Kirkwood: We Want to Collect ALL the City's Trash by 2015

The move would require a substantial investment. Kirkwood's Chief Administrative Officer Michael Brown said they are expanding their services to business and apartments in the city by adding commercial accounts.

The City of Kirkwood is considering adding commercial trash and recycling pick-up accounts to its sanitation department over the next two years with the aim of providing all such collection services within the city by 2015. At a Feb. 28 meeting, the city council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would amend city codes to prohibit private haulers from providing sanitation services starting April 2015.  While Kirkwood has long had provided trash service to residents, it just began offering curbside recycling in 2011 and has only had commercial accounts on a very limited basis. Kirkwood City Manager Michael Brown explained the move in remarks prior to a public hearing on the city’s 2013-14 budget It will require a substantial …

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Readers Mourning Loss of Amici's in Downtown Kirkwood

Patch broke the news that Amici's had closed. That made readers sad.

Patch reported last week on the closing of Amici's restaurant in downtown Kirkwood, six years after it began operating at its location on Kirkwood Road. Amici's posted a notice on Feb. 18 saying it would be closed for renovations, but sources confirmed that it was closed for good. Spokeswoman Kelly Jackson said lack of parking was one of the issues that doomed the restaurant. After the story ran, readers on Facebook and Patch commented about how much they would miss Amici's, however. "Great food, wonderful staff," wrote Robyn. "You should really consider finding another Kirkwood location with better parking! Love this place. Wherever you reopen, I'll come back!" Ron G. wrote that he thought there was plenty of parking in the area, however…

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Business Spotlight

Amici's Closes Doors in Downtown Kirkwood

Owners cite parking woes and increased competition as reasons for shutting down.

A sign posted to Amici's Feb. 18 saying "Closed for Renovations" had residents scratching their heads as they wondered if the restaurant was closed for good. The answer is yes, Amici's is no longer.  Amici's closed its doors after six years of operating in the heart of Downtown Kirkwood. The owners cite parking woes and increased competition as reasons for shutting down. "Parking was a killer for this restaurant as it is for others," Kelly Jackson who handled marketing for the restaurant since last August told Patch. According to Jackson, owner Dave Pullam said the chief complaint from his customers was the parking. Pullam owned Amici's along with Jim McInroy. "The other issue is that too many restaurants were allowed in to compete with …

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What's Happening With Walker Lake?

A major renovation project at Kirkwood Park makes progress.

Information provided by the City of Kirkwood. Despite more winter-like conditions, progress continues to move forward with the Walker Lake project in Kirkwood Park. Most of the recent work has involved construction of the various natural stone retaining walls that will allow the necessary grades for the lake perimeter path to be accomplished. Demolition of the two handball courts are also complete and work on the rain gardens that are going in that area has started as well. The peninsula area is nearing completion with the paver areas, turtles and benches installed. The steps in this area have been formed as well and are expected to be poured this week. The path will take another eight weeks to complete, depending on the weather. …

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Road Work Continues on Ann Avenue in Kirkwood

This week Ann Avenue will be closed during business hours between Nelda and Frieda avenues. The strip is closed for street reconstruction.

Reconstruction of Ann Avenue in Kirkwood continues this week. Here's a road work update from City of Kirkwood: Kelpe Contracting will start street removal and replacement between Nelda and Frieda avenues Monday. Ann will be closed to through traffic during business hours. The contractor will set up detour and "local traffic only" signs for traffic during the day. This work should take about two weeks to complete. The street is open to residents who live on Ann. The closure is due to the narrowness of the street, Patch previously reported. Kirkwood Public Works Director Todd Rehg said Ann scored a 32 out of 100 by city engineers. The score was based on factors including buckling and various forms of cracking, according to Rehg. RELATED …

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Kirkwood Seeks Historic Preservationist

Have a passion for preserving history? This part-time job with the Landmarks Commission could be a perfect fit.

It's no secret that Kirkwoodians are passionate about preserving the beauty and history of our fair city. If you want to take that passion to the next level and are looking for part-time work, this job opening with the City of Kirkwood could be the perfect fit.  The city is looking for a Landmarks' Liaison / Preservationist. The part-time employee will advise property owners and developers about the rules, procedures and applications relating to the nomination of historic landmarks and districts; design review for improvements to landmarks and new construction in historic districts; and temporary stay of demolition of historic places, the city says on its website.  The Landmark's Liaison / Preservationist will work 4-6 hours per week, as …

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Facebook Page Aims to Connect City With Residents

The City of Kirkwood recently joined Facebook. The city hopes the move will increase communication with residents and get out breaking news.

The City of Kirkwood joined Facebook last week. The move was motivated by the summer's severe weather and the desire for the city to get information out to residents quickly and address their concerns. "During the worst of the early-July heat wave, and while we were beginning to ask residents to use restraint with lawn watering, I was on vacation, and logistically, it was very difficult to get information out to residents," Kirkwood Public Information Officer Beth von Behren said. Von Behren was vacationing on the East Coast at the time when that area of the country was experiencing massive power outages. She could access Facebook on her phone but updating the city's website was difficult. Von Behren was, however, able to update the city's…

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5 Job Openings With City of Kirkwood

The City of Kirkwood is hiring for five positions that span skill sets, work hours and experience levels.

Ever fancied yourself a park ranger? Maybe you're more interested in pursuing a career in public safety, or perhaps you thrive in an office environment. Whatever the case, the City of Kirkwood is hiring for five diverse positions that span skill sets, work hours and experience levels. They are: Editor's Note: Thank you to Kirkwood Public Information Officer Beth von Behren for directing me to these positions on Kirkwood Patch Facebook. Beth noted the openings as a comment to our first installment of Who's Hiring, a weekly look at job openings in and around Kirkwood and Webster Groves. Check out Who's Hiring for more job openings. The job roundup will appear Tuesday mornings on Kirkwood Patch. For real-time information about Kirkwood, Like …

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Construction Underway at Avery Park

City of Kirkwood parks crews remove invasive plants and trees from the site at Avery Drive and Harrison Avenue.

Work on Avery Park has begun with the clearing of invasive plants. Last week, City of Kirkwood parks crews started removing honeysuckle, euonymus and undesirable trees from the site at Avery Drive and Harrison Avenue. Because there is an abundance of honeysuckle and euonymus, the end result may be dramatic, but removal is being done with neighborhood input, the city says in a statement. Questions can be directed to Murray Pounds, Kirkwood Parks and Recreation Director, at 822-5855. Story Thread:

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Photo Gallery: Kirkwood Salutes Service, Remembers Sacrifice

A Memorial Day service hosted by American Legion Post 156 in Kirkwood drew attendees of all ages and touched the hearts of veterans.

Hundreds of residents filled Memorial Walkway Monday morning in a profund display of thanks to military members past and present. They turned out at 10 a.m. for a Memorial Day service hosted by the Kirkwood American Legion Post 156, a yearly city tradition. Attendees spanned generations, from veterans of WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam dressed in decorated uniforms to Boy Scouts from Troop 323 chartered by St. Peter Parish in Kirkwood who presented the colors. Speakers included Kirkwood Mayor and U.S. Coast Guard veteran Art McDonnell, Missouri State Senator Eric Schmitt and Bill Burckhalter, commander of Post 156.

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