Phelps County News

12/23/2024

At the same council meeting where an exception was made for activities of the zoning code that The Mission has been violating "for years"; an individual approached the codes department and reported that someone had been violating zoning ordinance by running a business out of a house at the corner of Salem Ave and Holloway. They wrote down the address and said they would look into it.

To whoever is allegedly running a business at the corner of Salem Ave and Holloway, just ask for the same treatment The Mission just received. That should buy you about 3 years.

12/17/2024

In a meeting that lasted past midnight, The Rolla City Council granted The Mission an exemption to continue to operate with overnight stays and a shelter in property zoned for light retail and office space and within 750 feet of a daycare. Admittedly, The Mission has been operating illegally and with a blind eye from the City for years.

Kevin Greven of Ward 5 (who is not up for reelection until 2026), probably realizing he was the deciding vote , voted YES after a long pregnant pause.

Victoria Steen of Ward 6 (who is up for reelection in April) voted yes, but later complained about the list of crimes In the downtown area while the City spends money on having an indoor pool.

Josh Vroman of Ward 1 (who is running in a contested race in April), stayed relatively quite during the debate before voting YES. Vroman, who works for Republican Don Mayhew as a staffer in Jefferson City, had previously been rejected by his ward in multiple elections he had run. Vroman finally got a council seat in 2023 when he was finally able to be unopposed. Ward 1 will once again have a chance to vote on his representation this April.

Vroman - Yes
Penner - yes
Johnson - no
Chirban - yes
Jackson - no
Fridley - no
Hahn - yes
Kessinger - no
Greven - yes
Steen - yes
Balch - yes

12/16/2024

Keep an eye on how your city councilperson votes on changing zoning for the Mission.

12/16/2024

In 2022 the payroll for The Mission was over a quarter of a million dollars a year.

Wonder what it is in 2024 if that's what it was in 2022....

12/16/2024

 Should Rolla  consider opening “The Center” to the homeless when the temperature gets below 36°?

12/15/2024

Pastor Dale Wands explains the request by The Mission that will be voted by the Rolla City Council on Monday in a Letter To The Editor in this week's Phelps Focus.

Issue is Zoning and Codes, Not The Rolla Mission

Allow me to try to explain the ongoing discussion concerning The Rolla Mission. This issue is not about being for or against The Rolla Mission; it is about zoning and codes.

I have a letter dated May 12, 2023, addressed to The Rolla Mission from the City of Rolla. The letter proposed granting a temporary stay to allow The Mission to continue operations at its current location while pursuing a rezoning application (from C-1 to either C-3 or R-3). If the rezoning had been approved, the stay would have been extended while The Mission applied for a Conditional Use Permit. The offer was valid until June 22, 2023, unless extended in writing by the city.

The Rolla Mission pursued C-3 zoning. On Aug. 15, 2023, the Rolla Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that the city council deny the request, citing concerns about the appropriateness of C-3 zoning for that location. Following this, The Mission chose to withdraw its application and did not pursue further action. The city didn't take action; thus, the discussion remains unresolved.

Here are some key points the city admits regarding The Mission's operations:
* The Rolla Mission is located at 708 N. Main St., which is zoned C-1.
* C-1 zoning does not allow a homeless shelter.
* C-1 zoning does not allow a soup kitchen.
* The Rolla Mission does not meet current fire safety codes.
* Current zoning does not allow a homeless shelter within 750 feet of a daycare.
* The current occupancy is 46 for general assembly. Since it provides overnight stays, the building qualifies as a dormitory, requiring a sprinkler system. This number could increase during severe weather, further exacerbating fire code violations.
* It appears The Rolla Mission is out of compliance with all applicable codes.

To address this, the city is proposing an ordinance exempting The Rolla Mission from compliance with critical fire, building, and zoning codes. This exemption would allow these violations, including fire-related issues, to persist for an additional three years while exempting them entirely from zoning requirements at their current location.

When was the last time the city gave anyone three years to comply with fire or zoning codes? Why is the City of Rolla extending such extraordinary accommodations to a single organization?

It appears the city is granting special concessions to one particular entity, which, if approved, some might call it "spot zoning" and consider this illegal.

If you oppose granting The Rolla Mission a three-year window to comply with critical fire and building codes while exempting them from zoning regulations, I urge you to contact the Rolla City Council before the Dec. 16 meeting.

Dale Wands
Rolla

12/09/2024

Filing for Rolla City Council starts on December 10th.

Since this last group of Councilpersons were elected four years ago, has Rolla gotten more or less safe? Is Rolla better or worse than it was four years ago ?

12/02/2024

Solar powered surveillance trailer located in Buehler Park.

They are advertised as autonomously-powered mobile video surveillance units that can be deployed to deliver monitoring in high crime areas.

Crime, drug use and vagrancy have substantially increased since a new group of City Council members were elected almost four years ago.

11/07/2024

11/01/2024

Get out and vote early, courthouse is open until 4:30.

10/20/2024

10/04/2024

Phelps county prosecutor Brendon Fox has been appointed by Governor Parsons to be judge for the 25th judicial circuit. Replacing the honorable John Beger. Congratulations to both of them, enjoy your retirement judge Beger.

10/01/2024

Good news, reliable sources tell us that the repairs to the concrete on 44 East will be completed tomorrow. The state will then inspect the concrete. Resurfacing of 44 west has begun. With any luck both lanes should be open by mid December

08/01/2024

Richard Gray Spadoni passed away on July 17, 2024 at the age of 65.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley Gene Spadoni and Dorothy (Halsted) Spadoni; and by a younger brother, Warren Ray Spadoni.

Rick graduated from Nevada, MO high school in 1978 where he was on the wrestling team and competed in the state tournament his junior and senior years. After high school, Rick attended Fort Scott Community College where he wrestled and played football for the Greyhounds. After college, Rick went to boot camp in San Diego and served in the Marine Corp. from 1982-1984.

Richard worked in several law enforcement jobs after his military service but most enjoyed his 18 years at the Phelps Count Sheriff’s Department in Rolla where he was a sergeant.

Rick will be greatly missed by his two surviving brothers, David and Daniel; and many cousins, nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

His wishes was for cremation and no services are planned at this time.