Mayor Bill Jenks, III |
Old Man Winter has raised its head once
again, and despite the hazardous road conditions and inconvenience of shoveling
a few inches of snow and ice, these storms, and the precipitation they bring to
the Rolla area, are actually much needed. It’s hard to remember when it’s sleeting
and snowing, and 18 degrees, that the Phelps County area is still in a drought
– and we desperately need rain for the low level ponds, rivers and lakes that
are crucial for the area’s agricultural industry, including farming and
ranching – not to mention the growing season for hey and other important
agricultural related crops.
So
every time it rains, sleets or snows, don’t curse the weather outright, because
if you are a farmer, rancher, grocery store owner, or anyone who depends on
water for your livelihood, you would be grateful for any precipitation we
receive. That said, I do know how difficult snow and ice can be to travel on,
and to even get back and forth to your home from work or the grocery store.
I know the City’s Public Works Department has
once again done a Yeoman’s job of pre-salting and plowing the 110 miles of city
streets during the recent snow/ice storms, and I always need to remember how
fortunate we are to have the resources and dedicated employees to work all
hours of the morning and night to ensure our streets are plowed and safe to
travel on. Members of the Parks and Recreation Department are also to be
commended for teaming up with the Public Works crews to clear the streets and
municipal parking lots.
We also
need to recognize and thank our sanitation employees in the Environmental
Services Department who continue to operate the sanitation trucks to pick up
our recyclables and solid waste despite icy roads, frigid temperatures and
dangerous conditions. That also goes of course, for the Rolla Police Department
and Rolla Fire and Rescue – working in all sorts of weather conditions day and
night. While we are all warm at home having coffee or hot chocolate, wrapped up
in a blanket by the fire, these men and woman are all braving cold temperatures
and slippery roads to ensure are community is protected and safe.
The
City of Rolla through its Facebook page, Website, blog and other communication
tools, continues to alert the public about impending storms, weather alerts
from Accuweather, and updates from the National Weather Service, the Public
Works Department and even the Missouri Department of Transportation, which is
responsible for snow removal on state owned highways such as Hwy. 63 and Hwy.
72 for instance. These communication tools also help citizens and the general
public to post information related to storms, weather conditions, etc., so if
you are not already receiving the City’s Weekly E-Updates, Facebook posts,
etc., please feel free to contact Scott Grahl, Communications Director, at
426-6943, or e-mail him at sgrahl@rollacity.org, and he will be glad
to add you to the list serve so you start receiving the City’s Weekly
E-Updates. To become of a fan of the City’s Facebook page just logon to http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-of-Rolla-Missouri-City-Hall/207010931303 and point your
cursor to the “Like” button. It’s a great way to stay connected and up-to-date
with what’s happening in the City. Other departments in the City that have active
Facebook pages include the Rolla Police Department, City of Rolla Fire and
Rescue, The Centre, Parks and Recreation Department, Environmental Services
Department and Public Works Department.
In
closing, I’d like to invite everyone to attend a very special event sponsored
by the Rolla Police Department that will support the Special Olympics Missouri
athletes on Saturday, March 9. The Taste of Rolla Chili
Cook-Off will be held 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. Our
very own City Administrator, John Butz is a member of Trilogy, and we are all
looking forward to seeing and hearing him perform at this fun event. 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.
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