Friday, February 15, 2013

City of Rolla Weekly E-Updates (Feb. 15, 2013)


ETC Institute to conduct
citizen telephone survey
in Rolla area
The City of Rolla will be conducting a citizen opinion telephone survey beginning the week of Feb. 18 to assess citizen satisfaction with the delivery of major city services and to help determine priorities for the community as part of the City's ongoing strategic planning process. About 1,200 residents will be contacted, which will provide a statistically valid random-sample survey of 400 responses.
The telephone survey takes about 10 minutes and consists of a series of questions that help to objectively measure the overall attitudes of residents in 14 major categories, including Stormwater, Parks and Recreation, Customer Service, Code Enforcement, Economic Development, Quality of Life, Housing, Communication, Maintenance, Public Safety, Rates and Fees, Community Image, Water Services and Transportation.
The survey will be conducted by ETC Institute, one of the nation’s leading community-based market research firms based in Olathe, Kansas. ETC has conducted research projects for clients in 46 states, and has conducted five other citizen surveys for the City of Rolla about every two years for the past several years.
"This survey continues to be a great communication tool for City Administration and Council to measure how well the city is delivering a variety of services to our residents," said John Butz, City Administrator. "We have used it effectively for the past several years to help assess our performance and enhance the level of services we provide to the community."
Results from the survey will be shared with the Rolla City Council and Rolla community in May. City Administration and city council use the results to make decisions related to budgeting, strategic planning, goal setting and bench marking. Most importantly, the survey gives City Administration and city council additional direction to help set community priorities regarding how tax dollars can be spent wisely.
If you happen to be contacted, please realize your input and suggestions are important, and that the city encourages your participation. To review the results of the most recent citizen survey conducted for the City by ETC Institute, please visit the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org. For more information regarding the survey, please contact John Butz, Rolla City Administrator, at 426-6940.

Rolla City Hall
to close Feb. 18 for
Presidents’ Day
Rolla City Hall will be closed on Monday, Feb. 18 in observance of Presidents’ Day. The Rolla City Council meeting, ordinarily held the first and third Monday of the month, will be held Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall (901 North Elm Street).
The City’s Environmental Services Department will also be closed on Monday, Feb. 18 in observance of Presidents’ Day. The department will be picking up Monday’s trash on Tuesday, Feb. 19 and Tuesday’s trash will be picked up on Wednesday, Feb. 20. There will be no special pickups on Wednesday, Feb. 20.
For more information, please visit www.rollacity.org.

Rolla City Council
Mtg. set for
Feb. 19
Due to the President’s Day Holiday on Monday, Feb. 18, the next Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rolla City Hall - Council Chambers, 901 N. Elm Street. City Council meetings are usually held the first and third Monday of the month unless interrupted by an observed holiday.
To view the agenda and full agenda packet for the Feb. 19 Council meeting, please visit the City's Website at: http://rollacity.org/admin/agenda.shtml#agenda.
Council meetings are also broadcast live on Rolla Channel 16, (Rolla's Public Education & Government channel).
For more information, please call City Administration at 426-6948.

Healthy Heart
Zumba Party
Feb. 22 at Eugene
Northern Community Hall
In an effort to focus on Heart Awareness during the month of February, The Centre staff will be holding a Healthy Heart Zumba (dance) Party on Friday, Feb. 22 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Eugene Northern Community Hall (located at 400 West Fourth Street) in Rolla, Missouri.
The Centre staff will donate the proceeds to the Heart to Heart Committee, which is a branch of the Foundation at Phelps County Regional Medical Center (P.C.R.M.C.).
The Heart to Heart Committee has been able to gift countless men and women in our community screenings that they would otherwise not be able to afford. Several individuals have even had to have immediate medical action so the committee and Centre staff are thrilled to be able to ZUMBA (dance) for such a great cause! 
Door prizes will be given to winning participants! All ages are welcome for this FUNdraiser! The entry fee is $10 or FREE for unlimited class pass holders. So sign up today at The Centre (1200 N. Holloway St.), or call The Centre at 573-341-2386.

Rolla PD to step up
seat belt enforcement
The Rolla Police Department will be joining efforts with statewide law enforcement Feb. 22 for an aggressive “Click it or Ticket” mobilization to get more motorists to buckle up – and save more lives.
Despite evidence proving the benefits of wearing a seat belt, nearly one in four Missouri motorists are still not making it click. In 2012, 70% of individuals killed in crashes in Missouri were unrestrained.
“Local motorists should be prepared for stepped up Click It or Ticket enforcement,” said Sergeant Tim Mayfield. “We’ll be out there to remind you seat belts can – and do – save lives.”
Buckle Up and Arrive Alive. For information on Missouri seatbelt usage, visit www.saveMOlives.com.

5th Annual Youth Chess
Tournament March 2
at The Centre
The 5th Annual Youth Chess Tournament, hosted by the Rolla Parks and Recreation Department, will be held on Saturday, March 2 at The Centre (1200 N. Holloway Street).
Players of all levels are invited to participate in this fun day of chess. Players should bring their own chess set if they have on. If not, the Parks and Recreation Dept. will provide one. Staunton chess sets only please.
The entry fee is $5 for Centre members and $10 for non-members. There will be three age divisions: 1st-4th Grades; 5th-7th Grade and 8th Grade & up. The top three place winners in each of three age groups will receive awards.
Pre-registration is encouraged, but on-site registration will be available from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. the day of the tournament. The tournament will start promptly at 9 a.m.
For more information, or to register over the phone, please call the Rolla Parks and Recreation Department/The Centre at 573-341-2386.

Taste of Rolla
Chili Cook-Off
March 9
Which locally owned restaurant makes the best chili in Rolla? Well, you get to vote on it at the Taste of Rolla Chili Cook-Off which will be held on Saturday, March 9  from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eugene Northern Community Hall (located at 400 West 4th Street).
Thirteen locally owned restaurants will provide healthy portions of their specially made chili to be sampled by you, and then you will vote for your favorite. Chili, hot dogs and soda will be available for purchase with all proceeds going to Special Olympics Missouri. Musical entertainment will be provided by the popular classic acoustic guitar rock group, Trilogy.
This event, which is sponsored by the Rolla Police Department, is a Law Enforcement Torch Run event to support Special Olympics Missouri athletes. The Rolla Police Department has been an avid supporter for Special Olympics for over 30 years, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local athletes. Please come out and help us help the athletes.
For more information or to answer any questions, please contact Sgt. Vince Giacolone, VIPS Director/Community Police Officer, at 573-308-1213.

Spring Breakout camp
March 25-29
at The Centre
Spring Break for Rolla Public Schools students is just around the corner (March 25-29), so don’t just sit home all week with nothing to do!
Calling all kids ages 6-13 to come to The Centre (1200 N. Holloway St.) for The Centre’s Spring Breakout Camp! We will play a variety of games, create crafts and swim everyday in our indoor pool. There will be a break in the middle of the day for lunch (bring your own).
We will also watch family-friendly movies and play fun board games. Parents can drop off their kids beginning at 7:30 a.m. and pick up as late as 5:30 p.m. The hours of the camp (March 25-29) are Monday thru Friday (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.). The fee for the entire week is only $100 for Centre members or $125 for non-members! Grab some friends and sign up today for Spring Breakout Camp! The registration deadline is March 20!
For more information, please call The Centre at 341-2386 or stop by anytime and visit our front desk for details.

Citywide Clean-Up
to be held once
annually in April
Due to a 50 percent decline in materials picked up during the City of Rolla’s semi-annual Citywide Clean-Up traditionally held the first Saturday in April and October, the City’s Environmental Services Department will now offer the clean-up once a year in April.
The recommendation made to the Rolla City Council by Brady Wilson, Director of Environmental Services, to cut the clean-ups back to once a year was approved by the City Council at the Feb. 5 City Council meeting.  “Cutting the citywide clean-ups back to once a year will save the City about $7,000 in labor, fuel and tipping fees,” said Wilson. “We were seeing the biggest decline in the amount of materials collected during the October clean-up, so we chose the April clean-up, which is when many households do their spring cleaning.”
The year-round service for the disposal of large items, however, will continue to be offered through the department for a nominal fee. Individuals may also dispose of items at the Phelps County Transfer Station for a small fee. The Transfer Station is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and may be contacted by calling 364-8771.
The next Citywide Clean-Up will be held on Saturday, April 6. We simply ask that items be placed to the curb by 6 a.m. Common acceptable items include furniture, beds, toys, microwaves, and televisions, boxed or bagged trash. Unacceptable items include major appliances, construction or demolition debris, loose trash, and brush/yard waste. Loose items should be placed in boxes or bags and small pieces of lumber should be bundled.
   We ask that you do not place your roll-out container to the curb, because during this special clean-up it will not be emptied. If you have any questions, please call the Environmental Services Department at 364-6693.

FREE family education fair-
Growing Green! Learn, Grow,
Harvest, April 13
The Phelps County Master Gardener’s are hosting a FREE family education fair – Growing Green! Learn, Grow, Harvest on Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ministry Center of the First Baptist Church (located at 10th and North Cedar Streets in Rolla).
The purpose of the fair is to educate and inform visitors on environmentally friendly, ecologically sound, and sustainable yard and garden practices. Informative presentation and demonstrations on topics, including Drip Irrigation, Improving Soil Quality, Plant Pollinators, and Gardening in Climate Change in Missouri will be featured.
In addition, there will be exhibits, displays, and hands-on activities for all ages! Topics include Container Gardening, Soil Types, Garden Cover Crops, Vermicomposting (worms!), Community Gardens, Growing from Seed, Protecting Storm water, Herb Gardening, Rain Barrels, Saving Energy, Canning and Preserving, make your own seed starting pot, and lots more.
Vegetables, annuals and herbs for your garden will also be available for sale, and seedlings will be given away in the morning and afternoon! Door prizes will also be given away throughout the day.
For more information, please contact the Phelps County Extension Agency at 458-6260 or visit www.phelpscountygardeners.com.
-13 to come to The Centre for our Spring Breakout Camp! We will play a variety of games, create
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 Kenny Perzan, Senior Video Editor, at (573) 426-3377 or at Kenny.Perzan@fidelitycommunications.com.
Be sure to watch Rolla Channel 16 – “Education, Government and Community for you!”

2013: Environmental Services Dept. List of Important Dates (Clip & Save)

Feb. 18, 2013 – Presidents’ Day:  Monday’s trash will be picked up Tuesday; Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
April 6, 2013 - Citywide Spring Clean Up:  Saturday - Citywide clean up day
(residential only).
May 27, 2013 - Memorial Day:  Monday’s trash will be picked up Tuesday; Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
 July 4, 2013 - Independence Day:  Thursday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
Sept. 2, 2013 - Labor Day:  Monday’s trash will be picked up Tuesday; Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
Nov. 28, 2013 – Thanksgiving Day:  Thursday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
Dec. 25, 2013 – Christmas Day:  Trash service will not change.
.
Holidays NOT affecting trash or recycling collection:
            Oct. 14, 2013 – Columbus Day
            Nov. 11, 2013 – Veteran’s Day
            Nov. 29, 2013 – Day after Thanksgiving
            Dec. 31, 2013 – New Year’s Eve Day

Upcoming Events
FEBRUARY 2013
Feb. 18 – City Hall closed for President’s Day Holiday
Feb. 18 – Environmental Services Dept. closed for President’s Day; Monday’s trash picked up Tuesday; Tuesday’s trash picked up Wednesday
Feb. 19 – Rolla City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Feb. 22 – Zumba Party – Heart Awareness (7-8:30 p.m.); Eugene Northern Community Hall, 400 W. Fourth St.; The Centre will donate proceeds to the Heart to Heart Committee – a branch of the Foundation at PCRMC; Fee: $10 or FREE for unlimited class pass holders (sign up today at 341-2386)
Feb. 26 – Rolla Day at the Capitol (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.); Senate Rotunda; Hosted by Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce (364-3577)

MARCH 2013
March 4 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
March 9 – Taste of Rolla Chili Cook-Off (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.); Eugene Northern Community Hall, 400 W. 4th Street; proceeds to benefit Special Olympics Missouri
March 13 – St. Pat’s Court arrives at downtown bandshell (12-noon)
March 16 – St. Pat’s Parade (11 a.m.); Pine Street, downtown Rolla
March 18 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.
March 25-29 – Spring Breakout Camp at The Centre (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.); 1200 N. Holloway St.; to register, call 341-2386; registration deadline: March 20

APRIL 2013
April 1 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
April 2 – Rolla General Municipal Election (polls open at 6 a.m.)
April 6 – City-wide Spring Clean-Up (items to curb by 6 a.m.); residential only (364-6693)
April 13 – Phelps County Master Gardner’s to host FREE family education fair – Growing Green! Learn, Grow, Harvest (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.); Ministry Center of the First Baptist Church, 10th and N. Cedar Streets (458-6260)
April 15 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
April 28 – Local Government Week Begins (April 28 thru May 4)

MAY 2013
May 2 – Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast (6:30 a.m.); Havener Center, Missouri S&T Campus; (for info, contact Emily Barnes, National Day of Prayer Committee, emilyb@fidmail.com)
May 6 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
May 18 – Public Works Celebration Day (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.); Downtown Bandshell and Festival Lot
May 19 - National Public Works Week Begins (May 19-25)
May 20 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)

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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