Building for
a sustainable,
healthy future
By Mayor Bill Jenks, III
Spring has sprung with a vengeance in the Ozark Highlands and there are not too many other places in our country that display Nature’s beauty and splendor than right here in Rolla, Missouri. I hope you are enjoying the beautiful, balmy weather we have been blessed with over the last several weeks, and you are enjoying the Easter weekend.
When you consider the abundance of pedestrian bike path trails, expansive park lands, wineries, golf courses, theatre, and great dining, shopping and cultural opportunities available in the Rolla and Meramec Valley region, it’s no wonder more and more folks are settling down in this part of the country to either live, work, learn or play. Rolla’s population, now at 19,555, has grown significantly since the last U.S. Census was taken. Balancing this new growth with a sustainable, healthy community is one of the primary focuses of not only the Rolla City Council and City staff, but also a majority of citizens and businesses who continually comment on Rolla’s quality of life, and abundant recreational and cultural opportunities.
With the City’s current sales tax revenues at about 8% as of March 2012, and positive signs of economic growth on the horizon, it’s encouraging to see Rolla emerging from the Great Recession with an unemployment rate at about 6.5 % - significantly lower than the national and state averages. New, upscale homes are again being constructed in the area, as well as new retail stores and business offices that are positive indicators for a community that has become the hub for South Central Missouri in the areas of health, education, retail shopping, dining, cultural events and transportation.
Along with the growth in the areas mentioned, the City must also keep pace with the demands of improved and enhanced infrastructure, including smooth roads, safe sidewalks, and adequate sewer and stormwater systems. With increased regulatory oversight and higher environmental standards being established by the Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, it is vitally important that the Rolla City Council, City departments and community prepare for our future with the objective of becoming the sustainable, healthy community we wish to be not only this year, and the year after, but 25 years from now. Rolla’s future economic prosperity, new job creation (in high tech, manufacturing, telecommunications and education), increased retail, and dinning opportunities, new housing and office construction and sound infrastructure, will all need to be planned while also balancing the increased need for more sophisticated and advanced stormwater and sewer systems that our City’s Public Works Department is pursuing in many different areas. I will continue to focus on these important areas in future City Talk columns and through other venues. In the meantime, please enjoy the beautiful weather, and have a safe week!
RPD to crack down
on impaired drivers
in April
The Rolla Police Department will be cracking down on impaired drivers by conducting a sobriety checkpoint during the month of April 2012.
Law enforcement efforts will be increased in an endeavor to reduce the deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired drivers. Those caught drinking and driving could lose their license, money, and freedom.
For more Information, please contact Sgt. Tim Mayfield at (573) 308-1213.
Rolla Fine Arts Day
set for April 13
at The Centre
Rolla Fine Arts Day 2012 will take place on Friday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Centre, 1200 N. Holloway St. There will be student artists, hands-on demonstrations throughout the day and a silent auction featureing “student designed” jewelry to benefit the United Way of South Central Missouri. Bidding at the auction will end at 6 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate and try their hand at the arts and to bid on or just vote for their favorite piece of jewelry.
For more information, please call Kent Bagnall at 364-1030.
Cruise-In set for April 14
in JC Penney parking lot
The first Cruise-In of the year will be held on Saturday, April 14 from 5-8 p.m. in the JC Penney parking lot located at the Southside Shoppers World on Hwy. 63 South (one mile past Wal-Mart).
The Cruise In will be held the second Saturday of the month through October 2012, except the month of June, when Route 66 Summerfest is held in downtown Rolla.
The event is free, and open to the public. For more information, please contact event organizer Jim Larson at 573-364-0865 or 573-465-0865.
Rolla City Council Mtg.
set for April 16
The next Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street.
Rolla City Council meetings are ordinarily held the first and third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. except when there is a conflict with an observed holiday.
To review a copy of the City Council agendas or the full agenda packet, please visit http://rollacity.org/admin/agenda.shtml#agenda. For more information, please contact Rolla City Administration at 426-6948.
To review a copy of the City Council agendas or the full agenda packet, please visit http://rollacity.org/admin/agenda.shtml#agenda. For more information, please contact Rolla City Administration at 426-6948.
Rolla Town Hall Meeting
on Heroin Awareness
set for April 24
The public is invited to attend a Rolla Town Hall Meeting on Heroin Awareness on Tuesday, April 24 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Rolla Technical Center Board Room located in the RPS Administration Building at 500 Forum Drive. The event is being hosted by the Phelps County Child Advocacy Network, and funded through the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
“The purpose of this meeting is to raise awareness and educate the community about the growing problem of Heroin use in our community,” said Police Chief Mark Kearse, Rolla Police Department. “Law enforcement, treatment for addicts, and personal testimony from a parent whose child died from Heroin use will be featured.”
