Booker Hall Rucker III: 1939 - 2016

Booker Hall Rucker III

It is with a heavy heart that Rolla Preservation Alliance announces the passing of our friend, Booker Hall (BH) Rucker on January 5, 2016.  A native of Rolla with deep roots in Phelps County, BH was a respected voice for the proper stewardship of our cultural and archival resources.  Over the years, BH had acquired an unmatched breadth and depth of knowledge regarding Missouri’s cultural heritage and history.  His jovial humor, cheerful manner and learned wit will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

BH’s career began as a ninety day research project in 1963 that stretched into thirty-six years of service to Missouri’s system of state parks and historic sites.  As a graduate student in archaeology, Booker completed his three-month study of a steam engine shed at Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site.  While teaching classes, Booker worked on other research projects First State Capitol State Historic Site in St. Charles and Washington State Park in Desoto.  In 1965, the Director of Missouri State Parks, Lee C. Fine, offered him a permanent job in the central office in Jefferson City.  By 1971, Booker was promoted to Chief of Historic Sites and three years later became the Assistant Director of the State Parks Division.

From 1979 until 1989, Rucker served as Director of Historic Sites and Historic Preservation.  During the 1990s, he was chief of interpretive programs until becoming director of Cultural Resource Management in 1993.  After thirty-six years with the Missouri Division of State Park, Rucker retired in 2003.

During retirement, B.H. worked with the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri in the preservation and restoration of the 1787 Memorial Cemetery and other projects in Ste. Genevieve, as part of a long term interest in French colonial architecture. Also in retirement, he co-authored a book on the State Parks of Missouri, which has just been released.

 

Before entering the world of historic preservation, Rucker’s universe consisted of West 13^th Street in the Powell Addition in Rolla. At the time of his birth during the Fall of 1939, Rolla did not have a hospital and Rucker was delivered at the home of Dr. Scott in St. James, Missouri.  He was raised in the stone house his father, Ray Rucker, designed at 800 West 13^th Street, which was constructed the same year he was born.  During extended correspondence with BH over the course of the years, he relayed his childhood memories of growing up in Rolla.  A reoccurring story was visiting the elderly Tucker couple at 707 W. 13^th Street.  BH stated,

Booker, standing, with his brother Ray in 1943 at 800 W. 13th Street.  Photo courtesy of BH Rucker.

“One of my strongest memories is the homemade bread Mrs. Tucker used to make.  I’ve never had warm, fresh bread so good since those days.  I used to carry it warm in a brown paper bag, from their house to ours and it was all I could do not to open it up and eat it on the way home.”*

Another story was attending West Side Elementary and the temptation to cross “the old wooden railroad bridge.”

“One thing does resonate strongly though, "Line's Store."  Also known as the Southside Market, but we kids all knew it as Kenny Line's store.  When I went to West Elementary School, we were allowed to leave the school grounds to walk to Line's Store for candy.  It was supposed to be a "straight there, straight back" trip.  Unfortunately, it often wasn't, too many temptations along the way.  One thing was so totally forbidden that it couldn't even be considered, was to go on past the corner onto the old wooden railroad bridge.  Of course, we did so at every opportunity -- on the bridge, around the bridge, under the bridge.  Sometimes we got caught and there was hell to pay with Mrs. Martin, the principal.”**

The Rucker name is deeply embedded in the history in Phelps County. Rucker’s Great Grandfather, Major John Fleming Rucker, arrived in Rolla in 1889 with his young family and entered the tie and timber business.  John Rucker won a contract to provide ties to the Missouri Pacific Railroad and rafted timber down the Big Piney and Gasconade Rivers. His ventured proved successful and left his oldest son, Booker Hall Rucker I, to run the operation in Rolla.

Booker Hall Rucker I was best known for his dealings with property across Phelps County.  In 1900, he joined David Cowan and created the firm Cowan and Rucker, abstractors, insurance and real estate agents.  Four years later, Booker organized the Rolla Land and Investment Company. Booker was also involved with the community in various ways.  He served as the Phelps County Clerk, was elected Alderman several terms and was chairman of the Phelps County Democratic Committee.  In 1903, Booker married Margaret Southgate, the daughter of William Southgate, a judge and a former Sergeant in the Union Army (which is humorous since Booker was the son of a former Confederate Major). Together they had two sons, Ray Rucker and Booker Rucker, Jr.

