August 22, 2025

Topics covered in the Monthly Board Meeting:

Bel-Nor Safety Grant: The city has put out a proposal for public comment for a safety grant. This grant program will help encourage residents to install doorbell cameras and motion-detection lights on their property. We are looking for input from you. The first draft of the proposal is on the Bel-Nor website. We will be taking comments and hope to have a finalized proposal to pass in the September Board Meeting on September 15th.

Neighbors by Ring: The City of Bel-Nor is now a verified account on the Neighbors by Ring app. For Ring users, just click the 'Neighbors' button in the Ring app to access this network. If you do not own a Ring device, you can download the Neighbors by Ring app to access the same information.  Whether you own a Ring device or not, you can download the free app to receive official alerts from us about safety issues, community events, and other important information. We successfully sent out a push notification through this app about recent community meetings. We hope to use this app more in the future as another way to connect with residents. Note: You may want to edit the map in your app if you'd only like to see notifications from our immediate area. (contributed by Alderperson Brockschmitt)

Flock Cameras: The meetings on August 18 were very informative.  A lot of things were discussed, with the main topic being the safety of our residents and property.  In attendance were Officer Ford and Chief Anderson of the Saint John Police department.   Chief Anderson spoke of cameras.  The type of cameras we need are a very specific type.  They are called Flock cameras.  They are widely used by cities and townships across the country.  They are high tech and can be used as evidence in court.  Chief Anderson has had multiple meetings with their representatives on Bel Nor’s behalf.  They will come and evaluate our city then report what is needed. (contributed by Alderperson Capstick)

Alley Lights: In addition to cameras another topic was brought up by Chief Anderson.  The use of alley lights by the police at night are actually impending their efforts in catching criminals.  The lights can be seen very far away and even while the officers drive on adjoining streets.  The criminals can see the police coming much much earlier than the police can see them.  The criminals simply hide until the police are gone, and then they continue breaking the law.  In the future we are allowing the police to use the alley lights at their discretion.  What that means to the public is you won’t see the super lit up police car patrolling the streets, and the criminals won’t as well, resulting hopefully in more arrests. (contributed by Alderperson Capstick)

We need you input: The security and well-being of our community are both top priorities for your city officials. As part of an initiative to better understand Bel-Nor's safety needs, we're asking residents to complete a brief, voluntary survey about exterior security cameras. In the event of a crime, law enforcement may consult the results to identify and contact residents who have cameras in the vicinity, potentially aiding in investigations. Your specific information will not be shared with the general public. Your participation will provide valuable insight into how we can improve public safety. Please take a few moments to share your input by clicking the link below. (contributed by Alderperson Brockschmitt)

https://forms.gle/K6G49maSAdnJ2UrX9

Volunteers needed to thin plants at Bellerive and Arlmont Island. Meet your neighbors and lend a helping hand. This island is the last of city gardens to be thinned out for the season. No gardening knowledge or expertise needed. Many hands make light work!

Island work days:

• Thursday, September 4th from 6 pm - Dark

• Saturday, September 6th from 9 am - 11-ish

The following items will be handy to bring with you: Shovels, gloves, hand trowels, clippers, yard waste bags, mosquito spray, and disposable pots, trays or boxes you may have.

Visibility Accessibility Tools: St. Louis County Library offers visual assistive devices for blind or low vision users. The collection includes text-to-speech devices, magnifiers and lighting solutions to provide enhancement, convenience and empowerment to those with low vision or blindness. Details about how to request one of these kits or specialized devices is available at www.slcl.org/accessibility-tools.

New Restaurant: Fufu n' Sauce, a popular West African food truck, has opened its flagship restaurant at 8100 Page Avenue in Vinita Park. They are serving up authentic dishes Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am - 8 pm. Check it out!

MSD Rainscaping Grants: MSD and MO Botanical Gardens are offering grants to homeowners that add rainscaping to the property. This is any combination of plantings, water features, catch basins, permeable surfaces, among other options to help manage storm water. If you are interested in learning more or applying, click below.

MSD Small Grants

Street Dance: The Bel-Nor Street Dance is back for 2025! Residents have been requesting this family-fun event to be brought back and a dedicated group of volunteers are making this happen. Details are still being finalized, but a date in time in October will be announced soon.

Tree Board Meeting: The Bel-Nor Tree Board will be on Wednesday, September 17th at 6:30. Stay tuned to hear about the fall planting event for those that requested trees for their easement and their yard.

Neighborhood Preservation: Start prepping for winter: check your furnace, clear any items that were stored near the furnace during the warmer months, clean gutters, caulk windows and seal drafts, check to make sure your rakes and snow shovels are in good working order and have salt ready to spread or make into a brine for pavement.

Neighborhood Safety: When installing lights on your property:

• Please make sure they are aimed correctly to illuminate your space and not your neighbor’s.

•  Consider using Dark Sky lighting for safety while minimizing light pollution.

• Exterior lighting is available in battery-operated or rechargeable options that are significantly more affordable than before. The days of needing to hard-wire and drill through brick are behind us.

Meetings & Reminders

Sept 1: Labor Day

Sept 4: Bellerive & Arlmont island clean-up 6 pm - dark

Sept 6: Bellerive & Arlmont island clean-up 9 am -11-ish

Sept 13: Bel-Nor Fall Plant Sale from 8:30-noon at Clearview Park

Sept 15: Monthly Board Meeting at city hall at 7:30 pm

Sept 17: Tree Board Meeting at 6:30 pm, location TBD

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.