Kearse urges the community to be proactive, and attend this meeting. “Heroin use has become epidemic in Missouri, and Phelps County and Rolla are at risk,” he said.
Chief Kearse further states that Heroin has hit our country hard and Rolla is having the same problem. “I have seen many people’s lives devastated by this drug. It’s amazing how much heroin is in our community, as the Rolla Police Dept. deals with it almost daily. I'm one of the speakers at this event along with our Street Crimes unit - attend if you can as this effects us all,” he said.
For more information, please visit www.not-even-once.com.
Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast
set for May 3
The National Day of Prayer Committee is hosting the 2012 Mayor's Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 3, 6:30 a.m., at Missouri S&T's Havener Center.
Individual tickets for the event are $12 and can be purchased from Millie Street, Executive Secretary, Administration Department, Rolla City Hall (3rd Floor), 901 N. Elm Street during regular business hours.
Individual tickets for the event are $12 and can be purchased from Millie Street, Executive Secretary, Administration Department, Rolla City Hall (3rd Floor), 901 N. Elm Street during regular business hours.
The cost to sponsor a table is $125, which entitles you to a full breakfast for eight people of your choosing.
The keynote speaker this year will be Karen Dye, Executive Producer and host of a Christian television program, "A Courageous Heart." She is a 20-year veteran of the radio broadcast industry and is a former morning show co-host at SPIRIT FM. She has been a featured speaker for the "Celebrate Recovery" groups and has lived a life that has been filled with challenges and heartbreak.
If you have any questions, please contact Emily Barnes at 364-3292 or e-mail her at emilyb@fidmail.com.
Environmental Services Important Dates
(clip & save coupon)
May 28, 2012 - Memorial Day: Monday’s trash will be picked up Tuesday; Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
July 4, 2012 - Independence Day: Schedule will not change.
Sept. 3, 2012 - Labor Day: Monday’s trash will be picked up Tuesday; Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
Oct. 6, 2012 - Citywide Fall Clean Up: Saturday - Citywide clean up day (residential only).
Nov. 22, 2012 – Thanksgiving Day: Thursday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
Dec. 25, 2012 – Christmas Day: Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
.
Holidays NOT affecting trash or recycling collection:
Oct. 8, 2012 – Columbus Day
Nov. 12, 2012 – Veteran’s Day
Nov. 23, 2012 – Day after Thanksgiving
Rolla Channel 16
live streaming
24/7 on the Web
If you happen to miss the airing of a Rolla City Council meeting, Planning & Zoning meeting, Rolla Public School Board meeting or Board of Public Works meeting, you can now watch them live on the Rolla Channel 16 Website at http://rollachannel16.com.
Rolla Channel 16, Rolla’s premiere Education and Government channel, is also now live streaming (24/7) at http://rollachannel16.com. RC16 is live streaming all Rolla City Council meetings, Rolla Planning & Zoning Commission meetings, all future episodes of “City Minutes”, all Rolla Public Schools board meetings, and Rolla High School Review.
Other syndicated content on RC16 such as Missouri Outdoors, Army Newswatch, and Capitol Dialogue will also live stream on RC16 at http://rollachannel16.com.
For more information regarding programming or DVD duplication of Rolla City Council meetings, Rolla Planning & Zoning meetings, and Rolla Public Schools board meetings, etc., please contact Gabe Mankin, Digital Media Operations Manager, at (573) 426-3377 or at Gabe.Mankin@fidelitycommunications.com.
Be sure to watch Rolla Channel 16 – Education, Government and Community for you!
APRIL 2012
April 13 – Fine Arts Day at The Centre (341-2386)
April 14 – First Cruise-In of the summer (5-8 p.m.); JC Penney Parking Lot in Southside Shoppers World, Hwy. 63 North; held 2nd Saturday of the month through October; June excluded due to Route 66 Summerfest
April 16 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
April 20 – Rolla Earth Day Celebration (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.); Havener Center lawn, Missouri S&T campus; FREE and open to the public
MAY 2012
May 3 – Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast (6:30 a.m.); Havener Center, Missouri S&T campus; tickets available at Rolla City Hall - Administration, 3rd Floor
May 7 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
May 11-12 – Rolla Downtown Days; music, food, drink and great shopping
May 21 – Rolla City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
May 28 – City Hall closed for Memorial Day Holiday
Scott A. Grahl
Communications Director
City of Rolla, Missouri
(573) 426-6943
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& Twitter at www.rollacity.org
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