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| Duties of the Mayor | Mission Statement | City Talk | City Connection

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Duties & Responsibilities

The Mayor is elected to serve a four-year term. The Mayor is required to be at least thirty (30) years of age, a U.S. Citizen, and a resident of the City for no less than two years preceding the election.

The Mayor acts as the chief executive office in Third Class Cities in Missouri.  The Mayor is the president of the City Council but can vote only in the case of a tie.  The Mayor does have veto authority over any ordinance passed by the City Council including "line-item" veto, provided a written veto or objection is submitted at the next regular meeting of the Council (subject to Council override).

The Mayor has the authority to appoint all officers or commissions prescribed by law with the consent of the City Council.  The Mayor should actively enforce all laws of the City and has the authority to call on every inhabitant of the City, between eighteen and fifty years of age, to aid in enforcing the laws.  The Mayor has the power to remit fines and forfeitures, to grant reprieves and pardons, and execute all deeds for the sale of real estate.

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Mission Statement

The Mission of the City of Rolla is to promote the enhanced quality of life for citizens of all ages and abilities. We do so by pursuing strong public safety services, a quality infrastructure network based on properly planned growth, and a diverse and vibrant economy. Through effective leadership in cooperation with our citizens, businesses and community organizations we can ensure the desired balance between our urban development with the charm of our rural history through open and participative communication with our customers and citizens.

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City Talk

Public participation needed for important upcoming meetings

Community involvement and participation have always been one of hallmarks of a healthy and prosperous City, and here in Rolla there will be ample opportunity to show your community spirit by attending some of the community meetings that are scheduled for the upcoming week.

A series of important, educational meetings begin this Monday, Feb. 8 with a special Rolla City Council Workshop that begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Rolla City Hall Council Chambers (901 N. Elm Street) to review and provide an update on the multi-phase Rolla West project. The focus of the discussion will be primarily on the proposed Bryant Drive extension at Kingshighway, which will ultimately serve as one of the gateway entrances to the new Missouri S&T Innovation Tech. Park. A development agreement among the City of Rolla, Missouri S&T, McDonalds, Fairground Chevrolet and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to make this project a reality is being circulated for final signatures and approvals.

On Tuesday, Feb. 9 you are encouraged to attend the Missouri Historic Route 66 Project Public Meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Phelps County Courthouse, Community Room (located at  200 N. Main Street). Mark Stauter, Treasurer of the Phelps County Historical Society, reminds us that Historic Route U.S.-66 played an important role in the development of Phelps County, and that Route 66 has achieved Scenic Byway status in Missouri, as indicated by the "blue" historic byway signs now posted along the route. Mark says the next step is for Phelps County to achieve national scenic byway status, including designation as an All-American Road.  This designation will qualify the roadbed, and the properties along it, for Federal funding for preservation, restoration, and tourism development.

The Phelps County Historical Society will serve as the host institution for the public meeting on Feb. 9 concerning the development of a Corridor Management Plan (CMP) for Route 66 that is being developed by the Great River Associates of Springfield. Similar public meetings will be held in 10 counties along the path of Route 66 in Missouri. Mark says the completed Corridor Management Plan will set forth guidelines (not restrictions) for the preservation, protection, and enhancement of the Missouri Historic Route 66 corridor and that it will be a milestone in the historic preservation effort in Phelps County. For more information regarding this meeting, please call 573-458-6000.

On Thursday, Feb. 11 there will be a very important meeting regarding the Missouri Transportation Alliance, and future funding for transportation improvements. The Community Meeting for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) District 9 will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall. Good attendance and discussion is extremely important, as there is no area of Missouri for which this discussion is more important at this point in time.

And if you love homemade pancakes and the company of good friends and neighbors, you don’t want to miss the annual Kiwanis Pancake Day on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m in the Rolla High School cafeteria. The food, entertainment, and service are top notch, and I think just about everyone in the community attends this popular event.

Looking ahead to the following week, Rolla City Hall will be closed for Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 15. The City Council meeting usually held the third Monday of the month will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall. Please remember, due to President’s Day, Monday’s trash will be picked up on Tuesday.

In March we’ll kick off the month with another City Council meeting on Monday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. That same evening will be the first of three FREE Healthy Yards for Clear Streams workshops held Monday, March 1, 8, and 15 at 6:30 p.m. at The Centre, located at 1200 N. Holloway Street. On Wednesday, March 3, the City of Rolla will join the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and other businesses and organizations at Rolla Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City. On Monday, March 8 the City, together with Rolla Channel 6, will host the Rolla Candidates Forum. The Rolla Community Teachers Association (RCTA) Candidates Forum will begin at 4 p.m., followed by the Rolla Municipal Candidates Forum at 6 p.m.

