2013 City budget
shows signs of
stabilizing
 |
| Mayor Bill Jenks, III |
After
several months of meetings and discussions with City staff and the Rolla City
Council regarding the proposed 2013 balanced City budget, the final reading of
an ordinance to adopt the $30.36 million budget will be voted on at the City
Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
The
budget outlook, particularly in the General Fund-supported services, remains
tight, but does show signs of stabilizing after five years of a stagnant
economy reflected in sales tax revenues. Currently the sales tax revenues for
the City – year to date – are 2.3 percent, which is above the 2012 FY budget projected
sales tax growth of 1 percent.
While
the City’s budget appears to be higher that year’s past, the increase is due in
large part to a $4 million lease financing agreement for UV Disinfection
Improvements at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant that will result in a
corresponding sewer user fee increase of $.40/1,000 gallons of water. The
budget increase also includes a substantial upgrade ($1 million) to the
infrastructure at Rolla National Airport, which will include the construction
of a new water tower, for aviation-related and business development.
Other
key elements of the proposed 2013 balance budget include:
- The purchase of a new fire truck ($450,000) with 10-year lease financing
- A 2% average compensation increase for full-time City employees (no increase in FY 2012)
- Anticipated fee increases for Recreation Centre memberships, building permit fees and animal control fees
- No increase in the City’s property tax levy
- Elimination of the RMU payment in lieu of tax surcharge of .5% for street lighting. Street lighting costs of approximately $150,000 will be paid from the Street Capital Improvement Fund
- Construction of a new vehicle maintenance and sanitation shop at the public services yard off N. McCutchen Drive
Sales tax revenues, which have a significant
impact on the City’s financial condition, are showing signs of stabilizing
after five years of stagnation, but City staff and City Council continue to
remain vigilant, cautious, and focused on maintaining a balanced budget that
meets the needs of the Rolla community.
In closing, I’d like to remind Rolla
citizens that the City of Rolla Environmental Services Department will hold a
City-wide Clean-up on Saturday, Oct. 6. If you wish to participate, please
place all items near the curb by 6 a.m. Items should not be placed at the curb
more than 72 hours in advance or 3 days prior to the Oct. 6 pickup.
Examples
of items that will be accepted are furniture, microwaves,
televisions, old clothes, and normal household trash. Items that will not be accepted are appliances, water heaters, yard waste, tires, or
construction debris such as sheet rock, shingles, concrete or rock. Loose items
should be placed in boxes or bags and small pieces of lumber should be bundled.
We ask that you do not place rollout trash containers at the curb on Oct. 6
because during this special City-wide Clean-up they will not be emptied. For
more information, please call 364-6693.
Rolla City Council
Mtg. set for
Mon., Sept. 17
The
next Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
at the Rolla City Hall - Council Chambers, 901 N. Elm Street. City Council
meetings are usually held the first and third Monday of the month unless interrupted
by an observed holiday.
To
view the agenda and full agenda packet for the Sept. 17 Council meeting, please
visit the City's Website at: http://rollacity.org/admin/agenda.shtml#agenda. A copy of the 2012-2013 City of
Rolla Proposed budget is also available on this page on the Website.
Council
meetings are also broadcast live on Rolla Channel 16, (Rolla's Public Education
& Government channel).
For
more information, please call City Administration at 426-6948.
Rolla’s Public Works Dept.
to begin micro-surfacing
City streets
The
City of Rolla Public Works Department will begin asphalt micro-surfacing on
several City streets beginning Monday, Sept. 17. The area will include several
streets off of Rolla Street, beginning with Becca Dr., Brady Dr., and Sooter
Lane, and followed by several streets near Oak Knolll Road and Sycamore Drive,
as well as the streets located in Maggi Place. Additional streets will include
Christy Drive off Rolla Street, and finally Seventh and Ninth Streets off
Holloway Street, and several adjacent streets.
This
micro-surfacing project is being completed by Donelson Construction Company. It
is a quick set surfacing system that will provide an approximate
one-quarter-inch-thick pavement resurfacing. Micro-surfacing is an economical
alternative to hot asphalt mix overlays, which typically applies a minimum of
two inches of pavement resurfacing.
A
complete list of streets that are scheduled for micro-surfacing in Rolla is
posted on the City of Rolla’s Website at www.rollacity.org.
While
this work may take several days to complete, streets that are being sealed will
remain open with temporary one-lane traffic established. Flagmen will be
present to direct traffic, and motorists and pedestrians are urged to remain
cautious when traveling through the areas of work. Delays up to 20 minutes
should be expected.
