Community-wide events abound month of May

Mayor Bill Jenks, III

While you are busy making plans and commitments for upcoming graduation ceremonies, prom, family gatherings, and all the other significant events you have on your calendars, please make room for a few more that you don’t want to miss.

Although it is held just once every two years, the City of Rolla Public Works Department invites you to attend a free Public Works Day Celebration on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the City’s Downtown Festival Park next to City Hall – rain or shine. This year’s theme for the annual Public Works Week, which runs from May 19-25, is “Because of Public Works.” In addition to free brochures, coloring books, balloons, stickers and comic books, there will also be an inflatable playground for children. The event will also feature the Public Works Mascot “P.W. Paws” and visitors will be encouraged to get their free photo taken. Free popcorn will also be provided.

Participating in the event are the Public Works Divisions of Streets, Traffic, Wastewater, and Engineering, along with the City’s Parks and Recreation and Environmental Services Department. Rolla Municipal Utilities is also participating in the event. City of Rolla and RMU staff will be on-site to demonstrate equipment, and answer questions. Visitors will be able to learn about water and wastewater treatment and distribution, how a sanitary sewer line is televised, watch computerized mapping system retrieve information, and climb inside various pieces of heavy equipment. For more information, please call the Public Works Department at (573) 364-8659 or visit www.rollacity.org.

Later this month, the entire community is also invited to attend the an Open House at the City of Rolla’s new Environmental Services facility located at 2301 McCutchen Drive on Wednesday, May 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event kicks off with a ribbon cutting ceremony coordinated by the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Ambassadors,  followed by tours of the facility and light refreshments.

The 20,-000-sqaure-foot facility houses the Environmental Services’ Vehicle Maintenance and Sanitation Divisions previously located off Sharp Road. The highly efficient ‘green’ facility, which was in the works for over 15 years, significantly improves the working environment, storage capacity and the quality of services now provided by City employees for the Rolla community.

For more information, please call 364-6693. Have a safe weekend and a great week ahead!