STATE REJECTS JACKSON'S INTERSECTION REQUEST

JACKSON, Mo. -- A city of Jackson request that the Missouri Department of Transportation make immediate safety improvements to a city intersection has been rejected.

In a letter to the city dated Oct. 3, MoDOT director Henry Hungerbeeler said the volume of traffic at the intersection of Highways 72-34 and Route PP does not warrant a traffic signal. He said the accident rate at the intersection is "significantly lower than the statewide average for similar type intersections."

Hungerbeeler said that the intersection and roadway are scheduled for widening and improvements in 2004. The city was asking MoDOT to act sooner over concern about short sight distances at the intersection.

"I am disappointed we could not have received more immediate attention," Mayor Paul Sander said. "It is fortunate we have not had more serious accidents at the intersection."

A flashing light was installed at the intersection in 1995. Hungerbeeler said MoDOT conducted a traffic count in September to check whether a signal is warranted and evaluated accidents at the intersection. He said MoDOT will continue monitoring the intersection.

Sander provided copies of the letter to members of the Board of Aldermen at Monday night's meeting of the board.

In other business Monday, the Board:

• Extended the no parking area on the south side of West Main Street a distance of 60 feet west from Union Avenue. The board also adjusted the effective times to from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for enforcement of the 15-minute parking zone.
• Authorized a $99,400 contract with Lappe Cement Finishing Inc., of Perryville to seal joints in city streets. The company is expected to seal joints in about 200,000 lineal feet in 4-5 miles of streets by the end of the year. The project will start on arterial streets on the west side of the city.

Sealing the joints will add to the life of the streets, city officials said.

Jackson Board of Aldermen action takenJackson Board of Aldermen action

Monday, Oct. 9

City Hall

Public Hearings

• Held hearing to allow citizen comment on the city's performance on the Community Development Block Grant, Project No. 98-ED-08, awarded Sept.. 28, 1998.

Action Items

Power and Light Committee

• Set a special meeting for Wednesday, Nov. 1, at noon relative to authorizing the issuance of the Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Revenue Bonds (State Revolving Fund Program) Series 2000B of the City of Jackson
• Accepted dedication of a sanitary sewer easement from Jackson Country Club, Inc.
• Accepted dedication of a general utility easement from Donald L. and Rebecca A. Heuer.
• Accepted dedication of water line easements from Richard and Deborah Snell, Edward Nobus and Esther McClard, Pocahontas Lumber Co., Independence Square, L.L.C., the Elfrieda V. Stickert Trust, the Reorganized School District R-II, John and Katherine Trimble and Paul W. and Dana S. Horton.
• Accepted dedication of water line easements from T. Wayne and Linda Lewis.

Street Committee

• Authorized the closure of Jennifer Drive on Oct. 21 (rain date Oct. 22) between the hours of 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. for a neighborhood block party.
• Amended the Parking Prohibited at All Times on Certain Streets Schedule Schedule IX.
• Amended the Fifteen Minutes, One Hour and Two Hour Parking Limit Schedule Schedule XVIII.
• Authorized a contractual agreement with the First Baptist Church of Jackson relative to the use of the church parking lot for off-street public parking.
• Approved the final plat of Oak Forest Sixth Subdivision.
• Accepted the bid of Lappe Cement Finishing, Inc., of Perryville, Mo., in the amount of $99,400 relative to the 2000 Joint Sealing Maintenance Program Project.
• Authorized a contractual agreement with Lappe Cement Finishing, Inc., relative to improvements under the 2000 Join Sealing Maintenance Program.

Executive Session

• Held executive session to discuss litigation.