Jackson revs up TIF commission

The city of Jackson is beginning its second phase of a plan to lure business. According to Mayor Barbara Lohr, the Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) Commission is being reactivated.

"The whole purpose of a TIF is to allow the developer to be able to do all their infrastructure up front," she said. "Then they're allowed a tax abatement to pay it off. It's an incentive."

She said Buchheit was developed during the first phase of the 23-year TIF district and "it has worked out very well."

The second TIF district runs along the west side of Interstate 55, between Old Cape and Ridge roads.

TIF decisions are made by a board of six city officials, two county commissioners, two school officials and one representative for six smaller tax entities: the county's Public Health Center; Sheltered Workshop; Senior Citizens Service Fund Board; Regional Library; Mental Health Board; and Road and Bridge District.

The TIF covers the cost of water and sewer lines, but not parking lots, Lohr said. Companies that develop the area are looking at a 100 percent tax abatement that lasts until the infrastructure development note is repaid.

Lohr said the board will meet at 6:30 p.m. May 12 at Jackson City Hall, 101 Court St.

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce reopens today. The office remained closed last week to allow folks to adjust to the tragic loss of executive director Marybeth Williams. Friday's memorial service for her was packed. Many spoke of Williams' brilliant smile, her diplomacy and femininity. One friend described her as "the woman she was capable of being."

It will be more difficult to replace her, said Jackson Chamber of Commerce board member Jim Mantz. He said the board's next regular meeting is May 14 and they will figure out how to run the chamber in the immediate future.

"We like to appear in the newspapers," wrote T.S. Eliot, a poet and Missouri native, "So long as we are in the right column."

This may not be the right column for someone today, because Eliot's name is misspelled on Cape Girardeau's Wall of Fame. Tim Blattner, River Heritage Mural Association president, was beyond upset over the news.

"Too many l's or too many t's?" asked Blattner, who was in charge of the reader boards, where Eliot's name is correctly spelled.

Before Blattner ended our brief conversation, he said the error would be swiftly fixed.

But sometimes a bad thing can be a good thing. The Eliot tip put me in front of the wall. Once there, it was fun to check out all the famous Missourians and wonder who, if anyone, might be added in the future.

Cape Girardeau city councilman Charlie Herbst was elected mayor pro tem at the board's most recent meeting. Get links to tonight's city council meeting agenda as well as other meetings today on my blog at www.semissourian.com.

Questions, suggestions or tips for Lost on Main Street? E-mail pmcnichol@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 127.