For
more information, please call the Public Works Department at (573) 364-8659.
Rolla
Police Dept.
to
crack down on
child
restraint violations
Missouri
law requires all children under the age of eight to be in an appropriate child
safety seat or booster seat unless they weigh at least 80 pounds or are 4-foot,
9-inches tall.
The
Rolla Police Department announced it is joining with law enforcement Sept. 16 thru Sept. 22 for an
aggressive Child Passenger Safety Week Law Enforcement Campaign to crack down
on Missouri’s child safety seat law violators and to reduce highway fatalities
and injuries to children.
Car
crashes are the number one killer of kids. Nearly 73% of all child restraints
are not used correctly. Is your child safe? Sgt. Tim Mayfield said regular
child safety seat and safety belt use is the single most effective way to
protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.
RPD cracking down
on impaired drivers
through September
The
Rolla Police Department will be cracking down on impaired drivers by conducting
a sobriety checkpoint during the month of September
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.
“Driving
drunk is simply not worth all the consequences,” said Sgt. Tim Mayfield. “Our
message is simple and unwavering: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
For
more Information, please contact Sgt. Tim Mayfield at (573) 308-1213 or visit www.saveMOlives.com.
Basswood
Drive
street
improvements
underway
The
City of Rolla Public Works Department, in conjunction with Rainey & Son
Construction, L.L.C., have begun substantial street improvements on Basswood
Drive.
The
Basswood Drive and Boxelder Drive Street Improvement project (#296), recently
approved by the Rolla City Council, will include excavation, storm sewer
installation, new curb and gutter, new driveway aprons, and subsequent 4-inch
paving.
The
excavation and road improvements on Boxelder Drive will begin immediately after
the street improvements are complete on Basswood sometime in October.
It
is anticipated that the entire street improvement project, including Boxelder,
should be completed before the end of 2012, weather permitting. Caution signs
and safety cones will be posted in the construction area, indicating lane
closures, and for motorists to please drive carefully.
“The
City of Rolla appreciates the assistance, patience and cooperation of the
public throughout the duration of this important street improvement project,”
said Steve Hargis, Director of Public Works.
For
more information, please contact the Public Works Department at 364-8659 or
visit www.rollacity.org.
Electronics & Appliance
Collection set for
Sept. 22 at Brewer Science
If
you have an old, broken or outdated computer, electronic device, appliance,
television, or cell phone that you have been wanting to get rid of, plan to
recycle, ‘go green’ and attend the Electronics & Appliance Collection on
Saturday, Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to
12-noon at the Brewer Science parking lot located at 2401 Brewer Drive (in the
Hypoint Industrial Park at I-44 Exit 189/Hwy. V).
You
may drop off and recycle the following household items for free the day of the
collection: stoves, washers, dryers, microwaves and other appliances, computer
CPUs, keyboards, printers, VCRs, cell phones and other electronics.
During
this collection, there will be no fee for refrigerant appliances. There will be,
however, a $5 handling fee to dispose of TVs and computer monitors (no material
from businesses, please).
This
event is sponsored by the City of Rolla, Phelps County Commission, Brewer
Science, Inc., Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, Missouri
Department of Natural Resources and Meramec Regional Planning Commission
(MRPC).
For
more information, please contact MRPC at 573-265-2993.
P.O.W. – M.I.A. Ceremony
and Cruise-In set for
Sept. 22 at VMP
The
public is invited to attend a P.O.W. – M.I.A. Ceremony and Cruise-In on
Saturday, Sept. 22 from noon – 4
p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park (located on Southview Dr. off Hwy. 72 in Rolla).
The
event kicks off at noon with a Classic Car/Motorcycle Cruise-In organized by
the Rolla Cruise-In Committee and Cave State Cruisers. The P.O.W.-M.I.A.
Ceremony, presented by Chapter #49 of the D.A.V., begins at 1 p.m. Music will
be provided by Phelps County Bluegrass for Veterans at 2 p.m. at the new
pavilion. Concessions will be provided by Rolla Road Riders Motorcycle Club.
Other
events and activities are also being planned, so bring your chairs or pillows
for comfort and enjoy the festivities.
The
event is hosted by the South Central Regional Veterans Group. For more
information, please contact Russ Hinkle at (573) 68-4436 or Jerry Bumpus at
(573) 647-7601.
Rolla Public Library
Open House set
for Sept. 22
Stop
by and see what's new at the Rolla Public Library during an Open House on
Saturday, Sept. 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (900 Pine Street).
In
addition to free library tours and book signings by several authors, there will
be free hotdogs and popcorn, crafts for kids, and door prizes.
