Monday, May 7, 2012

City of Rolla Weekly Updates (May 7, 2012)

Building bridges
for a better future
By Bill Jenks, III, Mayor
Pedestrian bike paths continue to rank very high on citizen surveys in Rolla, and folks will be pleased to know the recent completion of the Coventry Park bridge and Coventry Park trail add yet another ¼ mile in length to the City’s 13-mile pedestrian bikepath network.
Although Coventry Park, located near Pinetree Road on the east side of Rolla, is not quite as visible as some of the community’s larger parks such as Ber Juan Park or Schuman Park, it is non-the-less a beautiful area that adds greatly to the neighborhood and surrounding area. To say the 32-foot long by 10-foot-wide bridge and eight-foot-wide trail are a nice addition to Coventry Park would be an understatement. The bridge gives access, recreational opportunities and peace of mind to walkers, bikers, runners, strollers, and anyone who would like to spend quality time in one of the City’s quality parks. 
(The dedication of the new Coventry Trail Bridge and ¼-mile-long paved Coventry Trail that provides access to Coventry Park, was held on Friday, April 27. Pictured at the ceremony were (1st row, l-r): Everett Briggs, Project Coordinator, City of Rolla Public Works Department; Darrell Jones, Senior Project Coordinator, City of Rolla Public Works Dept.; (2nd row, l-r); Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III; Dave Phelps, Street Foreman, City of Rolla Public Works Dept.; Steve Hargis, Director of Public Works, City of Rolla; Preston Kramer, Area Engineer, Central District, Missouri Department of Transportation; (3rd row, l-r):  John Butz, Rolla City Administrator; Dennis Spurgeon, Vice President, Maggi Construction; Anne McClay, Project Coordinator, City of Rolla Public Works Dept.; and Scott Caron, Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Rolla.)
It was, and always is an uplifting experience to participate in one of the City’s dedication ceremonies where I see how much hard work, collaboration, creativity and initiative go into a project such as the Coventry Trail Bridge and Coventry Trail. While we were all enjoying the beautiful setting of the bridge and trail, we saw young adults riding their bikes across the bridge and young men running across the bridge and down the trail to Pinetree Road. Watching members of our community enjoy the new trail and bridge was even more gratifying as it was unmistakable how useful the trail is, and how much it has already added to the community’s quality of life. Fitness and wellness, and a quiet place to enjoy nature are all by-products of this newly completed project, and I encourage others to venture over to Coventry Park some time and see how this project has opened up an otherwise inaccessible area.
The project was coordinated by the City’s Public Works Department, which, after a successful presentation by the City’s Engineering Division and Communications Office, was funded through a $100,000 Federal Highway Administration Transportation Grant administered by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). I would like to extend a special thanks to Anne McClay, Project Coordinator; Darrell Jones, Senior Project Coordinator; Everett Briggs, Project Coordinator and Steve Hargis, Director of Public Works for all of their design work, value engineering, and collaboration with Maggi Construction. Maggi ordered and installed the bridge and constructed a second culvert and the Coventry trail, and I’d like to express my appreciation to Dennis Spurgeon, Vice President, for a job well done. I’d also like to express my appreciation to the Missouri Department of Transportation for the opportunity to complete this project with the generous funding provided through their organization.
I thought it was very fitting that we dedicated Coventry Bridge and Coventry Trail on Arbor Day, and the week before Local Government Week kicked off. The bridge and trail will be maintained by the City of Rolla Parks and Recreation Department, which maintains all of the trails in the City’s pedestrian bikepath network. I think you would agree that the project reflects how our City employees continuously strive to build bridges for a better future.  Enjoy the weekend, and have a safe week.

Rolla City Council
Mtg. May 7
The next Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 7 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.

Rolla Downtown
Farmer’s Market
open every Tuesday
The Rolla Downtown Farmer’s Market is open and operating under the new shade structure in the lower parking lot of Rolla City Hall from 7 a.m. until 12-noon each Tuesday throughout the growing season.
The Farmer’s Market is coordinated by Roy Fiscus and Wilma Bingham, and spots are available for vendors to sell their items, but they must be locally grown or made products/produce (Phelps County).
No flea market, yard sale type items will be permitted. All spots are first come, first served. The cost to host a booth is $2 per day, which is given to the organizers the day the vendors are there.
For additional information, please contact Roy Fiscus at 341-8045 or Wilma Bingham at 364-5544.