BH's favorite building designed by his father.  The Rucker family home at 800 W. 13th Street. Photo courtesy of BH Rucker

BH’s father, Ray Rucker, was a civil engineer who designed numerous buildings in Rolla.  Ray’s designs included the E.E. Fiend House (1000 West 12^th Street), Tucker Dairy Building (101 W. 10^th Street), Rucker House (800 W 13^th Street), the two former USO buildings (901 N Elm Street and 207 West 9^th Street) and the Rucker family home at 800 West 13^th Street constructed the same year BH was born. BH’s mother, Jessie Stark Rucker, will likely be remembered by patrons of the Rolla Public Library where she worked for roughly four decades.

After graduating from Rolla High in 1957, BH attended the Missouri School of Mines before transferring to the University of Missouri two years later.  Even though he never resided in Rolla after he left in 1959, BH was still heavily involved with his hometown.  He aided in research and writing with the Phelps County Historical Society and the Missouri State Historical Society-Rolla Research Center. Personally, he was a constant help with the Rolla Preservation Alliance.  We would inundate BH with questions and he seemed to never tire of telling us his recollections and sharing his personal photos of the town he called home.  We will forever be indebted for his help and we will miss his stories about his family and the assorted characters he encountered while growing up in Rolla.

In addition to his wife, Elaine of 51 years, B.H. is survived by two children, John Rucker (Linda Moore), Jefferson City; Sarah Rucker Williams, Columbia; three grandchildren, Sam Luke Williams, Emily Elaine Williams, Marnie Jane Rucker Williams; two brothers, Ray Rucker, Rolla; Stark (Penne) Rucker, Australia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A remembrance service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with visitation following till 5 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the Missouri State Parks Association, of which he was a long term board member.

*    Email correspondence with BH Rucker - October 28, 2013 

**  Email correspondence with BH Rucker -  November 7, 2013

Grenville Dodge: Commander of the Rolla Garrison

By Ryan Reed

Grenville M. Dodge

Grenville Dodge is well known as the Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad who surveyed the route for the Transcontinental Railroad.  Dodge wasn’t the only individual who surveyed potential routes west of the Missouri River.  However, he was the first to convince future President Abraham Lincoln of a line running along the Platte River Valley in Nebraska and over the Rocky Mountains to meet the railroad coming east from California.  With Lincoln, Dodge was able to inaugurate the greatest building project of the nineteenth century. 1

Two weeks after Lincoln assumed the Presidency, Dodge called on him to press the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. In a letter to his wife after the meeting, Dodge wrote, “Politically the skies are dark.  Lincoln has a hard task before him, but he says he thinks he can bring the country out all right.” 2  Nearly a month later, the Confederates fired upon Fort Sumter and the Civil War began.  Rather than linking the nation together east and west, Dodge decided to abandon his project for the time being and hold the country together north and south. One of Dodge’s first stops during the war was Rolla, Missouri.

On August 24^th, 1861, Colonel Grenville Dodge arrived in Rolla with the Fourth Iowa just weeks after the regiment was mustered into service in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  His regiment was assigned to the Army of Southwest of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the Civil War.  Their mission in Rolla was to protect the railhead of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and aid in the transportation of goods to Springfield.  Within two months, Dodge was given command of the military post in Rolla. The nascent Rolla Express comment on Dodge’s appointment on October 19, 1861 stating;

“Col. G.M. Dodge, of the 4th Iowa, is at present commandant of this post.  His affability and quiet attention to those having business to transact with him without official pomposity or any manifestation of bad temper has commended this accomplished officer to everyone.”

