City departments offer services for leaf pick-up

Along with the natural beauty that comes with the fall foliage in the Ozark Highlands there also comes the downpour of leaves, and the question of how to dispose them in the most convenient and efficient manner.
The City of Rolla’s Environmental Services Department will continue to offer the pick-up of bagged leaves through Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. To receive this service, the leaves must be placed in brown paper biodegradable yard waste bags, which can be purchased at a reasonable price at many stores in the area. We also ask that you place your bags to the curb by 6 a.m. so our equipment operators can pick them up on your normal collection day.

Please be aware that this service will be suspended from Dec. 20, 2010 through Feb. 25, 2011. Collection of yard waste (leaves, grass, clippings and small sticks) in brown paper bags will resume on Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Residents wishing to dispose of these materials during the winter suspension can use the compost site located at the end of McCutchen Drive just north of the Rolla Recycling Center on Old St. James Road. Residents may also arrange for a special pick up for a fee. For more information, please call the Environmental Services Department at (573) 364-6693.

For a nominal fee, Rolla residents can also get their leaves picked up by the City’s Parks & Recreation Department through Dec. 10, 2010. We do ask that you please rake all leaves to the curb along city streets, and that you do not place any leaves in the streets, gutters or ditches. And please remember that private driveways or private areas will not be entered by city vehicles. Leaves will be picked up by a large vacuum and deposited into a large dump body and trailer and then taken to the compost site (located at the end of McCuthcen Drive) to be recycled.

Leaf pickup will take place Monday through Friday (leaves will not be picked up after 12  p.m. Friday or during weekends and holidays). New users of this service must pay a $150 refundable deposit or leave a credit card number. The fee is $50 per half hour with the minimum charge of $50 and all fees must be paid within two weeks of the service being completed. Credit card payments (Visa, Master Card & Discover) are preferred. Homeowners will also be required to sign a Hold Harmless Agreement. If you wish to use this service, or to get more information, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 364-4278.
With the holiday season fast approaching – Thanksgiving is just 12 days away -  I’m sure many of our residents are beginning to make plans for traditional family get-togethers, outings, celebrations and what I consider one of the most special times of the year. Rolla has been fortunate throughout the past couple of years to see both new dining and retail establishments spring up throughout the community. I would like to encourage everyone to please try to patronize our local restaurants, shops and businesses that, like other retailers throughout the state, rely heavily on the holiday season for a large portion of their business. As Rolla continues to grow and develop the number and variety of dining options and retail choices has improved as well. Our economy depends largely on these sectors of society, and we will all benefit from keeping our dollars locally invested.

While we are on the topic of the economy and all the new growth and development that has taken place in the Rolla area with the new Bryant Drive Extension, Missouri S&T Innovation Park, Kingshighway, Bishop Avenue, and Rolla’s new Arts and Entertainment District, I’d like to mention that Rolla City Administrator John Butz will be giving an overview of the state of our economy at the upcoming monthly Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 11:45 a.m. at Matt’s Steakhouse. If you would like to attend the luncheon, please RSVP to the Rolla Chamber at 364-3577. John will also be making a similar presentation at the Rolla Rotary Club luncheon on Friday, Dec. 17 at 11:30 a.m.

In closing, please remember that Rolla City Hall will be closed for the Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday, Nov. 25 and Friday, Nov. 26. The Environmental Services Department also will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 25 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Thursday’s trash will be picked up on Wednesday. There will be no special pick-ups on Wednesday, Nov. 24. If you have any questions, please call 364-6693. The Centre, Rolla’s Health and Recreation complex, (located at 1200 North Holloway Street), will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, and will be open the following day on Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.