Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Labor Day Holiday kicks off fall festivities

September and the Labor Day weekend have finally arrived in typical Missouri fashion after what seemed like one of the hottest and longest summers on record. Yet despite the seemingly endless 90-degree hot spells much was accomplished this summer throughout the City, including the paving of 10th Street from Pine Street to Forum Drive, and the micro-paving of numerous streets throughout the community by the City’s Street Department, Rolla Asphalt and Donnelson Construction Company. I have received many positive comments from residents in the community regarding these projects, and I’d like to extend my appreciation again to the City’s Public Works Department, and especially Gene Stroup, Project Coordinator, who ensured that these projects were completed on time, on budget, and with minimal disruption to motorists and residents.
The next big City project scheduled for this month is the construction of the Bryant Drive Extension, which will begin when the McDonalds restaurant located at Kingshighway and Bryant Drive is demolished and rebuilt in the coming weeks. The Bryant Drive Extension will provide a new intersection at Bryant Drive and Kingshighway in front of McDonalds and Pizza Inn that will serve as one of the gateways to Missouri S&T’s Innovation Park. Later this fall the Missouri Department of Transportation will also be relocating the traffic light currently at Kingshighway and Fairgrounds Road to the new intersection at Bryant Drive and Kingshighway. Better traffic flow, increased safety, and less traffic congestion on Kingshighway should be some of the noticeable benefits of this new intersection.

September is also a pivotal month for the City of Rolla in that citizens are encouraged to attend and provide input at the 2010-2011 annual budget public hearing scheduled for the first City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The second reading to approve the annual budget ordinance will be held at the City Council meeting  on Monday, Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Rolla City Hall. If approved by the City Council, the new budget year will begin with a 2% COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) for all full-time City employees; the funding (for ½ year) of a City Engineer position; hiring of two new police officers, and the replacement of a 1981 90-foot aerial ladder truck.

Due to the success of the City’s Employee Wellness Program, there will again be no increase in health insurance premiums for full-time City employees. At a time when 65% of the businesses throughout the country in private industry are raising health insurance premiums, it is noteworthy that the City has managed to refrain from any health insurance premium increases over the past three years. While sales tax revenues are showing positive signs of recovery, (sales tax receipts are up 1.7% since January 2010), a conservative 1% growth in sales tax revenue is also included in the City’s annual budget. As you drive around town and notice the construction and renovation of several new office buildings, restaurants, and multi-family apartments, it’s evident the economy is picking up steam and Rolla is positioned to attract even more new businesses, retail stores, restaurants and industry.

As we head into the fall season don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Operation Neighborhood Clean-up on Friday, Oct. 1 (meet for breakfast and greeting at the Christian Life Center at 6:30 a.m.); the City-wide Fall Clean-up on Saturday, Oct. 1 (items to curb by 6 a.m./residential only); the 32nd Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Festival in downtown Rolla (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and the inaugural Celebration of Nations event on Saturday, Oct. 9 (parade starts at 11 a.m.in front of the Havener Center) and the Rolla Regional Business Conference hosted by the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at the Havener Center (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.). For more information on any of the above mentioned events, please visit the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org or become a ‘Fan’ of the City’s Facebook page.

In closing I’d like to remind everyone that the City Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (901 North Elm Street). Rolla Municipal Traffic Court will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Monday’s trash will be picked up on Tuesday, Sept. 7 and Tuesday’s trash will be picked up on Wednesday. There will be no special pickups on Wednesday. This weekend will also be the final weekend SplashZone (Rolla’s outdoor water park), will be open this year. Closing day at SplashZone is Monday (Labor Day), Sept. 6 from 12-noon to 5 p.m.

I hope you had a safe and memorable Labor Day weekend!

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