News Flash

State of the City Address planned for Wednesday, Feb. 26

It’s become an annual event for Jackson to reflect on accomplishments of the previous year and look ahead to the future. The City of Jackson is announcing plans for the 2020 State of the City Address. The address, which will be delivered by Mayo...

Neighborhood meeting for Sixth Ward happening Thursday, Jan. 30

Residents in Jackson’s Sixth Ward have an upcoming opportunity to meet with their City Council representative and learn the latest news from City government. 

Councilmember Will Forgrave is holding a neighborhood meeting for the Sixth Wa...

Jackson City Manager Patrick Burtch announces resignation

Patrick Burtch is announcing his resignation from the City Manager position. Burtch has been with the City of Jackson for nearly nine years. He was first appointed to be Assistant City Manager in May 2011 before taking on the role of City Manager in 2012....

Preparing for wicked winter weather: How to help DPW crews keep roads safe this winter season

When harsh snow and ice strike, crews from the City of Jackson Department of Public Works (DPW) are out in salt and plow trucks helping to make sure streets are safe to use. 

Bob Stolarz is a DPW worker who’s been battling winter weather...

Message from the Mayor: Residents needed to make an impact on City boards and commissions

Happy New Year to everyone in the City of Jackson! 

With 2020 here, many of us are making plans for the year ahead and looking for ways to make an impact in the community. 

Now that a new city council is seated, I look forward to working w...

New Softball League Coordinator comes to City

Welcome to the City of Jackson! 

James Wagner is the Parks & Recreation Department’s new Softball League Coordinator.

He’s been playing softball in the community for the past 30 years. 

James says he’s loo...

Making houses into homes: Jackson non-profit helps those in need with free furniture and home goods

Stacks of dishes, appliances, home decor, and towels have taken over the front of Patricia Gougeon’s house on Jackson’s east side. 

All of these items are ready to go at a moment’s notice for anyone in need. ...

Loose leaf collection update

Loose leaf collection will continue in the City of Jackson throughout the winter and into the spring when the weather permits.

To help speed up the process, the Department of Public Works (DPW) will be using other collection methods in addition to the leaf...

From food cart to new restaurant: Pryor's BBQ House opens on City's south side

After working out of a food cart for the last 30 years, Larry Pryor says he’s excited to have more elbow room in his new restaurant.

“This feels really good to have a legitimate kitchen and to move around freely,” Pryor said.

T...

Jackson City Council Jan. 14, 2020 meeting

Here are some highlights from the Jackson City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14:

-The council unanimously approved a resolution that supports proposed state legislation that creates a process for expunging misdemeanors and select felonies from criminal...

Winter 2020 City of Jackson Newsletter now available!

The Winter 2020 edition of the City of Jackson Newsletter is now available! 

For our new edition, the City is bringing residents a wide range of stories, including the latest on a new restaurant on Jackson’s south side and a non-profit m...

New fire pit warming up Downtown Jackson

A new fire pit is warming up visitors and creating a cozy atmosphere in Downtown Jackson. The City of Jackson recently completed its installation of fire pit in Bucky Harris Park, which is located in the heart of downtown at the corner of W. Michigan Aven...

New Senior Citizen Activity & Aquatics Coordinator comes to City

Alexa Markham is now on the job as the Parks and Recreation Department's new Senior Citizen Activity Coordinator and Nixon Pool Supervisor. 

She comes to the City of Jackson from the Jackson YMCA where she was Aquatic Director. 

Alexa says...

Jackson firefighters donate winter coats to local kids in need

Firefighters from the City of Jackson and Summit Township went on a special call to Frost/Cascades Elementary School on Thursday, Dec. 19 to deliver a warm surprise. Just in time for freezing cold temperatures, the firefighters gave out winter coats to 11...

Jackson City Council Dec. 17, 2019 Meeting

Here’s what happened at the Jackson City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 17th, 2019.

This was the last council meeting of 2019, and it was a short one, lasting around 30 minutes.

A topic of discussion was a proposal to change the special asse...

Happy Holidays from the City of Jackson!

The City of Jackson wishes all of our neighbors a wonderful holiday season. Please enjoy this video of holiday lights all over Jackson and a greeting from the City Council.

New City Attorney hired for City of Jackson

There will soon be a new City Attorney on the job at Jackson City Hall. At their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 26, the Jackson City Council approved a contract for Matthew Hagerty to serve as the new City Attorney. Hagerty was the council’s top choic...

City of Jackson welcomes new Executive Director of Jackson Downtown Development Authority

The City of Jackson is welcoming a new leader to Downtown Jackson! Cory Mays recently came on board as the Executive Director of the Jackson Downtown Development Authority.

Mays, a long-time Jackson resident, comes to the DDA after working in education and...

City of Jackson launches redesigned website and new resident communication system!

The City of Jackson is unveiling its redesigned website and new resident communication system! The redesign brings a fresh and modern look to the City’s website, cityofjackson.org. The City, which hasn’t undergone a large-scale website...

