Sign program draws complaints from residents and business

Residents in virtually all counties (St. L County, Jefferson, St. Charles, etc) have a growing unrest regarding signs posted for real estate sales, political endorsements, garage sales, and others. Many of these signs show up in subdivisions and posted on a subdivision's common ground. Some are taped to telephone poles light poles, benches, etc. while most are stuck in the ground. Some are never removed or stay posted for weeks or longer.

The City of Arnold is looking into this growing problem. Local real estate agents are unhappy with a new program the city created to remove temporary signs like those for garage sales. Volunteers have been recruited to clear signs attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, streetlights and other public right-of-way property.

A representative for G'Sell Contracting asked the council to reconsider the ordinance to allow for directional signs for real estate developments. G'Sell has two developments in Arnold it is trying to promote. "In one year we have had a total of 212 visitors with 130 of them citing signs as the source they used to find our developments," said Ruben Leon.

At a December meeting, real estate agent Cindy Coleman accused the sign removers of taking down expensive signs she had put up and not returning them. The council plans to review the ordinance at a work session next month.

Arnold, is apparently getting tired of illegal signs and has recruited some volunteers to remove them. Residents in North St. Louis County have been doing this for years and realtors and others are realizing that they must comply with the ordinance or lose their signs to their “slash and trash” program.

A resident said directional real estate signs are illegal in all areas of unincorporated St. Louis County for the benefit of realtors.

What do think about this situation? Click on COMMENTS below and share your thoughts.

Arnold Gets Lower Trash Costs Than St. Louis County

The City of Arnold, MO extended their contract with Veolia Environmental Services for an additional three years. Veolia will provide weekly trash pickup, weekly recycling and twice-yearly bulk item pickup for 6,700 residences. Veolia has provided the trash service in Arnold for five years.

In an effort to increase recycling, the city of Arnold is providing 65-gallon recycling bins to single and two-family residential houses. Residents already are provided 95-gallon trash bins.

While the Arnold population is considerably less than St. Louis County, their residential trash rates are also less. The city currently pays for the trash service, which will increase to $10.75 per home from $9.45.

As one resident put it, "Maybe we should have Arnold handle the trash collection situation in St. Louis County."

Concerned Couty Residents Speak Out

Here's a couple of messages received today from area residents -

"I read an article in the Arnold-Imperial Leader, June 12th issue regarding trash services in Arnold. The city has a contract which expires June 2009 with Veolia. They provide service for $8.95 per month plus .50 per home that recycles. With the new totes, the service will be $10.75. July 2009 through June 2010, it will be $11.07. The following year it will increase to $11.40, and the last year will be $11.75. I'm am really confused as to why it is more for South County than it is for Arnold and for the areas up north???"

Any comments anyone???? Anyone ???

Here's another.

A county resident called and left a message saying he learned from a friend in west county (Manchester/Ballwin area) that he just received notice from Veolia, their current trash hauler. The notice said if he wanted to receive a paper invoice, there would be a $3.50 handling charge added to his trash bill. If he paid by EFT/ACH, there would be no charge.

Now I'm certain Veolia will say there is no increase to their trash or recycling charges and will point out the expense of handling a paper transaction. They should have thought of that before quoting their current rate. If this is a service provided by their City, they should protest this loud and clear.

An increase in payment is a rate increase.