City-wide Clean Up set for Oct. 6

Mayor Bill Jenks, III

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year in the Missouri Ozarks, and it’s also a time when everyone begins cleaning out their garages and closets, discarding household items, and making more room for the holiday season. With that in mind, I would like to remind everyone that the City of Rolla Environmental Services Department will hold a City-wide Clean-up next Saturday, Oct. 6. 

Please be aware that this is a residential only clean up, and commercial items will not be picked up during this event. If you wish to participate, we simply ask that you please place all items near the curb by 6 a.m., however, items should not be placed at the curb more than 72 hours in advance or 3 days prior to the October 6 pickup. 

Some of the examples of items that will be accepted include furniture, microwaves, televisions, old clothes, and normal household trash. Items that will not be accepted include 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 also ask that you please 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

While we are on the topic of city-wide clean ups, I would also like to mention that the 5th annual “Operation Neighborhood Clean-up” will be held on Friday, Nov. 2 in designated, high priority areas throughout the Rolla community. 

While Operation Neighborhood Clean-up has typically involved a specific neighborhood or subdivision, this year there will be multiple areas and properties located throughout the community. This approach will focus on those properties and areas determined by the Rolla Police Department and Rolla Area Ministerial Alliance (R.A.M.A.), to be in need of assistance and beautification. This popular and highly impactful event has grown over the years, and is a great opportunity to enhance your community by volunteering about three or four hours of your time with individuals from the community who enjoy helping others who may not have the resources or ability to tackle large, outdoor projects by themselves. 

As in years past, all volunteers for this event are asked to attend the welcome gathering at 6:30 a.m. at Greentree Christian Church Youth Center, located at 801 East 10^th Street. A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided, and the actual 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 foster a sense of community, well being, and pride. At the same time, the event increase property values and beautifies the properties and areas where the clean-up is conducted. 

A team-oriented event, the clean-up effort typically involves limited tree trimming, hedge trimming, weed eating, and the removal of overgrown vegetation, 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, Director of the V.I.P.S. program at the Rolla Police Department, at 308-1213 or at vgiacolone@rollacity.org. 

In closing, I’d like to remind everyone to attend today’s 3^rd Annual Celebration of Nations, which begins at 11 a.m. with a parade that winds through the Missouri S&T campus and downtown Rolla. The day-long event (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.) continues at the downtown festival park where there will be an abundance of cultural displays from numerous countries, children’s activities, international food, live entertainment, the International Idol competition, camel rides, a ping-pong tournament, and so much more. You won’t want to miss it.

Enjoy the weekend, the great weather and the Celebration of Nations!  Have a safe week!