City of Rolla Mid-week E-Updates (June 13, 2012)

Dump no waste,

drains to streams

The City of Rolla Public Works Department is asking residents and home owners to refrain from dumping or raking grass clippings, leaves or yard waste into the City’s stormwater inlets, street gutters and local streams.

 “Around this time of year, most folks are mowing their lawns and doing lots of yard work,” said Anne McClay, Project Coordinator. “The clippings and yard waste are considered pollutants and should be disposed of properly.”

Folks can add grass clippings, leaves and yard waste to their compost piles; take them to the compost site located at the end of McCutchen Drive (next to the Rolla Recycling Center), or place them in brown paper recyclable bags at the curb for pick up by the City’s Environmental Services Department.

The City, working in partnership with the Phelps County Venture Crew, recently finished a project that involved the placement of 500 red stainless steel markers that read “No Dumping – Drains to Streams”.

“There are 4,200 stormwater inlets located among the over 100 miles of streets in the City of Rolla, and this effort was the first phase of a multi-year program designed to educate the community regarding the importance of not dumping pollutants into storm drain inlets,” said McClay. “They are for stormwater only, and residents should be aware that this type of activity is a violation of city ordinance.”

By alerting folks early and often about the negative side effects of dumping yard waste, McClay hopes to deter this practice over the summer months and into the fall season when lots of leaves are falling.

  “We are hoping these educational outreach efforts are heard loud and clear, not only by adults, but also children, so they are raised to understand the importance of doing their part to protect natural resources,” said McClay.

   For more information, please contact Anne McClay at 426-6955 or amclay@rollacity.org.

City urges residents

and businesses

to maintain properties

The full force of another Missouri summer is upon us and so is the rapid growth of grass, weeds and vegetation. Unsightly weeds, extremely long grass, and overgrown vegetation throughout various areas of the City of Rolla has prompted the City’s Code Enforcement Division and Street Department to enforce City codes that will ensure compliance with proper yard and business maintenance.

The City’s code “Permitting Growth of High Weeds, etc., Prohibited” (Article II, Section 28-14) states that all weeds, brush, or rank vegetation will be cut and maintained at a height of 12 inches or less. Failure to comply with these codes (Section 28-11 to 28-17) may result in a City abatement or a summons being issued.  

“We would like to remind home owners and property owners throughout the City to please be vigilant regarding the maintenance and upkeep of your yards, businesses and properties,” said John Butz, City Administrator.   

For more information regarding this issues, please contact the City’s Community Development Department at  (573) 364-5333. 

Rolla Parks and

Recreation offers

Cardio Tennis

Improve your fitness and tennis at the same time by joining the new Cardio Tennis program offered by the Rolla Parks and Recreation Department.

Classes meet Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Ber Juan Tennis Complex starting Monday, June 4. The monthly fee is $40, with Centre members receiving a $5 discount.

Cardio Tennis is a high energy fitness activity that combines the best features of the sport of tennis with cardiovascular exercise, delivering the ultimate, full body, calorie burning aerobic workout. It is a very social and fun class for players of all ability levels taught by a tennis teaching professional. If you’ve never played tennis before it is a great way to be introduced to the sport and if you are an experienced high level tennis player it is the best way to train for tennis.

Most classes have mixed ability and some facilities offer classes which are more specific to ability/fitness level. However, regardless of ability or fitness level, the tennis  professional is trained to provide the ultimate workout for each person.

For more information, or to register for this class, please contact the Rolla Parks and Recreation Department at 341-2386 or via e-mail at kristy@rollacity.org. 

RPD cracking down

on impaired drivers

during month of June

The Rolla Police Department will be cracking down on impaired drivers by conducting a sobriety checkpoint during the month of June 2012.

Law enforcement efforts will be increased in an endeavor to reduce the deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired drivers. Those caught drinking and driving could lose their license, money, and freedom.

For more Information, please contact Sgt. Tim Mayfield at (573) 308-1213 or visit www.saveMOlives.com.

