Residents Complain About County Enforcement of Regulations

A letter from a county resident to St. Louis County and their failure to enforce codes.

March 22, 2011 (Yes, the problems continue to exist today 3/2013)

County Executive Charlie A. Dooley

41 South Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105

Subject:  County Liability Associated with Robinwood West Community Improvement District (RWCID)

Dear Mr. Dooley, et al—

My name is Stephanie Michael and I own a home in unincorporated Saint Louis County in the Robinwood West Community Improvement District—a District created by Saint Louis County Ordinance in 1999.

Please be advised, that I as a homeowner, will no longer accept liability associated with injury, illness and/or accident as a joint result of the District’s failure to comply and Saint Louis County’s failure to enforce, County codes, ordinances and permitting processes related to District real property, District swimming pools and District sponsored, endorsed and/or promoted events and activities.  This includes the sale of food associated with the Stingrays swim team and the Gateway Swimming and Diving League. 

Recently, after several District homeowners complained to the County regarding the District’s installation of an ice-maker without permit, Saint Louis County eventually found the time to have a County inspector come to the District’s Community Center for the inspection of the ice-maker.  Given the costs required to meet County codes, I can only surmise that the inspector found multiple code violations and I believe that these issues were related to plumbing only.  I shudder to think about the electrical code issues that may currently exist.  A 2006 MO State Audit disclosed that in excess of $136,000.00 was spent in renovations to the District Community Center-----I sincerely doubt that Saint Louis County has permits close to equating to the value and nature of work performed in that RWCID government public building----a building that is also available for rental by anyone willing to pay the District established rental fees. 

Homeowners have also addressed with you both in writing and by telephone, for several years, multiple concerns associated with the condition of the Robinwood West CID public seasonal swimming pools.  Many of the safety and health related concerns of the District’s public pools, including a wading pool, still remain today.  Homeowners have also contacted the County regarding the sale of food without Health permits—a routine issue with the District.

Mr. Dooley, even in these tough economic times, the public relies upon the County’s authorities to protect public users of subordinate government public amenities.  The RWCID is a subordinate government entity and as a result, Saint Louis County must acknowledge its responsibilities to protect the people. 

As a homeowner in the District, the number and degree of code violations is not surprising to me and only supports my position that the District and County have been entirely too lax in the enforcement of County codes since the County created the District in 1999, thereby endangering the public safety of all people using the District facilities.  Enough is enough Mr. Dooley-----I hereby place the County on notice that the County will now share the liability. 

Respectfully,

Stephanie Michael, Homeowner
12721 Westport Drive
Saint Louis, MO 63146
314469-1163

 

CF: 
Director of Health, Dr. Dolores J. Gunn
41 South Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105

Director of Public Works, Ms. Sheryl L. Hodges

41 South Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105