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City names new parks director During the Tuesday, Feb. 26 meeting of the Jackson City Council, Public Works Director Kevin Woodson introduced the city's newest employee, Parks and Recreation Director DeWayne Byrd. Byrd's job will fall under the umbrella of the public works department. His responsibilities will include the upkeep and maintenance of all the cityowned parks and the equipment located there. "I feel like the need for a parks and recreation director is way overdue in Jackson," Byrd said. "I believe the city is moving in the right direction and that I can make a difference. Some things will take time, because as it's been said, 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' It is a true blessing to work for the city of Jackson." All council members present at the meeting and Mayor Richard Long welcomed Byrd to the newly-created position. "This is a project we have been working on for a long time," said Councilman Robert Marks. "I believe it will be very vital to the success of the city." Councilman Eddie Huggins agreed. "I had a chance to sit down and talk with DeWayne for awhile and I think he will be an asset to the city and will do a good job." Library awarded grants for building fund White Smith Memorial Library Director Debra Grayson reported to the council that two grants, totalling $100,000, had been awarded to the library. She said the money will be added to what has already been accumulated toward the planned expansion of the facility. With the newly awarded grants, the building fund now totals $230,000. Councilman Huggins said the Friends of the Library had applied for 501-C3 (nonprofit) status in order to accept donations without being taxed. "We thought we could apply without incorporating, but were informed by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) that the approval would take less time if we did incorporate," he said. "Without incorporating, the approval would take 6-18 months, as opposed to 2-4 months if we incorporate." Mayor's Report Mayor Long gave the following report during Tuesday's meeting: *Congratulations are in order for Stevie Bolen, daughter of Crystal and Leigh Bolen and niece of Councilman (Daron) Bolen. Stevie was crowned Miss West alabama University and will now compete in the Miss Alabama contest on the way to Miss America. *We hired a park superintendent in the public works department last Friday. We also hired two other individuals to bring Public Works to the number of employees needed. *We received notification from Governor Riley right after his visit and announcement that the ADDEC grant of $500,000 had been approved for the site prep work at the Highway 177 industrial park. We also received approval from ALDOT Director Joe McInnis for splitting out the state money from the federal funds for paving. We will now proceed to plan the paving of Depot Road and Industrial Road in front of Boise and Gulf Lumber. Director McInnis also announced that the Highway 43 turn lane from West Point Drive to McVay Road would be completed in 2009. Both the governor and the director were very impressed with our city during their visit. *The city of Jackson is in excellent financial condition as we are completing five months of this fiscal year. I want to thank the council and all of the employees for making this possible. *Project development continues on Mike Parham's restaurant on Highway 43 North, the new Clarke Mobile Counties Gas District office complex and the new Harvey's Furniture building. A ribbon cutting ceremony was conducted last week at the Blackberry Cottage gift shop (1504 College Avenue). *There will be a public hearing this Friday at 4 p.m. and a special meeting at 4:40 to approve an ordinance for the rezoning of the Highway 177 industrial park. The council has already approved the rezoning by resolution." Police chief's report Police Chief Charles Burge reported that the department had received the six patrol cars and motorcycle ordered for the department last year. "It will take awhile to have the equipment installed in them and get them operational," he said. *Burge said the department had received a new fingerprint scanning station. "This is an automated system that automatically sends prints to the ABI (Alabama Bureau of Investigation)," he said. "It is cleaner and produces a more reliable print." *The chief said participants in this year's Student Police Academy would travel to Mobile Wednesday and tour the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Problem with trucks on wrong side of road Councilman Marks said he had received complaints from motorists concerning trucks driving on the wrong side of the road on Industrial Road. The road is two lanes heading south and one lane heading north. Marks suggested notifying trucking companies and perhaps re-striping the road so that the lanes are more clearly defined. Mayor Long said Boise had met with all of it's trucking companies and provided them with new maps and directions about how to travel to and from the plant. He said the Internet site MapQuest tells truckers to go down College Avenue, which is wrong. He added that he had suggested that Boise contact MapQuest and inform them that the proper routes are down Industrial Road from Highway 43 on the north end and from Highway 177 on the south end. Actions taken/ other business *The council voted to approve a restaurant alcohol license for the new Mater's Restaurant located at 3522 College Avenue. *Streetlights were approved for the corner of West Clinton and Portis Avenue and at 214 Fairview Circle. *Four resolutions related to the city's comprehensive plan, as required for the receipt of community development block grants (CDBG), were approved. *An $11,000 contract with Southwest Alabama Construction was approved for the completion of a drainage project located on Parker Street and Hillcrest.
*An ordinance concerning the rezoning of property located in the new industrial park on Highway 177 will be considered at a special meeting Friday, Feb. 29 at 4:45 p.m. The approval of the low bidder for the site work for the new pellet plant to be located in the industrial park will also be considered.The low bidder was SAIA Construction with a bid of $615,820.
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