Council members to be recognized at April 20 Mtg.

Regardless of how you voted during the Rolla Municipal Election on April 7, I think most Rolla residents will agree that serving a two-year term on the Rolla City Council is a significant contribution of time, talent and effort. And while the voter turn-out has been better in year’s past than it was on April 7, I applaud the residents who did take the time and effort to cast their votes or ballots.

At the City Council meeting scheduled for this Monday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m., I will be recognizing two outgoing and much appreciated City Council members in Councilman Terry Ruck (Ward 1) and Councilman Rick Morris (Ward 5). Both of these individuals have given generously of their time and energy by attending, preparing for and participating in City Council meetings, workshops, retreats and Ward meetings. Their input and expertise will be missed.

I will also be joining the City Council in welcoming the returning and newly elected City Council members who will be taking the oath of office in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The Council members who were re-elected to another 2-year term include: Don Barklage (Ward 2); Gary Hicks (Ward 3); Lou Magdits (Ward 4) and Mark Walburg (Ward 6). The two new members elected to the City Council are Don Brown (Ward 1) and Ken Boeker (Ward 5). If you have not yet had the opportunity to meet these City Council members, I encourage you to attend Monday’s meeting or a future City Council meeting so you can get to know the individuals who represent your Ward and the Rolla community.

In closing I’d like to remind everyone about the upcoming Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday (April 19-25). In February the Rolla City Council enacted an ordinance to allow the Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday to apply to its local sales taxes so that they will be exempted from all retail sales of any energy star certified appliance, up to $1,500 per appliance. The seven-day tax holiday on energy star appliances begins at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, April 19 and ends at midnight on Saturday, April 25.

Some of the energy star certified appliances that will be exempt from both state and City sales tax include: clothes washers and dryers, water heaters, trash compactors, dishwashers, conventional ovens, ranges, stoves, air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators and freezers.

Please also don’t forget to attend the Rolla Earth Day Celebration this Wednesday, April 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Havener Center on the Missouri S&T campus. The events are free and open to the public.