Monthly Archives: June 2023

(June 29, 2023 7:22 AM) A Boil Water Advisory for City of Jackson and Blackman Township water customers was officially lifted on Thursday, June 29. Residents getting water from the City of Jackson can use their tap water without boiling it first. Recent tests show the water going to homes and businesses is safe to use. A Boil Water Advisory was launched the afternoon of Tuesday, June 27 for water customers in Jackson and Blackman Township due a malfunction at the Water Treatment Plant. The State of Michigan required the advisory as a precaution. While the malfunction did impact water quality at the plant, treated water that went to homes and businesses was tested and did not show any contamination. However, due to the potential for impacted water quality, it was important to inform water customers. This was the first Boil Water Advisory the City has ever issued. The Water Department is now taking steps to make sure this malfunction does not happen again and install further safeguards that can prevent future advisories. “Our customers put a lot of trust in us as a water supplier and we want to continue that trust. Providing clean drinking water is a top…

Work continues on westbound I-94 between M-60 and Dearing Road.  MDOT photo. (June 28, 2023 4:40 PM) The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has announced two upcoming closures as part of the I-94 Jackson project rebuilding nearly 13 miles of I-94 in Jackson, Albion, and Parma.  MDOT will close the Blackman Road bridge over I-94 for maintenance in Jackson County.  The closure begins at 7 a.m. Thursday, June 29, 2023 with an estimated end date of Friday, July 28, 2023. This work will require closing the Blackman Road bridge over I-94 for maintenance. Traffic will be detoured via County Farm Road, Airport Road, and Michigan Avenue. Motorists should expect delays. MDOT will close the Dearing Road entrance ramp to westbound I-94 for rebuilding in Jackson County.  This work will require closing the Dearing Road entrance ramp to westbound I-94. Traffic will be detoured via westbound Michigan Avenue, then eastbound I-94 to Dearing Road. Motorists should expect delays.  The closure goes into effect on July 5 through August 4.

AirNow.gov (June 28, 2023 3:55 PM ET) The Jackson County Health Department has issued guidance in response to air quality issues in southern lower Michigan, including Jackson County.  Yesterday and today, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued air quality alerts for high levels of fine particulate in the air. These levels are caused by smoke from fires in Canada. EGLE Meteorologists are continuing to assess conditions and will issue additional alerts if necessary. A number of outdoor activities have been canceled or postponed due to the air quality, including City of Jackson Recreation programs and the Nixon Water Park is closed for the day. In a Facebook post, EGLE meteorologists said, ”A dense plume of smoke came down from these fires overnight and almost all of southern Michigan is dealing with the smoke with PM-2.5 values in the Unhealthy and Very Unhealthy range. The values are expected to improve slightly throughout the day Wednesday, but many areas will still be above the alert threshold of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups and possibly into the Unhealthy for all range still.”  EGLE is forecasting an improvement in smoke concentrations by Friday. "Tomorrow morning, we will reassess the forecast…