To punctuate the festivities in March, don’t forget the annual St. Pat’s Day parade on Saturday, March 13 at 11 a.m. on Pine Street in downtown Rolla. Just look for the street that is painted green in the downtown area, and you’ll have a front row street.  

Mayor Bill Jenks, III

 

 

 

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City Connection

(A Weekly Update from the City of Rolla to the Business Community)

Contest begins at
Rolla Animal Shelter
to name ferret mascots
The public is encouraged to participate in a “Name the Ferrets Contest” for the two beautiful ferrets that are the official mascots at the Rolla Animal Shelter located at 1915 Sharp Road in Rolla.

The two winners of the contest, which ends on Jan. 25, will receive a free gift certificate from Panera Bread in Rolla, and the bragging rights for naming the ferrets.

Anyone interested in participating in the contest can fill out an entry form at the Rolla Animal Shelter, or e-mail the proposed mascot names to Inge Wilson, Animal Control Manager, at iwilson@rollacity.org. Please include your name and contact information when submitting entries. Entry forms, which are available on the City of Rolla’s Website at www.rollacity.org, should be dropped off at or mailed to the Rolla Animal Shelter at 1915 Sharp Road, Rolla, MO  65401.

The winners of the contest will be notified shortly after the contest ends on Jan. 25. The Rolla Animal Control Division in the Rolla Police Department looks forward to your participation and winning entries. A special thanks goes to Panera Bread for providing the free gift certificates to the winners of this “Name the Ferrets Contest.”

For more information, please visit www.rollacity.org. 

"Healthy Yards for Clear Streams"
FREE workshop series begin
March 1 at The Centre
The City of Rolla’s Public Works Department and Phelps County Extension will once again hold a series of FREE, public workshops called “Healthy Yards for Clear Streams,” during the first three Mondays in March (March 1, 8 & 15) at 6:30 p.m. at The Centre (located at 1200 N. Holloway Street in Rolla).

The “Healthy Yards for Clear Streams program was developed by the University of Missouri Plant Sciences Division and University Extension to educate the community about non-point source water pollution and effective ways to prevent pollutants from entering waterways.

Water is our most important resource, but also the one most taken for granted. Essential to life, we have now all the water that has ever been on the earth. Yet in the world today more than a billion people do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. Even in the United States, especially in parts of the Southwest and California, water supplies are threatened by extended droughts, pollution, and overuse in irrigation. Our current way of doing things is becoming unsustainable.

In the Ozarks we are blessed with reliable annual rainfall, deep aquifers, and clear streams and rivers. But we can't become complacent. Our water resources are also threatened by multiple sources of pollution.  We can take action in our own homes and yards to contain runoff and keep pollutants from reaching streams.

Join us this March, on the first three Mondays, to learn how to have "Healthy Yards for Clear Streams” and attend the following FREE workshops at The Centre:

Session 1, March 1:      •The "Why" Connection: Where Is Your Watershed?
                                    •Maintaining Healthy Lawns While Protecting Streams, Best Turf Varieties for Missouri, and What to Do About Pests

Session 2, March 8:      •Building Healthy Soils that Hold and Retain Moisture
                                    •Put the Right Plant in the Right Place and Use Chemicals Safely

Session 3, March 15:    •Native Plant Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels: Using the Free Water From Your Roof
                                    •Compost, Bokashi, and Worm Farms: How to Improve Soil and
                                    Keep Organic Waste Out of the Landfill

   All workshops will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., except the final one, which will last until 9 p.m. For more information or to register, please call Phelps County Extension at 573-458-6260.

City’s GIS software
provides updates
on City stats
The year 2010 marks a new decade that not only reminds us that we are in a Census year that is very important to the City of Rolla, but also that it’s time to update City statistical information that is beneficial to businesses, and the Rolla community at large. And if you love trivia, especially Rolla trivia, you will want to continue reading this article.

Thanks to a recent upgrade (as of Jan. 12, 2010) to the City’s GIS (Geographical Information System) by the City’s Engineering Division, much new, and valuable information and statistical data is now available to the public and can be viewed on the City’s Website at : http://rollacity.org/maps/maps.shtm. It is listed under the heading “City land use” and it’s titled “land use statistics (jan 2010).”

