ARNOLD, Mo. — More rain is the last thing a neighborhood in Arnold needs.
In July, heavy rain ruptured a culvert pipe behind a home in Woodridge Estates. Rain washed out a large section of the land around the pipe.
The Woodridge Estates in Arnold was built in the 1980s. The home owners association has maintained the neighborhood, taking pride in gardens and manicured lawns. The homes are primarily fourplexes.
The damaged pipe and hole surrounding it covers a large part of one resident's backyard. "It's affecting our homes," Woodridge Estates Homeowner Bonnie Smith said. Pointing to her neighbor's yard, she added, "If this hole gets bigger, which it has with the rains we have had this week, it could affect the foundation of this home here behind me, as well as my home, the lady that lives next door and the man that lives next to her."
Longtime residents of the subdivision say the issue is not new.
"The creek at the other end is eroding backyards," Woodridge Estates resident Pam Manning said. "They, the City of Arnold, came in and did a quick fix. They dumped a bunch big boulders to fix the problem. Well, here it is 20 years later."
Manning added that when the city added rock to the creek, they did so with the stamp of approval from the Army Corps of Engineers.
In a work session on Thursday, the City of Arnold told Woodridge Estates residents that the homeowners association would be responsible for paying for the repair. At the meeting, residents were given a letter with no official logo or name of issuer. Bryan Richison, the City Administrator for Arnold, told 5 On Your Side the letter is not a contract but an acknowledgement of responsibility.
At the Thursday meeting, the City Attorney told Woodridge Estates residents the complex is responsible for storm water because it is in the association covenants. Resident Bruce Henry counters, "that has to do with the paved areas here. The water being collected onsite and it's being collected in those structures there and doesn't go into the creek. All of the water that goes into the creek is generated off site."
The Woodridge Estates residents say the culvert is in an easement which they believe should be covered by the city storm system. Homeowners tell 5 On Your Side they pay $36 yearly into the city's storm system fund.
Resident Jenny Parkey said, "What are we paying for? They've allocated funds to repair the storm drain and the Old Muddy creek up where it begins, but not all the way through where it ends here. So if they are going to repair that with city funds allocated for that project, why don't they come all the way through?"
Currently, Arnold does not have plans to repair the storm culvert without signatures from the homeowners of Woodridge Estates. The homeowners told 5 On Your Side they would not sign for fear of being unable to pay back the city and have a lien put on their home.