Monday, June 18, 2012

City of Rolla Weekly E-Updates (June 18, 2012)


Rolla City Council
Mtg., June 18
The next Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 18 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.

New Rolla City Council
members attend
Elected Officials Training
Newly elected Rolla City Council members Kelly Long (Ward 3) and Steve Leonard (Ward 2), recently attending the Missouri Municipal League 2012 Elected Officials Training Conference on June 14 and 15 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.
The conference, which was attended by hundreds of newly elected officials across the state, consisted of a comprehensive overview of municipal government, including what it looks like and how it works. Some of the areas covered included: the municipal budget process; conflict resolution; liability and risk; the Missouri Open Meetings and Records Law; public works contracts, economic development; taxation and revenue; ethics and the many services provided by the Missouri Municipal League.
“This conference is a great overview to municipal government,” said John Butz, City Administrator. “In addition to the great training it provides, it also provides elected officials an opportunity to meet with and network with other elected and government officials who are facing the same kind of challenges and issues we are in Rolla.”
The Missouri Municipal League, an independent, statewide not-for-profit association governed by a Board of Directors, was organized in 1934. Its aim has been "to develop an agency for the cooperation of Missouri cities, towns and villages and to promote the interest, welfare and closer relations among them in order to improve municipal government and administration in the state." Thus, the League's basic goal is to strengthen cities through unity and cooperation.

Child Safety Seat Clinic
set for June 19-21
The public is invited to attend a FREE Child Safety Seat Clinic on Tuesday, June 19; Wednesday, June 20; and Thursday, June 21 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the City of Rolla Fire and Rescue headquarters (located at 1490 E. 10th Street in Rolla).
During this clinic, certified child safety seat technicians will inspect your child car seat, and show you how to correctly install and use it.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of four child safety seats are improperly installed. In 2011, eight children less than eight-years-old were killed and 1,624 children were injured as occupants in motor vehicle crashes in Missouri.
A limited number o seats are available at no charge to those that meet income guidelines. For more information on this program, please call Lynette Manley, City of Rolla Fire & Rescue, at 364-3989 or Lisa at the Phelps County Health Department at 458-6030.

Public Works
Dept. finishes
paving of
Forum Drive
By Mayor Bill Jenks, III
The long awaited milling, excavating and paving (six inches of asphalt) of Forum Drive from 18th Street to Old St. James Road was completed about two months ahead of schedule last Friday by the Public Works Street Division. Realizing how many residents live along this stretch of Forum Drive and how important this east/west collector is, I’m very pleased that the project was completed as quickly and efficiently as it was.
I would first like to thank the residents and business owners in this area and those who use this section of Forum Drive for your continued patience, cooperation and understanding throughout the duration of the project. A special thanks also goes out to Steve Hargis, Director of Public Works; Dave Phelps, Street Construction Foreman; Gene Stroup, Project Coordinator, and all the members of the Street Department for all their hard work and effort.
No sooner will the Forum Drive paving project conclude, that the first phase of the Public Works Services Yard will begin this week with the construction of a new Vehicle Maintenance Facility and Sanitation Department building. The Public Works Services Yard is located at the end of McCutchen Drive behind the Rolla Recycling Center (located off Old St. James Road.)
In October 2005, the City purchased what was then known as the Meade Technology site, which consisted of 102.3 acres, for the development of the Public Works Services Yard. The City has since purchased an additional 30 acres for stormwater improvements and future expansion of industrial properties. The new Vehicle Maintenance facility (currently located at 18th and Old St. James Road), and new Sanitation Division building (currently located off Sharp Road near the Rolla Animal Shelter), will replace the badly deteriorating structures. The majority of the required funding (about $1.8 million) for the construction of the new buildings will be provided by the City’s Environmental Services’ reserve account. The construction of those new buildings, which was contracted out to Bales Construction, is currently underway and should be completed by the end of 2012.
Future phases of the Public Works Services Yard, based on available funding, include construction of a new Street Division building, and Animal Shelter, which are also currently located off Sharp Road. These projects have been designed and discussed on a few different occasions, and plans are underway, but construction will most likely take a few years to get off the ground, depending on the economic climate, and available funding sources.  
One other Public Works related project that is just around the corner is the paving (overlay of 2 inches of asphalt) of Forum Drive from 10th Street all the way to Hwy. 72. This paving project will begin sometime next week. We again ask for your patience and cooperation, as we post detour signs, and try to complete this project with minimum disruption and inconvenience to our residents and visitors. Forum Drive is a very heavily traveled north/south arterial road that thousands of cars, trucks and buses use on a daily basis, and we realize the importance of keeping this road in excellent condition.
In closing, I’d like to remind property owners who have recently remodeled or re-sided their homes, or whose address numbers are not visible, to ensure their street or property address is easily identifiable somewhere on the structure and visible from the street. This requirement is in keeping with the City’s Ordinance relating to Chapter 6 (Sec. 6-1, Article 1 – In General) “Street numbers required of property owners on dwelling or structure.”  If you have any questions relating to these requirements, please contact Rolla City Administration at 426-6948.
Enjoy the weekend and have a safe week!

