wave takes
toll on many
By Bill Jenks, III, Mayor
Extreme heat, and the dog-days of
summer are by no means something new to folks in the Ozark Highlands, but most
will agree that the recent 10-day heat wave that included multiple days of
temperatures well above 100 degrees, (without the heat index) was one of the
worst spells of hot, dry weather since the days of the infamous Dust Bowl.
Fortunately for us Mother Nature
intervened last weekend (like something right out of the movie Sarah Plain and Tall) when we needed
rain the most, and two downpours (that also brought dangerous winds, thunder
and lightning), were so significant that the Rolla Fire and Rescue Department
was able to lift a County- and City-wide burn ban that was implemented prior to
the July 4th holiday.
Seeing the grass, and even some trees
and bushes turn various shades of brown, and even in some cases white, it is
easy to see where the term ‘scorched earth’ got its name. Realizing how hot and
how dry the ground had gotten from the heat wave, I have to commend the Fire
Departments in Phelps County, our own Fire & Rescue Department, Rolla
Police Department and local law enforcement agencies, for working together to
get the word out to the community regarding the potential hazards of fire
caused by the draught and extremely hot weather. A special thanks goes to the Rolla Daily News and other local media
outlets for several articles and public service announcements on the
potentially dangerous conditions caused by the heat wave, including many
important tips and tricks on how and where to stay cool and healthy during such
harsh weather conditions.
Knowing that the community is aware of
where to go when it gets too hot (i.e., cooling centers), and how to best
protect ourselves during severe heat, is reassuring, considering that the
hottest weeks and months of the summer are still ahead. To say the recent,
unrelenting heat wave we experienced was a dress rehearsal for more severe
weather ahead, would be premature, but I’m sure we have all reviewed and
reconsidered the necessary precautions we all need to take during such hot, dry
weather conditions.
It’s never inappropriate to express my
gratitude and appreciation also for all the City employees who work outside
regardless of the weather conditions and temperature. The Street Division
continues to fill pot holes, fix traffic lights/signals, build and pave roads,
the Sanitation Division continues to pick up waste and recycling materials; the
Parks and Recreation Department continues to operate and maintain our park system,
and 320 acres of park and cemetery land; the Rolla Police Department continues
to patrol and protect our streets, sidewalks, neighborhoods and businesses; the
Community Development Department continues to conduct inspections, make site
visits and issue building permits; Rolla
Fire & Rescue continues to respond to emergency calls and provide necessary
first response service to those in need. While is it is easy to say that
working in 110 degree weather is part of the job, I think if any one of us worked
5 to 10 days straight in that kind of heat, we might have a difference of
opinion.
Enjoy the weekend and have a safe week
Rolla City Council
Mtg., July 16
The
next Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Monday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. in
the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street.
Rolla
City Council meetings are ordinarily held the first and third Monday of the
month at 6:30 p.m. except when there is a conflict with an observed holiday.
To review a copy of the City Council agendas or the full agenda packet, please visit http://rollacity.org/admin/agenda.shtml#agenda. For more information, please contact Rolla City Administration at 426-6948.
To review a copy of the City Council agendas or the full agenda packet, please visit http://rollacity.org/admin/agenda.shtml#agenda. For more information, please contact Rolla City Administration at 426-6948.
Burn
ban back
in
effect
Due
to the continued extremely dry and drought-like conditions in Rolla and Phelps
County, the fire hazard for the area continues to be severe. City of Rolla Fire
& Rescue, and other Fire Departments in Phelps County are again joining
together to announce and enforce an open burning ban.
With
the extreme weather conditions, effective immediately, by the order of Robert
Williams, Fire Chief, open burning in Rolla and other cities and towns in
Phelps County will not be permitted until such time it is safe to lift the burn
ban.
“The
two thunder storms we had about a week ago helped offset the fire hazard to a certain
degree, but unfortunately they did not make a long-lasting impact on the
draught-like conditions we are facing in Rolla and Phelps County,” said Chief
Williams. “There is unfortunately very little rain projected in the immediate
forecast, and it doesn’t look like we will see much relief for quite awhile.”
For more information, please feel free
to contact Robert Williams, Fire Chief or Ron Smith, Training Officer at
(573)364-3989.
International Idol
Talent Competition
auditions, Sept. 6
Do
you sing, dance, rap, act, or play a musical instrument? Talented community
members (all ages and acts are welcome) are invited to audition for the
International Idol competition on Thursday, Sept. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at
the Havener Center, Meramec Room, on the Missouri S&T campus.
The
final competition will be held during the 3rd Annual Celebration of
Nations event on Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Downtown Bandshell (located at the
corner of 9th and Oak Street.) Group and individual prizes will be
awarded.
To
sign up or for more information, please contact Rebecca Holmes at rmhq57@mst.edu or Barbi Spencer at spencerbar@mst.edu.
Celebration
of Nations was created to promote awareness, understanding and the celebration
of the vibrant cultural diversity that makes Rolla unique to the Ozarks. ”One Campus. One Community. One
World.”