For
more information, please contact Kathy Smith, Rolla Public Library Director, at
364-5206 or visit www.rollapubliclibrary.org.
City-wide Clean-up
set for Oct. 6 in Rolla
The
City of Rolla Environmental Services Department will hold a City-wide Clean-up
on Saturday, Oct. 6. If you wish to participate, please place all items near
the curb by 6 a.m. Items should not be placed at the curb more than 72 hours in
advance or 3 days prior to the October 6 pickup.
Examples
of items that will be accepted are furniture, microwaves,
televisions, old clothes, and normal household trash. Items that will not be accepted are appliances, water heaters, yard waste, tires, or
construction debris such as sheet rock, shingles, concrete or rock. Loose items should be placed in boxes or
bags and small pieces of lumber should be bundled.
We
ask that you do not place rollout trash containers at the curb on Oct. 6
because during this special City-wide Clean-up they will not be emptied. For
more information, please call 364-6693.
Operation Neighborhood
Clean-up set for Nov. 2
The
5th annual “Operation Neighborhood Clean-up” will be held on Friday, Nov. 2 throughout the Rolla community
in designated, high priority areas. The selection of these properties will be
determined by the City of Rolla Police Department and the Rolla Area
Ministerial Alliance.
All
volunteers are asked to attend the welcome gathering at 6:30 a.m. at Greentree
Christian Church Youth Center located at 801 East 10th Street. A
complimentary continental breakfast will be provided. The clean-up will take
place from 7 a.m. to 12-noon.
The
entire community is invited to participate in this beautification effort, which
is once again being coordinated by the Rolla Area Ministerial Alliance and the
Rolla Police Department.
Operation
Neighborhood Clean-up is an opportunity for residents to partner with the Rolla
Area Ministerial Alliance, community churches, and the Rolla Police Department
to enhance a sense of community, well being, pride and property values among
the neighborhoods where the clean up is conducted.
The
clean-up effort will involve limited tree trimming, hedge trimming, and the
removal of brush piles, leaves, household items and trash. Groups or
individuals interested in volunteering may contact Chris Foster, Adult
Education Minister at Greentree Christian Church, at 364-2649 or cfoster@greentreerolla.org, or Officer Vince Giacolone at the
Rolla Police Department at 308-1213 or at vgiacolone@rollacity.org.
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.
Environmental Services Important Dates
(clip
& save coupon)
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 Kenny Perzan, Senior Video Editor, at (573)
426-3377 or at Kenny.Perzan@fidelitycommunications.com.
Be
sure to watch Rolla Channel 16 – “Education, Government and Community for you!”
SEPTEMBER 2012
Sept. 17 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Sept. 22 – Electronics & Appliance Collection (8 a.m. –
noon); Brewer Science, Inc. Parking Lot, 2401 Brewer Dr. (in Hypoint Industrial
Park at I-44 Exit 189/Hwy. V)
Sept. 22 – Healthy Baby Extravaganza (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.); Fire
Station #1 Headquarters and Greentree Christian Church, 10th Street
(364-3989); FREE
Sept. 22 – P.O.W. – M.I.A., Cruise In; (noon – 4 p.m.); Veterans
Memorial Park, Southview Dr. (contact Jerry Bumpus for info at 573-647-7601)
Sept. 22 – Rolla Public Library Open House (1-4 p.m.); hotdogs,
popcorn, library tours, book signings by several authors, crafts for kids, and
door prizes (364-5206)
Sept. 26 – Eggs & Issues (7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.); Oak Meadow
Country Club; to RSVP, call the Rolla Chamber at 364-3577
Sept. 29 – 3rd Annual Celebration of Nations (11 a.m.
– 4 p.m.); Downtown Festival Park
OCTOBER 2012
Oct. 1 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Oct. 6 – City-wide Clean Up (items to curb by 6 a.m.);
residential only
Oct. 13 – 34th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Oct. 13 – 34th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Oct. 15 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
NOVEMBER 2012
Nov. 2 – 5th Annual Operation Neighborhood Clean-Up
(6:30 a.m.-noon); volunteers meet for at Greentree Christian Church Youth
Center, 801 E. 10th St. (308-1213 – Vince Giacolone)
Nov. 5 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Nov. 12 – City Hall closed for Veterans Day Holiday
Nov. 19 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Nov. 22-23 – City Hall closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Scott A. Grahl
Communications Director
City of Rolla, Missouri
(573) 426-6943
Follow us on Facebook
& Twitter at www.rollacity.org
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