When Dodge assumed command of the post, Southern sympathizers were still operating in small bands throughout the Ozark hills surrounding Rolla.   To quell the occasional attacks on Union pickets, the disruptions to wagon trains and the sabotage of railroad track and telegraph lines, Dodge took harsh action.  A scouting party led by Col. Nicholas Greusel of the 36^th Illinois was sent to Texas County to flush out the secessionist and all who gave aid to them.  Dodge instructed Greusel, “If the men who are away from home in the rebel army, or if their families cannot give a good account of their whereabouts, take their property, or that portion of it worth taking; also their slaves… take all they have got.”  Col. Greusel returned with nine prisoners, five hundred cattle, forty horses and mules. Subsequent scouting parties returned with similar spoils.  The 1^st Missouri Cavalry returned from Crawford County with ten prisoners.  Captain Wood’s Kansas Rangers captured seventeen prisoners and a large amount of rebel property. 3

The second scourge effecting Dodge’s troops in Rolla was liquor.  Booze ran freely in Rolla and the soldiers readily partook in the drink.  Col. Dodge issued several orders prohibiting the establishment of saloons to prevent the sale of liquor in Rolla.  However, stills began to emerge in the forest and hollows surrounding the village and pop-up saloons appeared outside of the city limits.  On December 16, 1861, the Rolla Express published an article entitled “A Leak Somewhere” questioning if Col Dodge’s orders were actually having an effect on the sale of intoxicating beverages.  The article stated;

“A boozy Captain tumbled from his horse yesterday in front of our office.  The horse was standing stock still, Captain leaned backward on the animal’s rump, pulled on the rein, and pitched down head foremost, as easy as falling off a log.  A sore head was the consequence, and the Captain was shoved into a neighbors house opposite, sans ceremonie, to get sober.”

Grenville Dodge (seated far left) with his staff in Corinth, Mississippi.

During his time in Rolla, Dodge likely didn’t  witness any military action.  His only fray was with a pistol he had forgotten was in his pocket.  On the evening of December 29, 1861, Col. Dodge was returning from General Franz Sigel’s camp when the following occurred.

“a small pocket pistol, one of Smith and Wesson’s patent, accidently discharged in his pocket.  The bullet passed through the fleshy part of his leg, inflicting a severe though not dangerous wound, which may disable him from duty a few days.  The Surgeon being fortunately present, the ball was extracted and the wound dressed just in time for the Colonel to receive the compliments of Gen. Curtis, who had just arrived from St. Louis to be his guest.”

It’s has been reported in several publications that Dodge received the wound to his leg during a skirmish near Rolla.  Due to the dutiful reporting of the Rolla Express, we know that wasn’t the case.

Col. Dodge and the 4^th Iowa remained in Rolla where they built log buildings including a camp hospital and participated in incessant drilling.  A large scale movement wasn’t taken against the enemy until January 22, 1861, when the regiment started upon a winter campaign to overtake General Sterling Price, former Governor of Missouri and commander of the Confederate Missouri State Guard. 

After Rolla, Dodge participated in the Battle of Pea Ridge where he was twice wounded.  After the battle he was appointed Brigadier General.  Dodge also participated in the Battle of Atlanta, the second battle of Corinth, Mississippi and became General U.S. Grant’s Chief of Intelligence.  In 1863, he was summoned by President Lincoln and was asked to divine a location along the Missouri River where the Transcontinental Railroad should start.  Of course, Dodge thought it should start at his home in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Subsequently, an executive order was issued the following year making Council Bluffs the starting point of the railroad.

After the war, Dodge completed the Transcontinental Railroad and retired to his home in Council Bluffs.  He served in the House of Representatives for Iowa’s 5^th Congressional District from 1867 to 1869.  Dodge was seldom in Washington since he spent much of his time building the railroad.  When he was there, he spent most of his time lobbying for the Union Pacific.  Dodge died in 1916 at his home in Council Bluffs. 

1.      Stephen E. Ambrose, Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Trancontinental Railroad 1863-1869 (New York: Touchstone, 2000), 32

2.     Ibid, 41

3.     Bryce D. Benedict, Jayhawkers: The Civil War Brigade of James Henry Lane (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2009), 249.

Twenty Questions for City Council Candidates: Wards Four, Five and Six.

Tomorrow the voters of Rolla will elect individuals for city council.  Over the past few weeks we contacted all candidates running for city council and asked them to answers twenty questions pertaining to their ward and issues across Rolla.  This week will be be looking at Wards Four, Five and Six.  Below are the unedited questions and answers for the candidates running in Ward Four, Five and Six.

Remember, the individuals we select to represent us on City Council are our closest connection to government.  Their decisions have greater impact on our lives than most national decisions.  Your vote is very important.  That is why Rolla Preservation Alliance decided to contact the candidates, so voters can be informed and to take time to cast a ballot and act on their best judgement.

