JACKSON WORKS HARD TO MINIMIZE GROWTH PAINS

Jackson continues to experience remarkable growth. The Board of Aldermen is approving plans for new subdivisions while builders fill out existing ones. But the town's rapid residential growth is forcing city officials to scramble to keep up.

The city has had to upgrade its overall street plans to accommodate new subdivisions in previously undeveloped parts of the city limits. Also, officials were forced to make improvements recently to Jackson's water system to better serve the growing community. A new building code has been adopted and put into effect for the same reason.

Now the city must add an electric substation with at least two more likely needed in the future. Although Jackson's electric system works fine now, distribution improvements must be made to ensure problems don't arise in the future.

Such developments and improvements don't come cheap. Beyond the financial cost, there are the headaches of planning and walking the tight rope of city regulation to ensure orderly growth without discouraging it.

But with an eye toward getting ahead of growth in terms of infrastructure improvements and with the will to tackle immediate problems, city leaders are welcoming Jackson's growing "pains."