For instance, do you know how many miles of City maintained roads there are in the City of Rolla? If you guessed 110.36 you are correct. Of the 110 miles, 7.94 miles are considered principal arterial; 6.73 miles, minor arterial; 2.37 miles arterial; 30.36 miles, collector; and 81.63 miles, local streets. How about the number of square miles in Rolla? Did you guess 11.83-square -miles? If you did, you were correct again. That number includes 7,574 acres. The original town plat of Rolla consisted of 206 acres, so you can easily see how much our City has grown since it was officially incorporated in 1861.

If you really enjoy trivia you might like to know that Rolla also has 69.67 linear miles of sidewalk and 13.02 linear miles of bike trails, which are included primarily within the ACORN Trail pedestrian/bike trail system.

Before 1900s there were 7.56 miles of sewers in Rolla. Today there are over 131 linear miles of constructed sewer lines. How many linear miles of storm sewer do you think there are today in Rolla? If you guessed 61.18 linear miles you would be right again! This also includes 3,348 sewer manholes; nine sewer lift stations and three storm sewer treatment plants. Can you name all three of these? They are the Southeast Treatment Plant (off Hwy. 72 South); Southwest Treatment Plant (off Martin Springs Outer Road) and the Vichy Sewer Treatment Plant (located on Vichy Road, on the north side of I-44). For the fanatical trivia buffs, and Geological engineers out there, Rolla’s geographical coordinates are Latitude, 37dN; Longitude, 91dW.

Would you happen to know how many miles of waterways exist in Rolla’s corporate limits? If you guessed 13.27 miles you would be correct. There are exactly 10 waterways in Rolla, consisting of the Burgher Branch, Burgher Branch Tributary; East Fork Burgher Branch; Deible Branch; Dutro Carter Creek; Spring Creek; Love Branch; Little Beaver Creek; Green Acre Branch and Little Dry Fork. The watershed basins that effect Rolla include: Spring Creek (1,118 acres); Burgher Branch (3,174 acres); Dutro Carter (2,096 acres); Deible Branch (1,417 acres); and Martin Spring Branch (1,076 acres).

The population of Rolla in 1990 was 14,090. In 2000 it was 16,367. The projected population for Rolla in 2008 was 18,438. The City is hopeful, that the results of the 2010 Census, which will take place in March of this year, the City’s population will reach the 20,000 mark, bringing many new opportunities for economic development, retail expansion, grant funding and overall status to our community.

We are counting on you
during the 2010 Census
Realizing that our community’s success is based on the power of everyone working together on a common goal, there is one sure way to make this community that much stronger. It’s very simple – by filling out and mailing back our 2010 Census form.

The information collected helps ensure that we get the resources that we need and deserve. Census data guide local decision-makers on where to build new roads, hospitals, child-care and senior citizen centers, schools, and more. Every year, the federal government can allocate more than $300 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data.

What’s at stake for our community is the loss of $1,300 per year for every person not counted for the next 10 years. This means we could lose out on vital resources for our friends, neighbors and our family. Census data also determines how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.

With only 10 questions, the 2010 Census questionnaire is one of the shortest questionnaires in history and takes just 10 minutes to complete. Census questionnaires will be delivered or mailed to households via U.S. mail in March 2010. Our community has a lot riding on this and it’s up to each of us to do our part, so please fill out your census form on April 1 and mail it in.

Environmental Services
Dept. launches new
24/7 hotline
The City of Rolla Environmental Services Department has implemented an information-only hotline that can be accessed 24/7. Residents can call this line to learn about holiday schedule changes, changes in seasonal services such as yard waste collection, availability of mulch/compost, special events, etc. To access the information hotline, please call 573-341-1168.

Environmental Services
2010 “List of Important Dates”
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Clip and Save!

   For more information, please contact the City’s Environmental Services Department at (573) 364-6693.

Upcoming Events
Jan. 30 - Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce 90th Annual Banquet and Awards
Celebration (6 p.m.); Matt’s Steak House (R.S.V.P. at 364-3577)
FEBRUARY 2010
Feb. 1 -  City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.); City Hall Council Chambers
Feb. 15 - Presidents’ Day; City Hall closed
Feb. 16 - City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m); City Hall Council Chambers
MARCH 2010
March 1 - City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
March 13 -  St. Pat’s Parade (11 a.m.); Pine Street in downtown Roll
March 15 - City Council Mtg.  (6:30 p.m.)
APRIL 2010
April 5 - City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
April 6 - Rolla General Municipal Election (polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.)
April 19 - City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
   For more events, please visit www.rollacity.org.

Scott A. Grahl
Communications Coordinator
City of Rolla
573.426.6943
www.rollacity.org

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