Ward Four

John K. Meusch who is running unopposed.

No response

Ward Five

Ward Five shown in orange.

Brian Woolley (Incumbent)

Carrolyn Bolin

Q&A with Mr. Wooley

Name?

     Brian Woolley

Where are you from? 

     I was born in Jefferson City.

How long have you been a resident of Rolla?

     I’ve lived in Rolla for 10 years.

What is the single most important issue in your ward?

     Jobs and Economic Development.

What is the worst thing to happen in your ward in the last five years?

     ***Unanswered***

What is the best thing to happen in your ward in the last five years?

     ***Unanswered***

What does Rolla do well?

     Rolla is a great place to live and raise a family.

What could Rolla do better?

     We must focus on bringing new jobs into the Rolla area.

How can you/the city support small business development and expansion?

      By creating a business friendly environment for current and future small businesses. 

What should we do to encourage others to relocate here?

     Provide a business friendly environment and actively recruit businesses to relocate to Rolla.

What should we do to encourage graduates from Missouri S&T to stay in Rolla?

     By growing the local economy we will be able to provide more economic opportunities to encourage graduates to stay in Rolla.

Do you support the Rolla West Master Plan and the Westside Transportation Plan?  Why or why not?

     Yes.  Both are key to Rolla’s continued economic growth.

Do you support the Forum Plaza Community Improvement District? Why or why not?

     Yes.  It was needed to reinvigorate a declining Forum Plaza.

What is the proper use of tax increment financing (TIF)?  Is there a proper use?

     In today’s economy, TIF is a necessary tool to attract new businesses and to encourage existing businesses to expand.  However, every TIF project should be looked at very closely to insure that it is a proper use of the program.

Is eminent domain ever warranted?

Yes. 

Due to the growth of the student population at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, more student housing is needed.  With the recent proliferation of student housing construction by private investors, do you think stronger regulations and building codes are needed from Planning and Zoning Department?  Why are why not.

     The current building codes are sufficient.  They are doing exactly what they were intended to do, provide safe housing for residents of Rolla.  The last thing we need to do is burden private industry with more unnecessary government rules and regulations. 

Do you support the overall campus master plan of the Missouri University of Science and Technology?  What do you like? What changes would you like to see?

     Yes.  The continued growth and expansion of Missouri S&T is vital to the Rolla economy.

Do you support the Rolla Preservation Commission and their efforts to retain and reuse the historic built environment?  Why or why not?

     Yes.  I think the Rolla Preservation Commission does a great job.  It is important that we try to save and reuse Rolla’s historic buildings. 

What are your thoughts regarding Rolla’s historic heritage and historic assets?

     Rolla has a rich history that dates all the way back to the Civil War.  It is very important that we preserve as much of that history as possible for future generations.

What do you think is the best way to stabilize the core residential neighborhoods of Rolla?

     Two things.  Proper zoning to protect our neighborhoods and job creation.

Q&A with Ms. Bolin

No Response

Ward Six

There are no candidates running in Ward Six.

Twenty Questions for City Council Candidates: Ward 3

On April 7th, voter will select new City Council members.  The individuals we select to represent us on City Council are our closest connection to government.  Their decisions have greater impact on our lives than most national decisions.  Your vote is very important.  That is why Rolla Preservation Alliance decided to contact the candidates, so voters can be informed and to take time to cast a ballot and act on their best judgement.

This week, Rolla Preservation Alliance continues its series of questions for the City Council candidate running in Ward 3.  To recap, RPA contacted the eight individuals running for City Council in Rolla.  Over the next few weeks we will post our questions with their unedited answers in order to educate the voting public of the opinions and beliefs of the candidates.

Incumbent, Susan Eudaly is running unopposed in Ward 3.

Q & A with Susan Eudaly

Boundaries of Ward 3 in orange.

Name?

Susan Eudaly

Where are you from?

I grew up in St. Louis, MO. Then moved to Arnold, MO in the second grade.  I graduated from Fox Senior High School.  I attend college at Southeast Missouri State University.

How long have you been a resident of Rolla?

I have been a resident of Rolla since 1983.  I am a retired teacher of 32 years.  I taught for Rolla Public Schools.  Three years were spent in Van Buren, MO as a teacher.

