October 3, 2025

Street Tree Planting: Bring a shovel, grab a donut and plant a tree at the first of two fall street tree planting days on Saturday, October 11th from 10 am - noon. Meet at the intersection of Audrain and Delavan for coffee and donuts with neighbors and a short planting demonstration. Tools and materials will be available to borrow, but - if you can - bring work gloves to wear and a shovel to share. All ages, abilities and experience levels are welcome. 

Can’t make it? Bel-Nor’s Thanksgiving Day of Service will include a second round of street tree planting in mid November. Date TBA.

Community Conservation Days October 9-12th: Join your neighbors and lend a hand for a community cleanup, honeysuckle hack, and tree planting across the Normandy schools footprint. Three days of cleanups across multiple municipalities and a free family fishing event/ BBQ on October 12th in Bel Ridge! Sign-up here: https://our241.com/events/ccd/

Family Fishing & BBQ on Oct 12th: Join Beyond Housing for a fun day of fishing. This is a free event and no experience required. Loaner poles will be available. Gutknecht Arrowhead Park, 3112 Wheaton Ave, Bel-Ridge from 10 am- 1pm.

Oct 13: Please note that the monthly Board of Aldermen meeting will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025 at 7:30 pm to ensure a quorum. The agenda will be posted at city hall and the website.

Halloween House Decorating Contest: Think your house is the spookiest on the block? Enter the Halloween Decorating Contest! Register by October 18th by emailing mayor@cityofbelnor.org with your address. Deck out your house by Saturday, October 26th because voting will open Sunday, October 27th to all residents at cityofbelnor.org. Final day to vote will be on Halloween night, October 31st. Winners will be revealed at the Street Dance on November 1st.

Halloween Street Decorating Contest: Gather your ghoulish neighbors and compete for best Halloween street. Register by October 18th by emailing mayor@cityofbelnor.org with a starting address. Have your street complete by Saturday, October 26th because voting will open Sunday, October 27th to all residents at cityofbelnor.org. Final day to vote will be on Halloween night, October 31st. Winners will be revealed at the Street Dance on November 1st. May the eeriest street win!

The Beautification and Events Committee is happy to announce that the Street Dance is coming back to Bel-Nor! Join us November 1st at Clearview Park from 4-8pm. Residents are encouraged to bring drinks and chairs.

Pin Oak Update: We reported earlier in the year that arborists noted that the pin oaks in the city were declining more rapidly that anticipated. The arborists sent samples for testing and Bacterial Leaf Scorch (BLS) has been detected in the trees.

What does this mean? It is one more stressor contributing to the oak decline in our area. This is infects trees only, not animals or humans.

What can we do? There are strategies to help though we can’t eliminate these stressors. The arborists will be taking these actions for trees in the city, but we advise the same for oaks on residential property.

Pruning

• Restrict pruning of pin oaks March–October, only when necessary to reduce critical risk.

• Conduct less critical pruning in the dormant season (November–February).

• Require contractors to sanitize tools.

• The arborists will pay careful attention to how they prioritize what to prune and remove annually.

Planting & Long-Term Planning

• Avoid planting species highly susceptible to BLS, particularly trees in the red oak family (pin oak, northern red oak, black oak) and sweet gum. Plant a diversity of trees.

• If you have oaks on your property, now is the time to plant a new tree to maintain your shade and canopy long-term.

Tree Care

• Mulch and water existing pin oaks when possible to maintain vigor.

• Only fertilize trees after conducting a soil test. Follow the recommendations from that test. 

Roof Permits: If you are planning to install new roof on your house (or undertaking any construction work), please remember that Bel-Nor requires a roof permit. This permit also requires 2 inspections during and after completion. Please plan accordingly. Permits can be filled out at City Hall or on the website. Payment must be made before a permit will be issued.

Streaming the Library: The St. Louis County Library offers a variety of ways to stream movies, TV, music, ebooks, and audio books. Kanopy, Libby, and Hoopla are just some of the options at your fingertips. Check out the library website for more information. https://www.slcl.org/books-emedia-more/emedia

RECA Information: St. Louis County Library has created a webpage with links to resources to help obtain the necessary documentation to submit a Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) application, including property ownership records, census records, death certificates, voting records, civil/criminal records, year books and more. Additionally, the Library is partnering with St. Louis County, Just Moms STL and the office of Senator Josh Hawley to provide informational sessions relating to RECA.

People Not Politicians: From Dr. Sam Page: While judges and lawyers contest the new redistricting map in court, the grassroots organization People Not Politicians Missouri is leading a statewide referendum effort to challenge the map. The group argues that the redistricting, which was approved mid-decade, violates the Missouri Constitution and undermines the will of the voters.Elsa Rainey, a spokesperson for People Not Politicians, emphasized the group's commitment to ensuring that "Missouri voters — not politicians — will have the final say." The organization is actively collecting signatures to place the issue on the ballot, allowing voters to decide whether the new map should stand.To learn more about the referendum effort, visit People Not Politicians Missouri.

Board Meeting Updates: The Board held a public hearing and a special session on Wednesday, September 24th. The following items were on the agendas:

Public Hearing: The tax rate for 2025 was passed. This rate is established by commercial, residential, and personal property in the city, along with other factors. For more information on assessments and revenue, please see the public hearing agenda posted on the Bel-Nor website.

Special Session: An ordinance was passed to authorize a contract for a new boiler for city hall. The current boiler has been discontinued and a parts are no longer available.

Neighborhood Preservation: Keep watering! Especially, young trees and new landscaping. The weather is turning, but these young plants continue to need water to establish their root system. Start considering planting trees now to maintain your shade if you have oaks.

Neighborhood Safety: Lock your cars, take away the opportunity for someone to rummage through your car.

Meetings & Reminders

Oct 11: Fall Street Tree Planting 10 am - noon. Meet at Audrain and Delavan

Oct 13: Monthly Board meeting will be on the SECOND Monday of the month at 7:30 pm at City Hall

Nov 1: Bel-Nor Street Dance, 4-8 pm, Clearview Park

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!