Monday, July 23, 2012

City of Rolla Weekly E-Updates (July 23, 2012)

City to widen 10th St.
from Hwy. 63 to
Spring Avenue
The City of Rolla Street Department will begin a project to widen 10th Street from Hwy. 63 to Spring Avenue on Monday, July 23 at 7 a.m.
The first phase of the project will include the excavation of the curb and sidewalk. After the new curb and sidewalk are poured, a two-inch mill and overlay of asphalt will be applied to this portion of 10th Street. This project will also result in the construction of an additional right turn lane onto Hwy. 63 that will greatly improve traffic flow and safety at this busy intersection.
Caution signs will be posted in the construction area, indicating that this is a work zone, and for motorists to please drive carefully. During this time the City appreciates the assistance and cooperation of the public.
For more information, please call the Public Works Department at 364-8659 or visit www.rollacity.org.

Downtown
Farmer’s Market
is popular place
By Bill Jenks, III, Mayor


Despite the seemingly endless 100-degree days and draught conditions we are facing in South Central Missouri, the Rolla Downtown Farmer’s Market, easily identified by the big blue shade structure that keeps everyone protected from the sun, has become a big attraction every Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 12-noon.
 In fact, it’s expanding so much that vendors have filled the entire shade structure, some are setting up their own tents, and others bringing in trailers full of watermelons and honey dew melons for folks to buy. Some of the tomatoes for sale are so big, they could pass for small cabbages. You can even buy them by the box. The corn on the other hand, though plentiful, popular among shoppers, and reasonably priced, reflect the toll the draught and heat have taken on some of the vegetables that haven’t fared as well. On the other hand, homemade jellies, jams and preserves, delicious home baked bread, and just about every kind of locally home-grown vegetable are all for sale at the market. The vendors, who are all local, are very pleased with the amount of customers they are seeing, and some, who travel as far away as Salem, look forward to the market every Tuesday. I would say it sounds like the Downtown Farmer’s Market has become quite a success, and judging by the numbers of folks coming and going on a Tuesday morning, and the positive comments from the vendors at the market, the Downtown Farmer’s Market is a must visit. It will remain open every Tuesday through October.
While we are on the topic of the effects the heat is having on our area, and most of the Mid-West, I’d like to express my concern and understanding to the agricultural, farming and ranching community in Phelps County that have had to endure and overcome one of the worst draughts, and long stretches of hot weather we have seen in a very long time. Governor Jay Nixon and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently declared all 114 counties in Missouri as primary natural disaster areas due to the drought that is destroying crops throughout the state. One of the benefits of the disaster declaration is that it gives farmers access to federal assistance and low interest loans.
We are all being impacted by the draught, and extreme temperatures, some more than others, and the probability of fires starting is at an all time high as well. Of course the County-wide burn ban will remain in effect until we receive enough rain and moisture to lift the ban. I urge everyone to use caution, and be very mindful of the dry, hot temperatures, that provide the kind of environment where accidental fires can erupt very easily. In addition, people smoking in automobiles should be sure not to throw their cigarettes out of the vehicle as this may cause a natural cover fire that can get out of control, destroy property, and endanger fire fighters who have to respond to the incident in this extreme heat. The firefighters will be responding to an incident that is totally preventable and un-called for.
In closing, I would like to remind the community that there will be an Open House this Wednesday, July 25 (5-6 p.m.) in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall (901 N. Elm St.) to discuss the proposed County Hills development located off Rolla Street between Victoria Lane and Christy Drive. The project is a single-family housing project, being proposed by the Springfield based developer, Housing Plus, LLC. The project consists of 34 single-family homes, with approximately 1,350-square-feet of living space. The Country Hills Development project is designed to fill a much-needed gap in available affordable single-family homes in Rolla. The project will serve families at or below 60% of Rolla’s median income as well as families needing affordable workforce housing in the 60% to 80% median income bracket. For more information, please contact John Petersen, in the Community Development Department, at 364-5333.
Enjoy the weekend and have a safe week!

Open House to discuss
Country Hills Development
set for July 25
The community is invited to attend an Open House to discuss the proposed Country Hills Development project on Wednesday, July 25 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall (901 N. Elm Street in downtown Rolla.).
The County Hills development, located off Rolla Street between Victoria Lane and Christy Drive, is a single-family housing project, being proposed by the Springfield based developer, Housing Plus, LLC. The project consists of 34 single-family homes, with approximately 1,350-square-feet of living space. The development has received broad support in Rolla and was given a strong endorsement by the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), last year when the City first applied for funding through MHDC for this project.
The Country Hills Development project is designed to fill a much-needed gap in available affordable single-family homes in Rolla. The project will serve families at or below 60% of Rolla’s median income as well as families needing affordable workforce housing in the 60% to 80% median income bracket.
“Rolla does not have a project of this type targeted to the single-family market made economically viable through the use of housing tax credits provided by MHDC,” said John Petersen, the City’s Director of Community Development. “The proposed project is made even more attractive because it comes with a path to home ownership for the residents and focuses on working families’ housing needs.”
For more information, please contact John Petersen, Director of Community Development, at 573-426-6970.

Paving of Forum
and Pinetree to begin
July 26
The City of Rolla Public Works Department, in conjunction with Rolla Asphalt, will begin a project to mill and pave Forum Drive and Pinetree Road from 10th Street to Hwy. 72 on Thursday, July 26 at 7 a.m.  The entire project should be completed by the following week, weather permitting.
Caution signs and safety cones will be posted in the construction area, indicating lane closures, and for motorists to please drive carefully. During this time the City appreciates the assistance and cooperation of the public.
For more information, please contact the Public Works Department at 364-8659 or visit www.rollacity.org.

Rolla City Council
Mtg., Aug. 6
The next Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 6 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.

Burn ban 
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!

Upcoming Events

AUGUST 2012
Aug. 1-4 – 65 Annual Phelps County Fair; Phelps County Fairgrounds, Hwy. 63 South (www.phelpscountyfair.com)
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
Follow us on Facebook
& Twitter at www.rollacity.org

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