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Dear Friends of Buehler Park:
In this newsletter is:
1. DEFENDING BUEHLER PARK
2. TOM AND CHRIS SOWERS MEMORIAL REDBUD TREE IN BUEHLER PARK
3. WELCOME FLOYD JERNIGAN, OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
4. PARKS TAX
5. THE BEST KEPT SECRET ON I-44 IS GETTING OUT
6. TREES
7. PHOTOS
8. GREAT RIVERS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
9. BUEHLER PARK NEWSLETTER LOOKING FOR A NEW EDITOR
10. CONTACT INFO FOR CITY OFFICIALS
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1. DEFENDING BUEHLER PARK
As plans to build an animal shelter in Buehler Park or fence it in for dog runs faded into the background, a new attack on Buehler Park surfaced last Fall.
The City is planning to create a Transportation Development District which, as originally envisioned, would take a fair sized chunk out of Southwest corner of Buehler Park for a third roundabout proximate to the 184 mile interchange off I44. The city assures us now that those plans were a mistake — that the map was drawn with a wide marker and was never intended to include Buehler Park. Further, the only changes to Buehler Park due to road construction will be a sidewalk and safety fence along Kingshighway.
The sidewalk and safety fence will be a welcomed edition to Buehler Park. We thank the City and welcome the good news; but of course, we remain wary.
Phone calls and emails are always helpful. Click here for contact information for city officials.
Note: I am still opposing the creation of the Transportation Development District (TDD); but for a completely different reason. The TDD will be funded by an additional one cent sales tax on most businesses in Rolla, including the only three remaining supermarkets in Rolla that don't already charge an additional one cent sales tax: Kroger, Wal-mart and Aldi. This new tax will not be put to a vote of the people, although it is the people who must pay. You can read more about this here.
2. TOM AND CHRIS SOWERS MEMORIAL REDBUD TREE IN BUEHLER PARK
The Tom and Chris Sowers memorial redbud, donated by the Sowers family, is among the newest additions to Buehler Park. We thank the Sowers family for their generosity and for choosing Buehler Park, “the crown jewel of Rolla's park system.” The tree appears happy in its new location and has already flowered. When the hot dry weather comes, we will water it along with the other young trees. Hopefully, by that time, the City will have fixed the water pipes and we will not have to haul water to the park.
3. WELCOME FLOYD JERNIGAN, OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
Floyd Jernigan who was formerly publisher of the Rolla Daily News, beat out 28 other applicants for the job of director of Rolla Parks and Recreation. Congratulations, Floyd! and welcome back to Rolla.
Floyd replaces Ken Kwantes who came out of retirement last year to serve as interim director. Ken and the entire parks department has done a super job keeping Buehler Park neat and spiffy and removing two dead trees. A big thank you to Ken, Stan Busch, Kristi Rich and the entire Parks and Recreation Department. We wish Ken another very happy retirement.
4. PARKS TAX
Funds from the Parks and Recreation Tax that passed last April have begun to flow into the city coffers. Buehler Park is slated to receive bathrooms, a water fountain and new playground equipment in the near future.
5. THE BEST KEPT SECRET ON I-44 IS GETTING OUT
Parks situated next to an exit from the Interstate and adjacent to good food and lodging are almost as rare as hen's teeth. I've suggested to the City and the Chamber of Commerce on numerous occasions that they should not be keeping the existence of Buehler Park a secret. Nevertheless, word of mouth is the best advertising and the secret is getting out.
6. TREES
The 43 trees that we have planted since 2007 when the Court enjoined the city from alienating Buehler Park all seem to have weathered our very mild winter and have begun to leaf out or appear on the verge of leafing out. Chief Forester, Ross Melick, and I planted two more flowering dogwoods in the vicinity of the pavilion for a total of 12 and two more Kentucky coffee trees along the western border of the park for a total of four. In two or three more years the older dogwoods should begin to flower.
March 21 was International Day of Forests, celebrating the crucial role that trees and forests play in our lives. Forests provide us with oxygen, remove impurities from the atmosphere, absorb carbon dioxide, hold water, moderate temperatures ...; but, sadly, 80% of our forests have either been destroyed or degraded. So, if you planted a whole forest or even a single tree, you have performed an important deed for all of humanity. And if you didn't plant a tree today, you can go out and plant one tomorrow. And if you helped to save the trees in Buehler Park, give yourselves a hearty pat on the back.
7. PHOTOS
For those of you who can't get to Buehler Park, I'm attaching three recent photos. For more check out the photo gallery. We have added some new photos since last newsletter.
8. GREAT RIVERS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, the public interest environmental law center that saved Buehler Park, will be throwing its Spring party Sunday, April 24, from 5:00 to 7:30pm at the Busch Mansion in St. Louis. Please consider joining the party — invitation and reply card attached to this email or available for download at the Great Rivers' website.
If you have not done so recently, please consider making a donation to Great Rivers Environmental Law Center. Checks can be mailed to Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, 319 No. Fourth St., Suite 800, St. Louis, MO 63102. Great Rivers is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Donations can also be made online from Great Rivers' website.
Please help Great Rivers so they can continue to help others as they helped us.
9. BUEHLER PARK NEWSLETTER LOOKING FOR A NEW EDITOR
The current editor failed to publish a winter newsletter and is late again on the Spring Equinox issue. I favor deposing the current editor in a (hopefully bloodless) coup and installing a competent editor.
10. CONTACT INFO FOR CITY OFFICIALS
Click here
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If you don't wish to receive occasional notices about Buehler Park and related topics, let me know and I'll take you off this list.
If you want to be added to this list, let me know.
Have a great day and thanks for your support for Buehler Park.
Tom Sager, Secretary/Treasurer/Webmaster/Editor
Citizens for the Preservation of Buehler Park
yushasager (at) yahoo.com
http://buehlerpark.org
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