What is the single most important issue in your ward?

I don't think you can pick one thing for each ward.  We have a park issue coming up for a vote.  This will impact Ward three if it is not passed.  Services for Coventry Park will be cut back.  This park is used quite a bit in Ward 3.

What is the worst thing to happen in your ward in the last five years?  
I can't name the worst thing.  We did have a house that burned and it took a long time to get it resolved but it has been taken care of, fixed up and sold.

What is the best thing to happen in your ward in the last five years?   
Ward 3 takes pride in the upkeep of property. 

What does Rolla do well? 
We have a great fire and police system.  Our utilities are among the best.  We have very good response to power outages.  Our city employees are among the best in the business.

What could Rolla do better? 

We can always improve ourselves in all area.

 

How can you/the city support small business development and expansion? 

We can help small business by making it easier to acquire the necessary permits to do business. 

What should we do to encourage others to relocate here? 

We have a good quality of life in Rolla and we continue to grow.

What should we do to encourage graduates from Missouri S&T to stay in Rolla?

In order to entice graduates to stay, we need to have more jobs that will attract them.  I know that's easy to say-we have to continue to work to keep them here.  We have Brewer Science, MO-Sci and a growing medical hospital.

Do you support the Rolla West Master Plan and the Westside Transportation Plan?  Why or why not?
Yes, I do support the Rolla West development and the transportation plan.  We have to find a way to move traffic better around town.

Do you support the Forum Plaza Community Improvement District? Why or why not? 

Yes I support the Forum Plaza Development.  This is much needed to improve shopping on that side of town.

What is the proper use of tax increment financing (TIF)?  Is there a proper use?  
When trying to attract business to our town, we need to be able to use TIF if needed.

Is eminent domain ever warranted?

I am not a fan of Eminent Domain and would hope not to ever have to use it.

Due to the growth of the student population at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, more student housing is needed.  With the recent proliferation of student housing construction by private investors, do you think stronger regulations and building codes are needed from Planning and Zoning Department?  Why are why not.

Planning and zoning codes are working.  If they need to be changed then this can be brought to the council.  It really helps us if people in the area where these buildings are going up come and talk to us.  We can just assume that if no one comes forward in opposition to these developments, then they are not opposed to them.

Do you support the overall campus master plan of the Missouri University of Science and Technology?  What do you like? What changes would you like to see?  
Yes I support the overall master plan of Missouri University of Science and Technology.  I really like the pedestrian bridges being suggested across 63.  This is a very dangerous highway to cross.

Do you support the Rolla Preservation Commission and their efforts to retain and reuse the historic built environment?  Why or why not? 

Yes, I support the Rolla Preservation Commission. I don't like tearing down buildings that have a history and can be saved.

What are your thoughts regarding Rolla’s historic heritage and historic assets? 
I am all for saving our historical buildings but it does take money and support to keep them.

What do you think is the best way to stabilize the core residential neighborhoods of Rolla?

It is not my place or the council's to tell a person in a neighborhood that they can't sell their house.  So your question about the best way to stabilize a core residential area is really not my job. We have planning an zoning commission that looks over request for development and then they come to us.  If people in the neighborhood are opposed to it, then we can decide from that response.  But I am not going to tell a person they can't sell their house to the hospital or the university.  I would not take that right away from a homeowner. 

Twenty Questions for City Council Candidates: Ward 2

This week, Rolla Preservation Alliance continues its series of questions for City Council candidates.  To recap, RPA contacted the eight individuals running for City Council in Rolla.  Over the next few weeks we will post our questions with their unedited answers in order to educate the voting public of the opinions and beliefs of the candidates.

The individuals we select to represent us on City Council are our closest connection to government.  Their decisions have greater impact on our lives than most national decisions.  Your vote is very important.  That is why Rolla Preservation Alliance decided to contact the candidates, so voters can be informed and to take time to cast a ballot and act on their best judgement.

 This week we will focus of the candidates running for City Council in Ward 2.  Running for City Council are Gregory Sawyer (incumbent) and Matthew Crowell.

Q&A with candidate Gregory Sawyer (incumbent)

RPA did not receive a response from Mr. Sawyer.

Boundaries of Ward 2.

Q&A with candidate Matthew Crowell

Name?

