Exercise Your Right to Vote on April 5

  With the Rolla General Municipal Election just around the corner on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, I would like to encourage Rolla residents to exercise your right to vote. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. The positions open for election this year include: one Council Representative for all six wards (two-year term) and Municipal Judge (to fulfill a one-year unexpired term).  

   Also appearing on the April 5 ballot is Proposition A – the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax. The ballot language on Proposition reads as follows: “Shall the municipality of Rolla, Missouri impose a sales tax of one-half (1/2) of one percent for 10 years beginning Oct. 1, 2011, reduced to three-eights (3/8) of one percent beginning Oct. 1, 2021, for the purpose of funding local parks for the municipality, including construction, operation and maintenance of a new community and senior services center?”

   The primary purpose of the park sales tax is to fund the operations of the Parks and Recreation Department and to construct and operate a senior center. A small portion of the funds will be utilized to ensure the sustainability of The Centre. The park sales tax will free dollars to be spent on municipal services such as public safety (police & fire) and on economic development. The Rolla City Council recently approved a resolution in support of Proposition A – the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax. The resolution states that in December 2010 a citizen survey was conducted demonstrating 70 percent of those surveyed support extending the half-cent parks sales tax in order to fund park system improvements, provide a seniors’ services facility and to improve public safety.

   In light of considerable public feedback on the needs and desires of a quality parks and recreation system for the citizens of Rolla, the city council also approved an ordinance calling for the April 5 park sales tax election. For more information regarding the results of the 2010 Direction Finder Citizen Attitude Survey, the Parks Sales Tax Fact Sheet, and other information regarding the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax, please visit the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org and click on the ‘Proposition A’ tab. For more information regarding voting or polling places, please contact Carol Daniels in the City Clerk’s Office at (573) 426-6942 or at cdaniels@rollacity.org.

   In closing, I’d like to remind everyone that the next Rolla City Council meeting will be held this Monday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall. I’d also like to invite everyone to attend the annual Fine Arts Day 2011 that will be co-hosted by Rolla High School art students, RHS art teachers, Kent Jewelry and staff at The Centre on Friday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The popular and well attended event includes a jewelry exhibition, demonstrations and student designed jewelry auction. The purpose of the event is to expose area students to how the creative process can be applied with real life results; demonstrate to students the importance of giving back to their community and to raise funds and awareness for the United Way of South Central Missouri.

   Questions about this event may be directed to Kent Bagnall at Kent Jewelry at 364-1030 or Carolyn Peplow at the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, at 364-3577.

   Have a good week and don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, April 5.