Arnold council approves contractor for Woodridge stormwater project after homeowner appeal

The Arnold City Council on Nov. 20 approved a contract to repair stormwater damage in the Woodridge neighborhood after hearing a homeowner’s plea for help covering the bill.

Bonnie Smith, a homeowner at 881 Woodridge Drive, told the council she was speaking for herself (not the homeowners’ trustees) and asked the city to identify grant money to offset repair costs for residents on fixed incomes. “It’s gonna kill me,” she said of the expected expense.

Council members then considered Resolution 25-85, which authorizes the mayor to enter into a contract with Girdner/Gardner Contracting LLC to undertake the Woodridge stormwater project addressing a sinkhole that formed in July 2024. James, a city staff member overseeing the project, said Gardner Contracting was the lowest bid out of four firms and noted the contractor specializes in stormwater and sanitary main installations as well as clearing and grubbing. “This is to address the sinkhole that formed in Woodridge back in July 2024,” James said, describing the procurement and reference checks.

Council discussion on the resolution was brief; members thanked James for his work and there were no substantive technical questions recorded during the presentation. A motion to approve the contract was made and seconded, and the resolution passed on a recorded roll call with seven yea votes.

The record shows two points for follow-up: Bonnie Smith’s public request that the city help identify grants or subsidize costs for mostly-retired homeowners, and staff’s schedule coordination to align sewer work by American Water with the contractor’s stormwater schedule so the project can proceed as quickly as possible. Council did not vote on a homeowner assistance program at the meeting.

The council took a short recess and then moved to a closed session after the open meeting business concluded.