E-Newsletter for City of Kirkwood:  March 3, 2016
Council Moves Closer to Final Budget Approval for Fiscal Year 2016-2017
Kirkwood City Staff and City Council have been working since late summer 2015 to build a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Council held a public hearing on the 2016-2017 budget in February. The first reading of the budget ordinance will be tonight, Thursday, March 3, at 7:00 p.m., during the regular City Council meeting. The second and final reading and vote will be held during the March 17 Council meeting, which also begins at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall, in Council Chambers.
What's Coming Up In Kirkwood?
Dixon Closure Starts Monday
A major MSD project will require closing Dixon Avenue between Manchester and Essex to all thru traffic beginning Monday, March 7.  This entire section will be closed for at least a week. Residents will be able to get to and from their homes. Traffic will be detoured to Woodlawn. The complete project will take several months to complete, and during that time other closures may be announced around Dixon, Dixon Court, and Eastwood. 
Drug Take-Back Day is April 30
The Kirkwood Police Department will sponsor another Drug Take-Back Day and collection event on Saturday, April 30, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Police Department, 131. West Madison.  Remember: If you cannot make that date, a drug collection box is accessible at the Police Department, in the lobby, 24/7 for anonymous drop-off of prescription and OTC drugs. 
Two Elections Coming up in Kirkwood
Presidential Primary:  The 2016 Presidential Preference Primary will be held on March 15 in Missouri. That is a much earlier date than in previous elections. 

City Council / Mayoral Election:  A municipal election will be held on Tuesday, April 5, for Mayor of Kirkwood and for three open City Council seats. 

For election or absentee ballot information, please contact the St. Louis County Board of Elections at 314-615-1800.
Kirkwood Historical Society Holds Two Events Next Week
The Friends of the Kirkwood Historical Society will meet on Mudd's Grove Monday, March 7 , at 10:00 a.m., at Mudd's Grove, corner of Harrison and Argonne. Our speaker will be the Director of KirkCare, a local charitable organization. Hear about how the organization was founded and the impact it has on our community.  As always, the meeting is free and open to the public.

The quarterly meeting of the Kirkwood Historical Society will be held on Tuesday, March 8, at 7:00 p.m., at Mudd's Grove, corner of Harrison and Argonne.  Our presenter will be Marie Andel speaking on "The Harry Innes Bodley Family - First Family of Kirkwood."  As always, the meeting is free and open to the public.
Information, Reminders, and News
Spring Cleaning and Clean-Up: Sanitation Reminders
First Recycling Collection
Don't Forget the "5-Bag" Rule

The City's sanitation staff would like to remind all residents about the "5-Bag" limit when placing trash curbside.  Sanitation workers will only pick up five bags, per City ordinance.  Please place only household trash in your bags (such as food, bathroom and kitchen debris, etc.). If you're cleaning out the garage and have larger items, we are happy to arrange a special pick-up for additional or over-sized bags and non-household related items (rugs, furniture, appliances, etc.). 

Sanitation Tip:  Kirkwood Sanitation workers pick up five bags no matter the size.  To get the most out of your service, consider buying the bigger 33-gallon bags, which hold more trash than a 13-gallon bag will. For example, if you place five 33-gallon bags at the curb, they will all get picked up. If you place 10 13-gallon bags at the curb, only five will get picked up. 

Special Pick-Ups:  Call Sanitation by noon the day prior to your regularly scheduled sanitation collection day to schedule your special pick-up: 312-822-5828.

Electronics Recycling:   Kirkwood Sanitation will once again host an electronics recycling drive at the Public Works Building, 345 S. Fillmore Avenue, on Saturday, May 7, 9:00 a.m. to noon.  Visit the City's Website Calendar (click here) for more information (click over until you get to May on the calendar icon in the upper right-hand corner, look for the date, and download the flyer). 

Recycling Tip: We had a question recently from a resident about disposable paper coffee and drink cups that are waxed in some way. It's been all over the news lately that these cannot be recycled. However, in Kirkwood, they absolutely can be recycled - just as waxed milk cartons and waxed frozen vegetable cartons can be recycled (please rinse out the wet spinach first!).
Have You Signed Up for CodeRED?  
The City of Kirkwood has implemented a new high-speed emergency notification system called CodeRED.  The new system will help us reach residents and business owners in the event of an emergency or a situation that needs your immediate attention.
This is a completely voluntary system.  That means that to receive notifications, residents and business owners must "opt in" and register for the system. To register, or "opt in," for this service, please click here. If you have any problems with your opt-in registration, call 314-822-5894.

If you need more information, please visit this page of the City's Website. 
Garden Tip: Clean Up Downed Twigs and Branches Now
As we have more warm days, it is a great time to assess what winter damage you may have in your yard and gardens.  Strong winds have brought down twigs, branches, and even some trees.  Cleaning up the downed twigs and branches now will reduce your spring clean-up activities later, so your yard is ready when it is time to start cutting grass.

For broken limbs, remove them below the break.  Take care not to strip the bark from the remaining portion of the limb or the trunk of the tree.  For smaller shrubs, a pruner can usually be used.  Larger limbs will need a sharp saw.  For evergreen shrubs, you'll generally need to cut the limb back to the trunk.  Needless to say any downed tree needs to be removed.  If it is a large tree, get a professional to do the job.

Now is also a good time to cut back ornamental grasses.  Using twine, rope, or bungee cords to tie the grass allows for a clean cut 12-18" above ground level.  By tying the grass before the cutting, it avoids blades of grass being blown across your yard.

The Kirkwood Garden Club writes a Gardening Tip for most editions of Happenings.  For more information about the club, check out their Website at KirkwoodGardenClub.org. New members and guests, both men and women, are welcome to attend their meetings and events. Meetings are typically held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Kirkwood Community Center.
Play Tennis with Kirkwood Women's Tennis Association!
Kirkwood Women's Tennis Association is currently screening players of all skill levers - beginners through advanced - for regular and substitute positions for the 2016 season.  Doubles matches are played weekly at the courts in Kirkwood Park, from May through September. The cost is $75 for the entire season. There is no cost for substitute players. Day of play is determined by skill level.  For more information or to set up a screening, please contact Betsy at betsy.stlbruns@gmail.com, or call Suzie at 314-822-5233.
News from MoDOT
I-64 Will Close Monday for 2nd Boone Bridge Demolition
MoDOT will close I-64 over the Missouri River on Monday, March 7, to allow crews to demolish the second half of the 1930s Daniel Boone Bridge.  Crews will close all lanes of eastbound and westbound I-64 between Boone's Crossing in St. Louis County and Route K in St. Charles County at 9:45 a.m., on Monday, to allow for the demolition.   Related ramp closures:
  • 9:30 a.m.  The ramps from Chesterfield Airport Road and North Outer Road to WB I-64 will close
  • 9:45 a.m. Ramps from Route 94 and Research Park to EB I-64 and the ramp from Boone's Crossing to WB I-64 will close.
The demolition will take place once the interstate has been closed and all areas cleared for safety. All lanes and ramps will reopen once debris from the demolition has been removed. The interstate will be closed for at least an hour. Those interested in watching the demolition can park at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex located at 17925 North Outer 40 Road. Parking is at the west end, between the A Fields parking lot. Spectators will then have to walk down the Monarch Levee Trail for about a mile to the posted viewing area. Drone operators are advised that there will be a no fly zone in place due to the proximity to Spirit of St. Louis Airport. Construction on the $111 million Boone Bridge project began in January 2013. For full information, visit www.modot.org/boonebridge. 

Bridge Reconstruction Resumes on I-44
Commuters along I-44 between Arsenal and Hampton will be impacted as crews resume construction on three interstate bridges next week. 
Crews will resume work to renovate the Southwest, Hampton and Sublette bridges along I-44 on Tuesday, March 8, at 9:00 a.m. Starting next week, crews will be shifting traffic and setting barrier wall along the bridges as part of the work. Drivers can expect multiple lane closures during this work. When the work is complete, one lane on eastbound and westbound I-44 between Hampton and Arsenal will be closed around the clock into early fall.

MoDOT Will Hold Public Meeting Monday, March 7
Residents and commuters who regularly use Grand to travel to or over I-44 can attend an upcoming informational open house style public meeting to view upcoming plans to replace the bridge later this year. The project will completely replace the driving surface of the bridge and raise the bridge to meet interstate standards. Although the bridge will be completed in stages, drivers can expect fewer lanes across the bridge and will not be able to make left turns during construction. At least one lane will be open in each direction on Grand during each stage of construction. Construction should start in June and all driving lanes are expected to be open by the end of the year.

The open house style meeting will run from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m., on Monday, March 7 at the Carpenter Branch of the St. Louis City public library, 3309 S. Grand, St. Louis. There is limited space in the library parking lot, but plenty of free on-street parking around the library. During the meeting, MoDOT engineers will share information about the plans and schedule for the project. Participants may attend at any time during the open house.
The Finish Line...
Are you as sick of the political campaigns right now as I am?  The bad news is: We have nine more months of this. The good news is: Come next January, we will have a peaceful transfer of power, something that lots of other countries never experience.  It's hard to look at it that way with all the name-calling (aka campaigning) going on, but it's true: Every four years, we experience an incredibly human and wonderfully democratic process:  We quibble and bicker and argue...and then we vote. So: Be sure to get out and vote on March 15 in the presidential preference primary.  Then on April 5, be sure to cast your ballot in the City of Kirkwood election. We have a mayor's seat and three council member seats in contention.  It's a very important election. 

More good news: Spring is on its way.  It hits us calendar-wise in 17 days, but it's hitting us weather-wise too. When I left the house this
morning, it was 28 degrees, and it's 46 outside now. It's one of the indicators that spring is coming when you have cold mornings but much warmer afternoons. Also, The Weather Channel says the high will be 52 tomorrow (Friday), and the high on Saturday and Sunday will be 60 - and mostly sunny both days.  I sold my convertible last summer so I don't have these kinds of days any more --->
But I can still enjoy the beauty of a warm March weekend in St. Louis.

I wish you all a beautiful and sunny weekend.  Our next edition will be March 17. 

Beth von Behren
PIO/Happenings Editor
Quick Links to Website Pages and Information
City Website:  www.kirkwoodmo.org

City Council Minutes:  www.kirkwoodmo.org/CouncilMinutes

City Calendar and Meeting Agendas:  www.kirkwoodmo.org/Calendar.aspx 

Board and Commission Minutes:  www.kirkwoodmo.org/CommissionMinutes

Kirkwood Public Library:  www.kirkwoodpubliclibrary.org