Relax and cool off

at SplashZone

all summer long

Considered one of the best vacation and summer values in the Ozarks Highlands, SplashZone, Rolla’s outdoor water park, will remain open throughout the summer months Monday through Friday (noon-7) and Saturday and Sunday (noon-6 p.m.). Closing day at SplashZone will be on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3.

Located in beautiful Ber Juan Park at 14^th and Holloway Streets, this fun-filled water park includes a leisure pool with beach-like entrance, interactive play structure, lazy river, the “world’s largest” vortex, and two giant water slides.

Admission to SplashZone is $4.50 for individuals age four and above. For children age three and under, there is no charge. Value passes are $75 for 20 visits.

For more information for special events, private rentals, swimming lessons and other information, please call SplashZone at 364-8222 or 341-2FUN.

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.

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.

Rolla City Council

Mtg., June 18

The next Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 18 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.

Paving of Forum Dr.

from 18th to

Old St. James Rd.

complete

The City of Rolla Public Works Department is finished the reconstruction and paving of Forum Drive from 18th Street to Old St. James Road about two months ahead of schedule. The City appreciates the patience, cooperation and understanding of the residents and businesses who were impacted by this project, as well as the general public who use Forum Drive on a daily basis.

The next paving project will involve the overlay (about 2 inches) of asphalt on Forum Drive from 10th Street to Hwy. 72. This work will begin in about two weeks.

For more information, please call the Public Works Department at 364-8659 or visit www.rollacity.org.

Rolla Lions Club

Carnival set for

July 4-7

The 77th annual Rolla Lions Club Carnival will be held Wednesday, July 4 through Saturday, July 7 at beautiful Lions Club Park (located on Hwy. 63 South).

Rolla’s hometown July 4th celebration draws thousands of folks from South Central Missouri who love the carnival rides, outstanding fireworks, and great-tasting burgers, funnel cakes, steak sandwhiches, and cotton candy.

This year’s Carnival will feature wristband nights for rides as well as stunning fireworks displays that light up the sky.

All proceeds from the Carnival benefit Rolla Lions Club Park, vision and hearing programs, area youth activities and scholarships for local students.

For more information, visit http://www.rollalions.org/~lions/carnival.

Environmental Services Important Dates

 (clip & save coupon)

July 4, 2012 - Independence Day:  Schedule will not change.

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

JUNE 2012

June 18 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)

JULY 2012

July 2 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)

July 4 – City Hall closed for Independence Day holiday

July 4-7 – Lions Club Carnival, Lions Club Park, Hwy. 63 South

July 14 – Cruise In (5-8 p.m.); JC Penney Parking Lot, Southside Shoppers World

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.)

Scott A. Grahl

Communications Director

City of Rolla, Missouri

(573) 426-6943

Follow us on Facebook

& Twitter at www.rollacity.org

Dump no waste, drains to streams

The City of Rolla Public Works Department is asking residents and home owners to refrain from dumping or raking grass clippings, leaves or yard waste into the City’s stormwater inlets, street gutters and local streams.

“Around this time of year, most folks are mowing their lawns and doing lots of yard work,” said Anne McClay, Project Coordinator. “The clippings and yard waste are considered pollutants and should be disposed of properly.”

Folks can add grass clippings, leaves and yard waste to their compost piles; take them to the compost site located at the end of McCutchen Drive (next to the Rolla Recycling Center), or place them in brown paper recyclable bags at the curb for pick up by the City’s Environmental Services Department.

The City, working in partnership with the Phelps County Venture Crew, recently finished a project that involved the placement of 500 red stainless steel markers that read “No Dumping – Drains to Streams”.

“There are 4,200 stormwater inlets located among the over 100 miles of streets in the City of Rolla, and this effort was the first phase of a multi-year program designed to educate the community regarding the importance of not dumping pollutants into storm drain inlets,” said McClay. “They are for stormwater only, and residents should be aware that this type of activity is a violation of city ordinance.”

By alerting folks early and often about the negative side effects of dumping yard waste, McClay hopes to deter this practice over the summer months and into the fall season when lots of leaves are falling.

