JACKSON CITY COMMENTARY: COMMUNITY UPDATE

Southeast Regional Planning of Perryville recently presented the Jackson City Council a National Certificate of Excellence for the city of Jackson long range comprehensive plan which was approved in 1998.

Planning for the future is a high priority in any progressive, growing city. This award winning comprehensive plan for Jackson's future was completed after over a year of work by Southeast Regional Planning, the Jackson City Council and staff members. This important planning tool will be updated as needed and should serve as a guideline for the future orderly growth of Jackson.

Joe Bob Baker was recently sworn in as the new Ward 4 alderman. Joe Bob and his wife Joy have operated B & B Auto Salvage for over 25 years. Joe Bob brings a common sense attitude and a small business background to the council.

Two of our welcome to Jackson signs are sporting a new look with bright red Jackson letters. Our sign on East Jackson Boulevard will soon have the same new look. We are currently planning for a fourth welcome sign which will be located along Highway 25 as you enter Jackson from the south. We hope to have this new sign in place in the nex~t few months. Keeping our welcome signs updated gives visitors a good first impression of our progressive city.

The Shawnee and East Main intersection improvement has been completed. Phase one of the East Main Street extension (from Shawnee to Oak Hill Road) is about 90 percent complete and should be open to the public very soon. We remain committed to phase two (Oak Hill Road to I-55) of this project. The actual construction of phase two is dependent on approval and funding by MoDot for a new interchange at I-55. Stay tuned.

As our city continues to grow so does the need for increased radio communications for our police, fire and public works departments. The city will be installing new radio repeaters which will enhance reception from our mobile units to the base stations. This increased reception will eliminate possible dead spots in our system and will increase public safety through our police and fire departments.

It is hard to believe that summer has passed us by and another school year has begun. With the start of the school year comes increased traffic around our schools. Please drive with extra care as we can never do enough to protect the safety of our children and grandchildren.

Later this month the Jackson and Cape Girardeau city councils and staffs will conduct a tour of each others city facilities. We will learn from each other, gain new ideas, and continue the cooperative relationship between our growing cities. With this cooperative spirit both communities will continue to thrive.

The Jackson City Council meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. The public is always welcome. Your ideas on how we can make Jackson an even better place to live and work are also welcome.

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