Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ROLLA—With funding from the Delta Regional Authority’s (DRA) Community Infrastructure Fund, the city of Rolla will begin an overhaul of its outdated storm drainage system that services the downtown business district. The current system, constructed in the 1900s, has experienced infrastructure collapse, creating hazards for business owners, residents and visitors in the historic downtown area. The current system is significantly undersized for the amount of stormwater produced in recent years during storms.

“The city is very appreciative to the DRA for the Downtown stormwater mitigation project,” said John Butz, Rolla city administrator. “The existing stormwater system, for much of downtown, is well over 100 years old. This grant was the difference in achieving stormwater improvements benefiting downtown, the heartbeat of the city of Rolla.”

The improvement will replace over 1,300 feet of box culvert, 5,000 feet of reinforced concrete pipe, over 74 curb inlets and over 3,400 feet of concrete curbs and gutters. The total project will cost approximately $2,539,955 of which $1,250,000 will be covered by the DRA grant. The city of Rolla will provide the additional $1,289,955, including engineering work performed by the city. 

These improvements will reduce significant flooding, thus fostering small business growth and creating a much safer downtown in which to live, work, shop, visit and attend events. Over 55 local businesses representing 200 jobs and 408 downtown residents will be impacted by this improvement.

The DRA was established in 2000 as a formal framework for joint federal-state collaboration to promote and encourage the economic development of the lower Mississippi River and Alabama Black Belt regions. To fulfill this purpose, DRA invests in projects supporting transportation infrastructure, basic public infrastructure, workforce training and business development. DRA’s mission is to help create jobs, build communities and improve the lives of those who reside in the 255 counties and parishes in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. There are 27 Missouri counties in the DRA eight-state service area, including Dent, Crawford, Phelps and Washington counties within the Meramec Region. To learn more about the Delta Regional Authority’s programs and initiatives, visit www.dra.gov. 

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin serves as chairman of the board. MRPC is designated as a Local Development District with DRA. A professional staff of 24, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities. MRPC staff assisted the city of Rolla with the application and will assist in grant administration.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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