“We are hoping these educational outreach efforts are heard loud and clear, not only by adults, but also children, so they are raised to understand the importance of doing their part to protect natural resources,” said McClay.

For more information, please contact Anne McClay at 426-6955 or amclay@rollacity.org.

Rolla City Council Mtg. set for 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.

Summerfest kick starts summer fun

The impressive turn out for the 17th annual Route 66 Summerfest, including the Cruise In, Route 66 Pageant, Classic Car Show, Movies Under the Starts, Midway booths and rides, and Outdoor Concert, indicate this year’s event was one of the best attended since the inception of Summerfest.

Thanks to beautiful weather and a lot of folks and organizations planning and working together throughout the past six months, the event came off without a hitch. Although that may not be accurate, as there were pony rides available on Saturday in the downtown festival lot. Nonetheless, a lot of hard work and effort went into this event by Summerfest organizer Nick Barrack, Jim Larson (who organizes the classic Car Show on Pine Street and Downhill Derby), Stevie Kearse, Executive Director of the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and her staff and the Rolla Downtown Business Association, and other members of the Route 66 Summerfest Committee, which includes several City department directors, and members of the community. 

The event continues to expand and grow every year and with the addition of the Region 6 Hot Foot Pursuit 5K and 10 K Walk/Run held last Saturday, and a greatly expanded Arts & Crafts Festival, and Classic Car show, Summerfest continues to be a celebration of not only Route 66, but also the people and businesses who make up the Rolla community. And in addition to the folks I mentioned above, I would be remiss to not also mention the many City departments who were an integral part of what made this year’s Summerfest such a hit, including the Street Department that super-cleaned the streets; the Parks and Recreation Department that provided access and use of the downtown bandshell and downtown festival lots; the Environmental Services Department that provided recycling and waste container; the Public Works Department, which closed several streets in the downtown area and created several Summerfest banners that were displayed throughout the community; and the Rolla Police Department for providing security and safety, and the Rolla Fire and Rescue Department for the ladder truck and spray hose that cooled some folks off, and provided plenty of relief from the heat.  I would also like to thank Steve Hargis, Director of Public Works, who provides free hot, buttered popcorn for the Movie Under the Stars event every year at the downtown bandshell.

Ber Juan Sportsplex, located at the other end of town off 18th Street in Ber Juan Park, was also filled to the brim last weekend with athletes, friends and fans either participating in or attending numerous high-level softball tournaments throughout the weekend. The Ber Juan Tennis Complex, located just down the street from SplashZone, Rolla’s outdoor waterpark, was also filled last weekend with die-hard tennis players participating in the annual Friends of Tennis Route 66 Summerfest.

Rolla is fortunate to have the facilities, parkland, resources, volunteers, City employees and community support to make many of these festivals and events possible. What a great way to kick off the summer months and pave the way for the Rolla Lions Club Carnival which is just around the corner on July 4 through July 7 in Lions Club Park. Have a safe week!

Police Chief Chat

Drug watch: Great news, the PCSD and RPD have contacted the business in Phelps County that we know of that were selling synthetic drugs and advised them that it is now a law violation. At this time we believe they have stopped selling them. We will be checking in the near future. If you know of any that are selling please let us know so we can take the appropriate action. One comment on all you that start talking about RPD you can’t do this, there have to be laws etc... You are right and we are using the laws, have talked to the US attorney, DEA, Local PA and many others. We are taking a stand and it’s that synthetics are illegal and destroying lives.

The Rolla Police Department handled 849 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 21 arrests, 13 alarms, 20 accidents, 26 traffic complaints, 23 check the well being, 179 traffic stops, 36 disturbance (including domestics), 15 suspicious nature, 14 assists of other agencies, 6 narcotic violations, 91 security checks, 44 animal control complaints, 39 follow up investigations. This call total is up 15 calls over last week and yes, another busy week!

