The Jefferson city council at its Nov. 25 meeting approved an application for a $250,000 Regional Transportation federal grant for construction of a shared-use path from the intersection of W. Central Ave and N. Walnut St to the southeast corner of the Greene County High School property.
Total project cost is estimated at $400,000, with the city and Greene County Community Schools splitting the remaining $150,000 in cost.
The path would go north from the intersection, west of the tree line on the west side of the St Joseph Cemetery, then jog back to the east and skirt the east edge of the school property to the north, past the dog park, and then turn to the west to connect to the southeast corner of the south parking lot at the school. Access to the dog park from the path is included in the project, and the path would be available to the community, not only students going to school.
The city’s share of the project would be engineering costs, estimated at $71,500 for design, bidding, construction and grant administration. It includes an amount less than $10,000 for the preliminary design documents and graphics needed for the grant application. The remaining $61,500 in engineering work will not be done if the grant is not funded.
The council approved a contract with Bolton & Menk for the preliminary work.
The council approved another contract with Bolton & Menk for an engineering study of Drainage District 57, which is primarily the northeast portion of the city south to the Greene County Fairgrounds. The area is prone to flooding during times of high rainfall. The study will analyze the entire district and prepare conceptual plans to address issues in three or four high priority areas.
The city approved annual tax increment financing (TIF) payments to four businesses per development agreements approved by previous councils. The amount paid to each business is based on the actual amount of taxes received from that business, with the approved amount being the maximum payment.
Those payments are to BAM, Fairview Vet Clinic, $15,000; Tri-County Cash Lumber Mart Inc, Briarwood subdivision, $7,000; Mark Bauer Development, Lincoln Ridge subdivision, $27,000; and Jefferson Hotel Group, Cobblestone Inn, $101,200.
The council approved hiring Lindsay Wathen as assistant park and recreation director at an annual salary of $50,000, effective Dec. 1. The council also approved hiring Lucas Shipley as a sanitation/streets worker at an hourly rate of $25.50.
The council approved a plat of survey of .76 acres The Sanctuary is purchasing from Greene County Development Corporation east of the church’s new location at 1603 N. Elm St.
The council approved the purchase of a used 2002 generator from the City of Osceola to serve wells 7 and 8 (east of the city on Hwy 30, south of Concrete Supply). It will replace a generator that dates back to 1979. Cost is $21,000, including transportation and installation. Public works superintendent Dave Morlan had obtained two estimates for new generators – one for $130,000, and another for $53,000. The generator from Osceola has 600 hours on it, a low number as generators go.
City administrator Scott Peterson said the generator was already in Jefferson and could be installed the next day. The council heard a 20 minute biannual update from various Jefferson Matters board members and committee chairs.