Rolla Downtown
Farmer’s Market
open every Tuesday
The
Rolla Downtown Farmer’s Market is open and operating under the new shade
structure in the lower parking lot of Rolla City Hall from 7 a.m. until 12-noon
each Tuesday throughout the growing season.
The
Farmer’s Market is coordinated by Roy Fiscus and Wilma Bingham, and spots are
available for vendors to sell their items, but they must be locally grown or
made products/produce (Phelps County).
No
flea market, yard sale type items will be permitted. All spots are first come,
first served. The cost to host a booth is $2 per day, which is given to the
organizers the day the vendors are there.
For
additional information, please contact Roy Fiscus at 341-8045 or Wilma Bingham
at 364-5544.
City
urges property
owners
to display
address
numbers
The
City of Rolla Fire and Rescue is conducting their annual business safety inspections,
and one of the items they check for is a visible and conspicuous address number
to identify the location of each business.
By
properly displaying address numerals that contrast with the color of the
dwelling, fire, safety and medical responders can more quickly identify a
property when responding to an emergency call, or during other safety or
medical related matters.
“When
lives are at risk, visible property address numbers really count,” said Fire
Chief Robert Williams, City of Rolla Fire & Rescue. “And emergency services
personnel don’t need to be wasting your time guessing at addresses.”
In
addition, property owners who have recently remodeled or re-sided their homes,
or whose address numbers are not visible, need to ensure their street or
property address is easily identifiable somewhere on the structure and visible
from the street.
A violation of the requirements of this
Ordinance shall constitute an offense which could be punishable by a fine not
to exceed $50.
This
requirement is in keeping with the City’s Ordinance relating to Chapter 6 (Sec.
6-1, Article 1 – In General) “Street
numbers required of property owners on dwelling or structure.”
If you have any questions relating to these
requirements, please contact Rolla City Administration at 426-6948.
Environmental Services Important Dates
(clip & save coupon)
Sept. 3, 2012 - Labor Day: Monday’s trash
will be picked up Tuesday; Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
Oct. 6, 2012
- Citywide Fall Clean Up: Saturday - Citywide clean up day
(residential only).
Nov. 22, 2012
– Thanksgiving Day: Thursday’s trash will be picked up
Wednesday.
Dec. 25, 2012
– Christmas
Day: Tuesday’s trash will be picked
up Wednesday.
.
Holidays
NOT affecting trash or recycling collection:
Oct. 8, 2012 – Columbus Day
Nov. 12, 2012 – Veteran’s Day
Nov. 23, 2012 – Day after Thanksgiving
Rolla Channel 16
live streaming
24/7 on the Web
If
you happen to miss the airing of a Rolla City Council meeting, Planning &
Zoning meeting, Rolla Public School Board meeting or Board of Public Works
meeting, you can now watch them live on the Rolla Channel 16 Website at http://rollachannel16.com.
Rolla
Channel 16, Rolla’s premiere Education and Government channel, is also now live
streaming (24/7) at http://rollachannel16.com.
RC16 is live streaming all Rolla City Council meetings, Rolla Planning &
Zoning Commission meetings, Rolla Public Schools board meetings, Rolla High
School Review and “City Minutes” hosted by the City of Rolla’s Communications
Office.
Other
syndicated content on RC16 such as Missouri Outdoors, Army Newswatch, and
Capitol Dialogue will also live stream on RC16 at http://rollachannel16.com.
For
more information regarding programming or DVD duplication of Rolla City Council
meetings, Rolla Planning & Zoning meetings, and Rolla Public Schools board
meetings, etc., please contact Gabe Mankin, Digital Media Operations Manager, at
(573) 426-3377 or at Gabe.Mankin@fidelitycommunications.com.
Be
sure to watch Rolla Channel 16 – Education, Government and Community for you!
JULY 2012
July 16 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
AUGUST 2012
Aug. 6 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Aug. 11 – Cruise In (5-8 p.m.), JC Penney parking lot, South
Side Shoppers World
Aug. 18 – Relay for Life (noon-midnight); Lions Club Park, Hwy.
63 South
Aug. 20 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Aug. 24 – 4th Annual Bulldog Pride Night (5:30 p.m.);
Rolla High School – Lions Memorial Stadium
SEPTEMBER 2012
Sept. 3 – City Hall closed for Labor Day holiday
Sept. 5 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Sept. 6 – International Idol Talent Competition Auditions (6-8
p.m.); Havener Center (to register, contact Rebecca Holmes at rmhq57@mst.edu)
Sept. 8 – Cruise In (5-8 p.m.) JC Penney Parking Lot, Southside
Shoppers World
Sept. 17 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Sept. 29 – 3rd Annual Celebration of Nations (11 a.m.
– 4 p.m.); Downtown Festival Park
Scott A. Grahl
Communications Director
City of Rolla, Missouri
(573) 426-6943
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& Twitter at www.rollacity.org
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