Arnold Residents Press City Leaders Over Missed Trash Pickups as Council Advances Development and Infrastructure Work

Republic Services delays, Bridgeview subdivision plans, drainage work and park project oversight drew discussion at this week’s Arnold City Council meeting.

By The Jefferson Review

Arnold City Council members heard strong concerns this week from residents frustrated by repeated trash, recycling and yard waste delays from Republic Services.

The issue dominated public comment, with several residents from Henley Woods and Arnold Terrace saying missed pickups have become a recurring problem, especially for neighborhoods with Friday service.

Kathy Fotinis, a Henley Woods resident, told the council that trash and recycling are often delayed for days, and sometimes as long as a week. She said residents are left with cans sitting outside in the heat, creating odor, blowing trash and concerns about possible health issues.

Fotinis said residents have spent hours calling Republic Services, filing missed-pickup reports and waiting for promised callbacks that often do not come. She asked the city to consider seeking bids from other trash service providers if the problems continue.

She also proposed several immediate changes, including moving Henley Woods’ pickup from Friday to earlier in the week, having Republic prioritize trash before recycling when staffing is limited, and requiring missed yard waste routes to be handled more quickly.

City Clerk Tammi Casey said she would contact Republic Services and follow up with residents about what could be done.

Other residents said the problem extends beyond Henley Woods. Don Schussler, of Arnold Terrace, said his neighborhood has also had regular delays, with missed service happening often enough to be a concern. Beth Evans, another Henley Woods resident, said she signed up for yard waste service in early April and had not received a single on-time pickup since then. Her husband, Philip Evans, added that residents are still being charged even when service is not provided.

While trash service drew the most public attention, the council also acted on several city matters.

Council members approved Bill 2928, an ordinance approving the preliminary plat for Bridgeview, a planned 10-home subdivision off Tenbrook Road. City staff said the proposal met state statute and city ordinance requirements, and the Planning Commission had recommended approval by a 9-0 vote.

A major part of the discussion involved sidewalks along Tenbrook Road. Staff explained that instead of requiring the developer to build a short sidewalk segment that would not connect to a larger pedestrian network, the city could collect a payment in lieu of construction. That money would go into a sidewalk fund and could later support a broader shared-use path as part of future Tenbrook Road improvements.

Council members asked whether delaying sidewalk installation could create a pedestrian safety issue. Staff said the sidewalk would currently stand alone in front of only a few lots, and that a longer future path would make more sense. Staff also noted that Tenbrook Road could be eligible for federal transportation funding later.

The council also approved two change orders tied to infrastructure projects.

The first involved the 2026 asphalt and overlay project. Public Works Director James Pogorzelski said additional base repair was needed after milling revealed more weak areas in the roadway, with most of the added work occurring near Mary Drive.

The second change order involved the Woodridge drainage project. Pogorzelski said crews found that part of an existing deteriorated pipe was located close to a home at 891 Woodridge. After consulting with engineers, the city determined that grout filling the remaining pipe and voids was the safest way to complete the work without risking the structural integrity of the home. He said the project is nearly complete, with fencing still to be installed.

The council also approved liquor license matters, including a change in the managing officer for Walmart’s liquor license and approval of renewals received to date.

Later in the meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Dave Crutchley addressed confusion over recent work related to the pickleball courts and parking lot area. Crutchley explained that some city projects are performed in-house by staff and do not always come before the council as separate high-dollar contract approvals.

That explanation led to a more pointed council action. City Attorney Bob Sweeney said the council was being asked to ratify work that had already been completed.

Sweeney then asked the council for a motion “to ratify the work that has been performed.” The council approved the ratification unanimously.

The discussion placed council members in the position of voting after the fact on park improvements that had already been completed without prior formal council approval. No specific dollar amount for the pickleball court or parking lot work was stated during the discussion.

City staff also reminded residents that Richardson Road at the Old Lemay Ferry intersection is scheduled to close Tuesday, May 26, at 8 a.m. for roadway realignment and culvert replacement. The project is expected to reopen before Aug. 15, ahead of the start of school.

The meeting closed with Memorial Day reflections. Mayor Bill Moritz wished residents a safe holiday weekend, while council members urged the public to remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to the country.