Arnold Opens 90-Day Review of Building Code Updates After Residents Raise Roof Permit Concerns

The June 18 council meeting included public comments on inspections, towing contracts, transparency, liquor license renewals, Pommy Road right-of-way work, and a proposed update to Arnold’s building codes.

By The Jefferson Review

Arnold residents may soon see changes to parts of the city’s building code, but city officials emphasized Thursday night that the proposal is still a “living document” and will go through a 90-day notice period before any ordinance comes back for final action.

The building code discussion came at the end of the Arnold City Council’s Thursday, June 18, meeting, following public comments from residents who raised concerns about roof permits, inspections, insurance costs, transparency, and how city rules affect homeowners.

City staff said the proposed changes involve the International Residential Code and International Property Maintenance Code. One notable correction had already been made to the draft before the meeting ended: a leftover line stating that if any part of a roof required replacement, the entire roof would have to be replaced, had been struck from the draft.

Staff said that language was a remnant from older code and had been identified as an error. The updated draft is available through the city clerk’s office, and staff said council members can continue offering feedback before an ordinance is brought forward in September.

“This is a living document,” staff told the council, noting that the proposal can still evolve during the notice period as long as the changes remain within the advertised scope of the residential and property maintenance codes.

Residents Split on the Role of Permits and Inspections

During public comment, Arnold resident Joe Crouch said a previous concern about off-road vehicles in his neighborhood had improved but was still ongoing with “new players.” He also said recently installed no-parking signs on his street had helped, even if they had not completely solved the issue.

Crouch then turned to building permits and storm damage repairs, saying he understood why the city may not have required everyone to get permits after tornado-related damage. He acknowledged that staffing may have made it difficult to process normal permits while also adding thousands of additional storm-related jobs.

But Crouch said that is exactly when residents need protection the most.

“Most people don’t know the difference between a good job, a bad job, a job done right,” he said, arguing that homeowners often need someone qualified to inspect work on their behalf.

His concern centered on roofing work. A homeowner may leave for work in the morning, return to find the roof nearly finished, and have no realistic way to know whether the work was done properly. He pointed to details like plywood clips and attic access as examples of things most residents would not know to check.

“As we change our rules, please keep that in mind,” Crouch said.

Another resident, criticized the city over communication, transparency, legal costs, and roof-related regulations. She questioned whether roof and gutter rules could create added burdens for property owners, especially when insurance companies may not fully cover roof replacement costs.

“You need to think about insurance companies,” she told the council, warning that rules intended to force repairs could still leave homeowners paying more out of pocket.

She also raised concerns about city transparency, TIF spending, a possible connector road, inspections, and the city’s relationship with the fire district.

Together, the comments framed the central tension in Arnold’s building code discussion: residents want safe, properly inspected work, but they also want the city to avoid rules that become too expensive or heavy-handed for homeowners.

Local Towing Company Seeks City Contract Opportunity

The council also heard from a representative of AC Towing LLC, a veteran-owned company located on Lonedell Road inside Arnold city limits.

The company representative said AC Towing has served the community for four years, has maintained a record of zero workplace accidents, and has received AAA awards, including recognition as a Battery Service Provider of the Year and Service Provider of the Year across a seven-state region.

The company told the council it completes roughly 1,330 AAA calls per month and also serves local customers and the Highway Patrol.

AC Towing asked for a chance to review the city’s current towing contract and standards, as well as information about the bidding process, how often the contract comes up for bid, what services are currently provided, and whether the city evaluates the performance of its towing provider.

“At the end of the day, we would simply like to see that negotiating table,” the representative said.

No action was taken on the towing request during the meeting.

Council Approves Pomme Road Right-of-Way Contract

The council approved Resolution 26-23, authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Urban Planning and Development Corporation of America for right-of-way acquisition services connected to the Pomme Road Phase Two project.

City staff said the city received two proposals and favored Urban Planning and Development in part because the company indicated it could complete the work by the end of the year.

The goal is to finish Phase Two negotiations before construction begins on County Phase One next spring, which staff said is expected to require a full road closure.

When asked where Phase Two is located, staff described it as roughly running from Belmont to around Laird Lane, though the exact endpoint was not clearly stated in the transcript.

Liquor Licenses Renewed, Four Still Outstanding

The council also handled liquor license business.

Council members ratified a prior email vote connected to a special event request involving alcohol sales and walking around a parking lot. Because the council had not met at the time, the matter had been handled by email and then brought back for formal ratification.

The council also approved 15 additional annual liquor license renewals. Officials said four more licenses remained outstanding, with paperwork due by June 30.

During the discussion, a council member asked whether applicants had met background check and compliance requirements. Staff explained that liquor licenses are not fully re-vetted the same way every year, but that a managing officer must go through background checks, fingerprinting, and other requirements whenever that person changes.

Stormwater, Road Work, Parks and Community Events

Council reports also touched on several neighborhood and city service items.

One council member thanked city staff and a stormwater consultant for following up on concerns from the St. John’s Crossing HOA and residents near Rockwood Drive and Telegraph Road. He also thanked Police Chief Brian Carroll and Public Works for quickly responding to safety concerns after construction workers parked along Telegraph Road near a blind spot.

Another council member raised concerns about tall grass near Highway 141 and Church Road, saying residents had complained that the grass appeared to be about two feet tall. The response from the dais indicated the area may involve MoDOT, and city officials said they would make calls or put in a work ticket.

Council members also praised clean restrooms at Arnold City Park and progress on Lonedell Road. Staff said paving had started on one project but that trucks had broken through pavement in some spots, requiring repairs before the full paving job could be finished. Concrete street slab replacement work also began in Roseville.

The city also promoted several upcoming events, including Popsicles in the Park with Arnold police officers, the Children’s Entrepreneur Farmers Market featuring 34 young vendors, and Arnold’s Independence Day celebration on June 27 with food trucks, fireworks, eagle photos, and an eagle flight during the national anthem.

The Veterans Commission is also moving forward with a banner project along Michigan Avenue. Officials said applications are already coming in, and they expect the available spots to fill.

City Notes Passing of Former Employee, Mentions Anheuser-Busch Investment

Near the end of the meeting, city staff acknowledged the passing of longtime Community Development employee and former animal control secretary Judy Groffey, who had retired about two years ago. Staff asked residents to keep her family in their thoughts.

Council members also mentioned a press release stating that Anheuser-Busch plans to invest $20 million into the Arnold facility. City staff said they had reached out to contacts and had not yet heard back, but noted that future improvements could eventually require site plan review, zoning approvals, conditional use permits, or other city action depending on the scope of the project.

The council then moved toward closed session for real estate and personnel matters under Missouri law.