ST. LOUIS – Frustrated residents filled Kinloch City Hall to share their concerns about the upkeep of their city. Despite years of documented decline, the council claims their are now efforts to rebuild.
Tensions ran high at the meeting as residents were packed inside city hall. They voiced their frustrations over ongoing issues they have had, such as the trash piling up across the city and lack of response from city leaders.
The meeting was meant to focus on redevelopment plans, including new industrial and residential projects.
But for many, the immediate concern is cleaning up the streets and holding city officials accountable. A few residents voiced their concerns.
“There’s no trust. There’s nothing. I’ll keep picking up the trash up there. Hopefully it don’t start a fire and the fire truck can get down through there! I’ll keep cutting the grass, and just like everybody else in here, they’ll keep doing what they’re going to keep doing,” one resident said.
Another added, “The order of the day is not the assassination of those on the board but to group together—to come together to see what we can do as a city.”
City officials say this is just the first meeting they will have to hear from residents so they can improve the city.
Officials did acknowledge the concerns but said they have spent the past seven years working to pull Kinloch out of debt, starting with just $2,000 in the bank. Residents were shocked to hear this and are demanding more transparency from the city.
The city stated that all properties owned by the city currently have liens on them dating back to 2007, making it difficult to sell or develop a lease.
For more information on Kinloch’s real estate, you can contact St. Louis County.