Recently we were contacted by a Neighborhood Watch coordinator asking us to address the most common nuisance and property maintenance violations in the City of Rolla. We decided to do a weekly posting under the title” DID YOU KNOW?” that addresses the violation and the matching city ordinance. We hope you find it useful.

DID YOU KNOW?...........The ordinance regarding trash containers and trash pickup? Sec. 18-7.

It shall be unlawful for any refuse customer to:

(a) Deposit refuse in any refuse container other than his/her own or that assigned for his/her use by the city.

(b) Accumulate or dispose of refuse in any manner or at any location which the superintendent deems a nuisance to the public health or safety.

(c) Fail to place their refuse container at the nearest street curb or street edge on the date of collection for collection purposes, except refuse customers who have provided the city with a written verification from a physician stating they are physically unable to place the refuse container at the street, in which case all refuse will be placed in securely tied plastic bags.

(d) Place the refuse container at the curb or street edge more than twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the scheduled collection, or failure to remove the refuse container from the curb side or street edge to the front line of the house within twenty-four (24) hours of the day of collection. The first and second violation will result in Environmental Services Department personnel placing a notification “sticker” on the refuse container notifying the resident of the requirement to remove the container from the street edge. The third violation will result in suspension of service and Environmental Services Department personnel repossessing the refuse container. A $20.00 reinstatement fee will be charged for re-delivery of the container and reinstatement of service. (Ord. 3892. §2)

(e) Fail to place garbage in tied plastic bags prior to depositing such refuse in containers.

(f) It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to rummage through or scavenge items from any refuse or recycling container owned, serviced or maintained by the City.

(g) Place liquid waste (i.e. paint, waste oil, chemicals) in a refuse container or bags to be collected by the City.

(h) Burn, paint, or otherwise deface any refuse or recycling container owned by the City.

(i) Place bulk or loose refuse or waste items at the curb or street edge more than seventy-two (72) hours in advance of a pre-arranged collection or a scheduled semi-annual city-wide cleanup.

(j) Place hazardous, infectious or regulated waste in a refuse container that is not intended for such wastes and marked as such. Any infectious wastes generated from residential sources must be placed in a rigid leak-proof, puncture resistant container with a tight fitting lid. Infectious wastes generated from commercial sources cannot be discarded into the municipal solid waste stream unless processed and sterilized to specifications required by law. (Ord. 3768, §1) We have had several complaints over the years and we are getting them again about people posting signs such as yard sales etc… on city right of ways and telephone poles. It is illegal to do this. So please follow this rule as it is a violation of law and we might be forced to take your sign down and come to your yard sale to issue you a ticket. This is not something anyone in the Police Department wants to do, but it’s part of the job. With that being said, if you chose to continue to post a sign over the weekend, take it down right after your yard sale is over. Below is the city ordnance on signs. If anyone has a solution to the problem please let us know. I know my wife and I look for signs when going to yard sales. You can post them in the ground on people’s property if you ask them so they are not in the city right away.

Sec. 30-25. Posting - Signs on public right of way, utility poles and street sign poles-prohibited; penalty provisions.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to erect any sign, marker or other edifice upon any public right of way in the City of Rolla, Missouri; nor shall any person post any signs, bills or other plaque or advertisement upon any utility pole or public sign in the City of Rolla, Missouri. (b) Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of this Ordinance shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five and no/100 ($25.00) dollars nor more than one hundred and no/100 ($100.00) dollars. (Ord. 2419, §§1, 2.)

Rolla Police Department employees celebrating hiring date anniversaries during the month of June are Lt. Jim Macormic who was hired in 1991, Sgt. Wayne Rapier hired 1975, Spo. Seth Walker hired 2008, Spo. Leann Robertson hired 2008 and Telecommunicator Thomas Grisham hired in 2010. Congratulations to all of you on your years of service.

In closing I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that summer school is in session and to continue to use caution when traveling in our school zones. I would also like to remind you that during the summer season bicyclists and motorcyclists are very popular and are entitled to the same respect and courtesy afforded other vehicles traveling on our roads.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse