Sunset Hills Volunteers Live the Earth Day Way

After two hours of work in drizzle and mud early Saturday morning, Sunset Hills city leaders report the latest volunteer clean-up effort from the tornado devastation has made a difference.

"(It's) quite an improvement with the removal of trash—debris, drywall, bricks, siding, et cetera, and they are now in trash bags or dumpsters," according to Alderman Scott Haggerty, Ward 2. He was joined in the work by his son Patrick.

Mayor Bill Nolan, Alderwoman Dee Baebler and Alderman Frank Hardy—all who live in Ward 1 which was hardest hit by the New Year's Eve twister—joined the clean-up crews.

"Gone is the debris. It looks great," Nolan said. He went on to address the question of houses standing at the site that are unfit to live in.

"The two big homes are waiting for final permits to be issued, and soil has been placed at the sites to fill the basements when the structures are gone," Nolan said. He indicated the teardowns should happen soon.

Former Mayor Mike Svoboda and former Alderman John Littlefield also joined the clean-up teams Saturday.

Bob Riggs, of the city's Public Works Department led groups of volunteers which included some 25 student athletes, parents and faculty from St. John Vianney High School, another 25 or so people from Ameren Community Service Group and more than a dozen city residents.

City Director of Public Works Anne Lamitola organized the effort. Parks and Recreation Director Gerald Brown and his daughter Emma joined in the work.

Scott Reed, also from Public Works, registered workers along with his wife and daughter, and passed out water and snacks. It started at 8am and wrapped up by 11am. 

Watch for photos of the wrecking ball (more likely bulldozer) when the houses come down.