets and mud that's been tracked onto streets by trucks hauling materials in and out of developing subdivisions.

Property owners also have complained about mud washed onto their property.

Complaints have come from the Fairway Estates Third Subdivision, where new houses are under construction in the extreme northwest corner of the city, and along Trail Ridge Drive and Smith Trail, just off Old Cape Road, in the eastern edge of town.

Jackson Public Works Director Mark Brown acknowledges there are problems, but says the building contractors aren't totally at fault.

"We no longer have what you would call a building season in Jackson," Brown said. "It goes on year-round. That means a lot of work is going on when the ground is wet and muddy. Anytime you have year-round building going on, there is always a problem with mud, especially in wet weather."

Brown said in some cases, the building contractors cannot build houses fast enough on the vacant and unimproved lots that already are susceptible to erosion.

The developer or contractor usually places bales of straw near the curb to prevent dirt from washing onto the pavement. But that doesn't always work, especially if the weather has been unusually wet.

Other problems result when heavy trucks loaded with building materials back into a muddy building site. When they leave, the trucks carry out a lot of mud on their wheels, leaving it behind on the pavement.

"We realize this sort of thing is going to happen around construction sites and that it can never be totally eliminated. But it can be controlled," said Brown.

He said city law requires that all mud or dirt that creates a hazard on city streets must be removed by the developer or contractor by the end of the working day.

The ordinance has been on the books for years, but Brown said it hasn't been strictly enforced primarily because of the small public works staff.

"The problem is the city is expanding so fast, and there is so much building going on in the new subdivisions, that our limited staff can't always determine right away if a mud problem exists," he said. "Anytime we know of a problem, we immediately contact the contractor or developer to make sure they are aware of the ordinance and their responsibility to remove the dirt.

"Ninety-nine percent of the time the contractors and developers work closely with the city to eliminate, or at least reduce, the problem," Brown added. "They're just as concerned about the problem as we are, and the surrounding property owners."

To make sure all developers and contractors are aware of the ordinance, Brown has added a paragraph on dirt removal to the bottom of the public works department's building permit procedures checklist

Brown said citizens also can assist the public works department by promptly reporting any mud or dirt that's washed onto city streets or construction trucks tracking mud on the streets. "Just call our 24-hour hot line, 243-2300, and we'll check into it and try to get the problems resolved right away," he said.