Jackson City Council Oct. 29, 2019 Meeting

Here’s what happened at the Jackson City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 29^th, 2019.

It was a quick meeting with a short agenda, lasting under 30 minutes.

The most notable action item on the agenda was awarding a rehabilitation contract.

It rec...

Neighborhood watch group working to improve Jackson community

It started in 2008 with six neighbors with a drive to make a difference in their community. 

“We just wanted to have our neighborhood safer and build better relationships with the police department,” said Carie Meadows, founder of the B2 Watchers ...

Investing in Jackson: Where's the money going?

The skyline of Downtown Jackson is undergoing massive changes as several new developments and building renovations take shape. 

While some worry this means all of the City’s resources are going to the downtown area, new data from the City of Jacks...

Group turning vacant Jackson lots into gardens for youth programs

They were once just empty lots on the city’s south side where houses used to stand.

While some may have seen urban emptiness, Diane Washington saw opportunity.

“We’ve had so many people stop by and tell us that it really looks nice and they appreciate us be...

Jackson City Council Oct. 15, 2019 meeting

Solutions to curb gun violence, marijuana establishments in the city, and Halloween hours. 

Watch this video to see what was decided at the Oct. 15 meeting of the Jackson City Council. 

Fall edition of City Newsletter now available!

The Fall 2019 edition of the City of Jackson Newsletter is now available! 

The newsletter keeps residents up to date about what's happening in City government and all over the community.

It is mailed to residents all over the City. 

You can...

City of Jackson receives financial reporting award

The City of Jackson has received the Government Finance Officers Association award for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reporting or CAFR, for fiscal year ending in 2018.  The GFOA represents federal, state/provincial and local finance official...

Downtown alley renamed for woman who found freedom in Jackson on Underground Railroad

A revitalized alley in Downtown Jackson has been named for a woman who came to Jackson seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad. At their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, the Jackson City Council approved the renaming of Victory Lane on W. Michigan A...

Jackson City Council Sept. 3, 2019 meeting

The road repair millages, pay increases for city staff, and a new name for a revitalized alley in Downtown Jackson, Watch this video to see what was decided at the Sept. 3 meeting of the Jackson City Council.

Fourth Street construction project complete

Fourth Street at the intersection of Horton and Stonewall roads is now open to traffic.

This area was closed for several months for a massive construction project. The intersection was realigned to provide better traffic flow and to provide more pedestrian...

Two aging railroad bridges in Downtown Jackson to be replaced using federal funds

Federal funds will be used in the coming years to replace two aging railroad bridges in Downtown Jackson.

It was announced last week that the U.S. Department of Transportation had granted more than $23 million to the Michigan Department of Transportation t...

Street resurfacing continues on Jackson's west side

Streets continue to be improved in the City of Jackson. 

The City of Jackson continues to make progress in resurfacing four neighborhood streets on the city's west side. 

Grinnell, Thompson, Higby and Durand streets have all seen major att...

Jackson Fire Department using new rescue stabilization tools

Firefighters at the Jackson Fire Department are working with the latest stabilization tools when they go to rescues at a vehicle crash or fire scene. Two sets of the tools, called Rescue 42s, were recently acquired by the fire department and put into serv...

Massive construction project starting July 15 in neighborhood south of Downtown Jackson

A neighborhood south of Downtown Jackson is about to receive a big overhaul, as the City of Jackson prepares to start a massive road construction project on Monday, July 15 that will last until mid-November. The work focuses on the area surrounding Austin...

City of Jackson starts employment program for local youth

When you’re out and about in Jackson this summer, you’re likely to see a group of young people working hard to clean up the city. Micah Cretsinger, a recent graduate of Jackson High School, is one of them. “This is actually m...

Jackson City Council June 25, 2019 Meeting

Community events, funding for construction projects, and an unusually short meeting! Watch this video to see what was decided at tonight’s Jackson City Council meeting.

New rules for fireworks use in City of Jackson

As Jackson residents plan summer holiday celebrations, they will want to be aware of new rules about fireworks. In December, 2018, Gov. Rick Snyder signed new rules for using fireworks in Michigan. The Jackson City Council changed the City of Jackson&...

City of Jackson 2018 Annual Report ready to view

The City of Jackson 2018 Annual Report has been accepted and placed on file by the Jackson City Council. 

The annual report highlights the accomplishments and innovations of City leaders and departments over the past year. 

The report can ...

City of Jackson wins tap water taste test award

The City of Jackson is raising a glass to a special award that honors the tastiness of our drinking water. At its annual Spring Regional Meeting in Livonia on April 9, the Michigan Section of the American Water Works Association awarded the City of Jackso...

"Evicted" named Mayor's 2019 Book of the Year

Mayor Derek Dobies has selected the Pulitzer Prize winning book "Evicted" by Matthew Desmond as the 2019 Mayor's Book of the Year.  

Watch this video learn more about this year's selection.