City Council, November 5—Mayor Becker opened the meeting by thanking City Councilor Ken Gregg and Donna Bowen for their work in curating and installing a new photo display in Old City Hall. The new permanent photographic exhibit includes dozens of historic photos of Jacksonville’s pioneering citizens, buildings and scenes.
During staff reports, Planner Ian Foster updated council on soon-to-happen revisions and the scope of work needed to update Jacksonville’s building codes. Foster noted that adoption of a new code by January 2021 was “aspirational.” Please see an update on the process and creation of a new volunteer Citizens Advisory Committee this page.
Council voted unanimously to appoint Lori Buerk to fill a vacancy on the Budget Committee. In his remarks, Mayor Becker noted, “It’s citizens like Lori that make this such a remarkable community to live in!”
Council adopted two resolutions enabling the Jackson County Law Enforcement Service District to include Jacksonville voters in the upcoming ballot measure. The measure will ask voters to approve a tax increase to fund construction of a new county jail.
ACE Hardware to Open in Jacksonville-—After completion of Planning Department and HARC approval processes, ACE Hardware will be opening a new store in the vacant space adjoining Ray’s Food Place. The space has been vacant for years and was used primarily for storage space. The store, according to sources contacted by the Review, will be much like the ACE store inside the Central Point Ray’s with most of the top product skews available. The new store should be open in time for holiday shopping.