City urges residents
and businesses
to maintain properties
The full force of another Missouri summer is upon us and so is the rapid growth of grass, weeds and vegetation. Unsightly weeds, extremely long grass, and overgrown vegetation throughout various areas of the City of Rolla has prompted the City’s Code Enforcement Division and Street Department to enforce City codes that will ensure compliance with proper yard and business maintenance.
The City’s code “Permitting Growth of High Weeds, etc., Prohibited” (Article II, Section 28-14) states that all weeds, brush, or rank vegetation will be cut and maintained at a height of 12 inches or less. Failure to comply with these codes (Section 28-11 to 28-17) may result in a City abatement or a summons being issued.  
“We would like to remind home owners and property owners throughout the City to please be vigilant regarding the maintenance and upkeep of your yards, businesses and properties,” said John Butz, City Administrator.   
For more information regarding this issues, please contact the City’s Community Development Department at  (573) 364-5333. 

Rolla Parks and
Recreation offers
Cardio Tennis
Improve your fitness and tennis at the same time by joining the new Cardio Tennis program offered by the Rolla Parks and Recreation Department.
Classes meet Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Ber Juan Tennis Complex starting Monday, June 4. The monthly fee is $40, with Centre members receiving a $5 discount.
Cardio Tennis is a high energy fitness activity that combines the best features of the sport of tennis with cardiovascular exercise, delivering the ultimate, full body, calorie burning aerobic workout. It is a very social and fun class for players of all ability levels taught by a tennis teaching professional. If you’ve never played tennis before it is a great way to be introduced to the sport and if you are an experienced high level tennis player it is the best way to train for tennis.
Most classes have mixed ability and some facilities offer classes which are more specific to ability/fitness level. However, regardless of ability or fitness level, the tennis  professional is trained to provide the ultimate workout for each person.
For more information, or to register for this class, please contact the Rolla Parks and Recreation Department at 341-2386 or via e-mail at kristy@rollacity.org. 

RPD cracks down
on impaired drivers
during month of June
The Rolla Police Department will be cracking down on impaired drivers by conducting a sobriety checkpoint during the month of June 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 or visit www.saveMOlives.com.

Relax and cool off
at SplashZone
all summer long
Considered one of the best vacation and summer values in the Ozarks Highlands, SplashZone, Rolla’s outdoor water park, will remain open throughout the summer months Monday through Friday (noon-7) and Saturday and Sunday (noon-6 p.m.). Closing day at SplashZone will be on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3.
Located in beautiful Ber Juan Park at 14th and Holloway Streets, this fun-filled water park includes a leisure pool with beach-like entrance, interactive play structure, lazy river, the “world’s largest” vortex, and two giant water slides.
Admission to SplashZone is $4.50 for individuals age four and above. For children age three and under, there is no charge. Value passes are $75 for 20 visits.
For more information for special events, private rentals, swimming lessons and other information, please call SplashZone at 364-8222 or 341-2FUN.

City urges property
owners to display
address numbers
The City of Rolla Fire and Rescue is conducting their annual business safety inspections, and one of the items they check for is a visible and conspicuous address number to identify the location of each business.
By properly displaying address numerals that contrast with the color of the dwelling, fire, safety and medical responders can more quickly identify a property when responding to an emergency call, or during other safety or medical related matters.
“When lives are at risk, visible property address numbers really count,” said Fire Chief Robert Williams, City of Rolla Fire & Rescue. “And emergency services personnel don’t need to be wasting your time guessing at addresses.”
In addition, property owners who have recently remodeled or re-sided their homes, or whose address numbers are not visible, need to ensure their street or property address is easily identifiable somewhere on the structure and visible from the street.
 A violation of the requirements of this Ordinance shall constitute an offense which could be punishable by a fine not to exceed $50.
This requirement is in keeping with the City’s Ordinance relating to Chapter 6 (Sec. 6-1, Article 1 – In General) “Street numbers required of property owners on dwelling or structure.”
 If you have any questions relating to these requirements, 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.

Rolla Lions Club
Carnival set for
July 4-7
The 77th annual Rolla Lions Club Carnival will be held Wednesday, July 4 through Saturday, July 7 at beautiful Lions Club Park (located on Hwy. 63 South).
Rolla’s hometown July 4th celebration draws thousands of folks from South Central Missouri who love the carnival rides, outstanding fireworks, and great-tasting burgers, funnel cakes, steak sandwhiches, and cotton candy.
This year’s Carnival will feature wristband nights for rides as well as stunning fireworks displays that light up the sky.
All proceeds from the Carnival benefit Rolla Lions Club Park, vision and hearing programs, area youth activities and scholarships for local students.
For more information, visit http://www.rollalions.org/~lions/carnival.
  
Environmental Services Important Dates
 (clip & save coupon)
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, 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
JUNE 2012
June 18 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
June 19 – FREE Child Safety Seat Clinic (1-3 p.m.); City of Rolla Fire & Rescue, 1490 E. 10th Street (364-3989)
June 20 – FREE Child Safety Seat Clinic (1-3 p.m.); City of Rolla Fire & Rescue
June 21 – FREE Child Safety Seat Clinic (1-3 p.m.); City of Rolla Fire & Rescue

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.)

AUGUST 2012
Aug. 6 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Aug. 11 – Cruise In (5-8 p.m.), JC Penney parking lot, South Side Shoppers World
Aug. 18 – Relay for Life (noon-midnight); Lions Club Park, Hwy. 63 South
Aug. 20 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Scott A. Grahl
Communications Director
City of Rolla, Missouri
(573) 426-6943
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