livery barn, an old landmark, partially destroyed in September 1924; and the C. B. Johnson grain elevator in July 1949. The latter was built about 70 years earlier and was the original Britson & Swenson elevator.
Erickson Park, in east Roland, was a gift of Michael Erickson in 1915, and consists of about five acres. The grounds were attractively landscaped with trees and shrubbery, and a stone marker placed to commemorate the gift. A shelter house was built in 1940 and has proved to be especially popular for family reunions. More recently, the Roland Post of the American Legion built and contributed an open-sided shelter for public use. Roland's ball diamond today is one of the best in this area, with lights for night use, plenty of bleacher space, public address system, and lighted scoreboard. It is in almost constant use every summer evening.
Roland's sewer system was constructed in 1919, with O. M. Anenson as contractor. A water works system was voted in 1911, and includes a 90-foot steel tower and 50,000 gallon tank with a total height of 120 feet, and is supplied by two wells.
A sewage disposal plant was built in 1920 consisting of a large septic tank, 24x50x16 feet, a filter bed of 40x50 feet, and a sludge bed, 50x70x4 feet. Built by L. A. Britson & Sons, the plant required 250 yards of concrete work, four tons of steel reinforcing rods, and cost over $20, 000.
The town hall, a federal public works project, was completed in April 1935, and houses a water filtration plant, fire station, jail, council chamber, and clerk's office.
A new concrete bridge was built over Bear Creek in west Roland in 1948. Fifty feet long and 26 feet wide, it is of I-beam construction with five-foot sidewalks on either side. The cost of this project was approximately $21,000.
A sewage lagoon system was completed in 1963, to replace the disposal plant which had been used more than forty years. The lagoon itself contains 7½ acres of water on a 13 acre site in southwest Roland, and is adequate for up to 2,500 persons, or approximately three times the present population of the town. Bonds were issued in the amount of $30,000 and the remainder taken from funds on hand to make up the $42,425 cost of the project. The bonds will be redeemed by 1978.
The Town of Roland is well equipped to take care of almost all its improvement and maintenance needs. Fire protection is provided the town and surrounding rural area by a $12,000 pumper purchased in 1968, a 1948 pumper, and a water truck which is also equipped to aid in pumping water. The town has a well-equipped ambulance for emergency use, as well as a radio-equipped police car. Other equipment includes two dump trucks, a street oiler truck, two boom trucks, a pickup truck for the electric department, a Caterpillar street maintainer, street sweeper, street roller, tractors, and other miscellaneous equipment. Every street in the corporate limits is hard-surfaced and kept in good condition.
The present town officials and employees are: Mayor, A. J. Reinertson; Councilmen, LaVern Holtorf, Max H. Larson, Willard B. Rod, Lester Severson, and Keith Tjelmeland; Treasurer, Mrs. Gertie Bacon; Attorneys, Larson & Larson; Clerk, Loren Britson; Superintendent of Electric Department, William Carlson; Street Superintendent, Delbert Childers; Marshal, Leonard Anderson;
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