Annual Bicycle and Surplus
Property Auction set for
May 12 at RPD
The annual Bicycle and Surplus Property Auction will be held on Saturday, May 12 at 9 a.m. at the Rolla Police Department (located at 1007 North Elm Street) in Rolla, Missouri.
The bidding begins at 9 a.m. Interested buyers should be there by 8:30 a.m. to obtain a bidding card. There will be no pre-viewing of any of these items prior to the sale. All items must be paid for at the time of the sale by cash or check only. No credit cards will be accepted.
For more information, please contact Lt. James Macormic at 573-308-1213.

Paving of Forum Dr.
from 18th to
Old St. James Rd.
underway
The City of Rolla Public Works Department is underway with the reconstruction for the eventual paving of Forum Drive from 18th Street to Old St. James Road The project should be completed sometime this summer.
The first phase of the project includes extensive milling (removing several inches of asphalt), and then excavating materials. After removing the materials, gravel will be placed on the road surface, and the road will be paved with five inches of asphalt.
Detour signs are posted in the construction area, indicating lane closures and alternate routes. During this time the City appreciates the assistance and cooperation of the public.
For more information, please call the Public Works Department at 364-8659 or visit www.rollacity.org.

RPD conducting sobriety
checkpoints in May
The Rolla Police Department will be cracking down on impaired drivers by conducting one to two sobriety checkpoints during the month of May 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.

RPD to crack down
on drunk driving
May 3-13
With prom and graduation season here, Missouri law enforcement want to make sure Missouri youth are celebrating safe and sober. The Rolla Police Department will join other Missouri law enforcement agencies to crack down on drunk driving May 3-13.
It is illegal for someone under 21 to possess or consume alcohol in Missouri, yet youth make up a significant proportion of drunk drivers causing traffic crashes on Missouri roadways. Missouri has a Zero Tolerance Law. If you are under 21, your license will be suspended if you’re caught driving with even a trace of alcohol in your system.
Consequences of drunk driving include jail time, loss of their driver’s licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.
“Driving drunk is simply not worth all the consequences,” said Sgt. Tim Mayfield with the Rolla Police Department. “Zero tolerance means zero chances: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
In 2011 in Missouri, 220 people were killed and 916 seriously injured in crashes involving an impaired driver. For more information, please visit www.saveMOlives.com.

Environmental Services Important Dates

 (clip & save coupon)
May 28, 2012 - Memorial DayMonday’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.
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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, Rolla Public Schools board meetings, Rolla High School Review and “City Minutes” hosted by the City of Rolla’s Communications Office.
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!

Upcoming Events
MAY 2012
May 7 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
May 11- Rolla Downtown Days; music, food, drink and great shopping (4-7 p.m.)
May 12 – Annual Bicycle and Surplus Property Auction (9 a.m.); RPD, 1007 N. Elm St. (contact Lt. James Macormic at 308-1213 for more info)
May 12 – Rolla Downtown Days; music, food, drink and great shopping (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
May 12 – Cruise In (5-8 p.m.); JC Penney Parking Lot, Southside Shoppers World
May 21 – Rolla City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
May 28 – Memorial Day Services (10 a.m.); Veterans Memorial Park, Southview Drive
May 28 – City Hall closed for Memorial Day Holiday

JUNE 2012
June 1-3 – 17th Annual Route 66 Summerfest, downtown Rolla (for info, visit: www.route66summerfest.com
June 4 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
June 18 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)

JULY 2012
July 2 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
July 4 – City Hall closed for Independence Day holiday
July 4-7 – Lions Club Carnival, Lions Club Park, Hwy. 63 South
July 14 – Cruise In (5-8 p.m.); JC Penney Parking Lot, Southside Shoppers World
July 16 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)

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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