Rolla mayor urges residents not to flush 'flushable' wipes, announces City Government Week and candidate filing deadline

Mayor Kevin Juntunen opened the Rolla City Council meeting on March 16, 2026, and urged residents to participate in City Government Week April 6–10, including an on-site council meeting at a Rolla school where essay contest winners will read their entries to the council. He also reminded prospective candidates for mayor, municipal judge, three council seats and three park board positions to file nomination paperwork by April 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., with filing information available from the Auditor’s Office.

Juntunen used his mayor’s minute to warn residents about the local impact of "flushable" wipes, saying they do not break down like toilet paper and can clog pumps at lift stations, slow sewer flow, contribute to freezing and bursting pipes, and cause sewer backups. "Please — do not flush wipes, paper towels, feminine products, or any non-toilet-paper items. Only flush toilet paper," he said, noting that Rolla’s ordinance prohibits flushing items that should not enter the sewer system and that violations can carry fines up to $500 and may require responsible parties to pay for repairs.

The mayor framed the announcements as opportunities to connect students and residents with local government and to protect municipal infrastructure. The city’s next procedural step on outreach is the scheduled school visit and on-site meeting during City Government Week; the mayor encouraged community participation and candidate interest ahead of the April filing deadline.

Ending: The council proceeded from the mayor’s announcements to routine business and committee reports; no formal action was taken on the mayor’s remarks during the meeting.