The Rolla City Council on Monday accepted a Delta Regional Authority grant that will cover up to half of an estimated $2.5 million stormwater improvement project in downtown Rolla.
City staff told the council the grant award requires a resolution accepting the funds and authorizes the city administrator to execute related documents. Darren, a city staff member leading the project, said the city hopes to go out to bid next spring or summer with the "bulk of the work" occurring in 2026.
Council members pressed staff on how the construction will affect downtown businesses. One council member asked whether the work can be staged and how the city will notify merchants; Darren said staff plans to attend downtown association meetings, hold neighborhood meetings (likely at a downtown church) before bidding, and provide frequent door‑to‑door outreach to directly affected businesses during the project. "Once you start digging up the street, we're digging up the street," Darren said, adding the work will be done block by block and that the project will be "an all summer project." He said the city intends to include time‑of‑completion incentives or liquidated damages in the construction contract to encourage timely performance.
Staff and council also described how the grant application came together: MRPC prepared the application; the downtown business association and about 15 downtown businesses submitted letters describing stormwater impacts; and a Route 66/DRA leadership connection helped the effort. One council member said several legislators also submitted letters of support.
Council approved a resolution accepting the DRA funds by voice vote. Staff said the DRA commitment is for up to the amount awarded and will not automatically cover any cost overruns; the city will be responsible for any costs above the awarded match. The staff estimate presented to council was $2,500,000, with roughly half anticipated from DRA funds and the remainder from local sources.
The council and staff identified some follow‑up items: (1) schedule outreach meetings with downtown merchants before bidding, (2) finalize contract language on incentives and penalties, and (3) include the project in the next budget cycle.
The resolution reads: "A resolution accepting community infrastructure funding through the Delta Regional Authority for stormwater improvements and authorizing the city administrator to execute related documents."