Matthew Crowell

Where are you from?

I was born in Logan, Utah, but grew up in Harrisonville, MO.  I attended college at Truman State University and law school at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, before moving to St. Robert to be with my wife.  After a short stint in St. Robert, my wife and I moved to Rolla; my wife to teach art at the Junior High and me to work at the local Public Defender’s Office.

How long have you been a resident of Rolla?

I have had the privilege to call Rolla my home for the past six years.

What is the single most important issue in your ward?

The single most important issue in Ward 2 is to ensure that our ward remains a strong magnet for business while maintaining its residential neighborhoods.  The recent rezoning threat of McCutchen Acres from single-family residential to the heaviest possible commercial use to allow Wal-Mart to put in a grocery store, gas station and liquor store was not only a direct attack on the character of Ward 2’s neighborhoods but also a direct attack on the businesses that have called our Ward home for many years.  This is why I decided to run for City Council.  I felt betrayed when our current councilmember, Greg Sawyer, voted in favor of allowing the rezoning of this residential track to commercial use for Wal-Mart at the expense of all the residents and businesses of Ward 2. 

What is the worst thing to happen in your ward in the last five years? 

The worst thing to happen in our ward the last 5 years was the threat of the rezoning of McCutchen Acres to allow for another Wal-Mart store at the expense of the neighborhoods and current businesses.  When our current councilmember, Greg Sawyer, voted in favor of this rezoning, I decided it was time for Ward 2 to have a voice in City Council that would look out for the residents and established businesses of our ward.  This is why I am running for City Council. 

What is the best thing to happen in your ward in the last five years? 

The best thing to happen in our ward the last 5 years is the resurgence of investment by businesses including the new Sinks Pharmacy, Liquor Cabinet, Dollar General, Furniture Express and of course, the future redevelopment of the Forum Plaza.  As councilmember of Ward 2, I would continue to make Ward 2 an excellent place for business while ensuring that it maintains its residential appeal. 

What does Rolla do well?

Rolla does a great job of attracting a diverse group of people and businesses despite its small size.  In addition, Rolla maintains an excellent park system and indoor/outdoor activities for the community.  If elected, I would strive to continue to make Rolla a welcoming environment for people of all cultures and backgrounds as well as build on the existing park system. 

What could Rolla do better? 

Rolla needs to do a better job of being transparent to the taxpayers.  Everyone can agree that parks, schools and other government functions are important and worthy of our support.  However, we should know where our money is spent and ensure that we do not make promises we cannot keep or afford.

 

How can you/the city support small business development and expansion? 

As a member of the Rolla City Council, I would continue to support small business by fostering an environment that encourages working with and assisting business development and expansion.   An excellent example of this cooperation is the Forum Plaza Community Improvement District.  Furthermore, the City can continue to highlight its central location with great highway and rail access, diverse workforce, and low cost to business and industry.  The City should continue to foster strong ties with MS&T and the Small Business Administration, Rolla Regional Economic Commission, Meramec Regional Planning Commission, and other organizations to help assist small businesses to grow and develop.   

What should we do to encourage others to relocate here? 

To encourage individuals to move and stay in Rolla, we must continue to work on changing Rolla’s image of a small Midwestern town to that of a thriving hub for technology and innovation in one of the most attractive outdoor settings in Missouri.  Rolla needs to continue to develop and support a diversity of dining, shopping and entertainment options and we must fully support our parks. 

What should we do to encourage graduates from Missouri S&T to stay in Rolla?

JOBS! If we want to keep the talent that Missouri S&T attracts and fosters, we must encourage business and industry that can support college graduates.  We do that by keeping the cost to do business in Rolla at a minimum and competitive tax rates while at the same time maintaining a quality of life that exceeds that of the big cities through our lower crime rates, our better schools, and our better parks and recreational activities.

Do you support the Rolla West Master Plan and the Westside Transportation Plan?  Why or why not?

I support the Rolla West Master Plan and the Westside Transportation Plan.  Rolla needs to encourage continued smart growth and be open to new business and industrial development while working to preserve the character of Rolla.  Rolla West does just that; it incorporates new development, enhances the aesthetics and pedestrian friendly appeal of Rolla while utilizing and preserving the character of Rolla by developing in a commercial/industrial area of Rolla utilizing existing infrastructure.

Do you support the Forum Plaza Community Improvement District? Why or why not? 

Absolutely.  My decision to run for Ward 2 councilman was based in part on current ward 2 councilman, Greg Sawyer’s, decision not to support the Forum Plaza Improvement District and instead supporting the reclassification of single-home residential property to allow for a Wal-mart/gas station/liquor store in the center of our neighborhood.  Ward 2 is a great place to live, but also a great place to shop.  Ward 2 is a great place for businesses to operate and it makes sense for us to support those businesses that have a long history with our ward. 

What is the proper use of tax increment financing (TIF)?  Is there a proper use?  Tax increment financing should be used only in extremely limited circumstances to encourage development of blighted areas.  Even then, we should be wary of the fiscal impact that such financing will have on our schools, law enforcement, roads and other services we rely on the city to provide.

Is eminent domain ever warranted?

In those extremely limited circumstances outlined in Article 1, section 26 of the Missouri Constitution, eminent domain may be warranted for the general welfare of the people e.g. for highways, safety, etc.  However, this does not mean that anyone should ever have to give up his or her home for a shopping center or office park.  When we do ask someone to sacrifice their property, we must make all efforts to ensure that they are given just compensation for their property being mindful of the value that the owner places on the property.

Due to the growth of the student population at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, more student housing is needed.  With the recent proliferation of student housing construction by private investors, do you think stronger regulations and building codes are needed from Planning and Zoning Department?  Why are why not.

 I do not think that Rolla needs stronger regulation and building codes.  Rolla already follows the International Building Code and has strong regulations in place.  However, as councilman of Ward 2, I would make sure that the current regulations and codes are followed so that the most vulnerable in our community, including the elderly and young adults live in safe, well-constructed homes.

Do you support the overall campus master plan of the Missouri University of Science and Technology?  What do you like? What changes would you like to see?  Yes, I support the master plan.  I am very excited with the concept of the campus front door providing an attractive and obvious “front” entrance to the university, which would both improve the campus’s look and make it more inviting, but also serve to beautify Bishop Avenue.   I am also very excited about MS&T’s desire to revitalize Pine Street and the idea of repurposing the old power plant into an occupiable building.  Both of these ideas focus attention on preserving the historic center of Rolla and an iconic landmark of our city, the university power plant.  Finally, the preservation of the campus creek and the concept of the living lab are exciting features that would be great to see implemented in other design projects in Rolla. 

Do you support the Rolla Preservation Commission and their efforts to retain and reuse the historic built environment?  Why or why not? 

Yes, it is important that while we constantly strive to improve our community, that we not let go of our past.  It is extremely sad to see Rolla’s architectural gems, like the Hafeli House, be destroyed to make way for improvement.  Obviously, Rolla needs to make sure that everything is done to preserve its historic buildings and character.  This is why I support the efforts of the Rolla Preservation Commission.

What are your thoughts regarding Rolla’s historic heritage and historic assets?  In 2011, I had the privilege to participate in the Rolla’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.  As part of this celebration, I acted in the reenactment of the debate on whether or not Rolla should secede from the Union.  As part of the celebration, I was able to tour the old courthouse and the Dillon Log Cabin.  I love that Rolla was able to preserve these historic buildings.  I think it is also impressive how Rolla’s historic buildings, such as Benton Square, the Public House Brewery and even City Hall and RMU building, can still serve as viable commercial buildings.  We need to continue to reuse and repurpose our historical assets as we continue to grow.  As a member of City Council, I will do everything I can to make sure that we do all we can to preserve our historical buildings.

What do you think is the best way to stabilize the core residential neighborhoods of Rolla?

In order to stabilize the core residential neighborhoods in Rolla, we need to honor our commitment to those homeowners to provide adequate city services, to honor zoning commitments and fully support the parks located in those neighborhoods.  This is why I am running for City Council, because current Ward 2 councilman, Greg Sawyer, failed to recognize these basic ideas when he voted to support the heaviest possible commercial use, including a Wal-Mart, gas station and liquor store, right in the middle of a residential neighborhood of Ward 2.  The reoccurring zoning requests in Ward 2 for McCutchen Acres to Commercial to the detriment of all those that live in this Ward must stop!