A St. Louis-region skylight company was granted a license to set up shop in Truesdale after meeting with the city’s board of aldermen this month.

St. Louis Skylights, owned by area resident Jeff Culbertson, will take over the commercial buildings at 825 Market Street, on the east side of Bruer Park. Culbertson was granted a business permit from aldermen on July 13, and said he wants to be moved into the buildings by Aug. 15.

“We won’t be producing anything there, but the installers will be working out of that building,” Culbertson said. He explained that the company does residential skylight installation and replacement, as well as larger commercial skylight projects. The company has branch locations in Missouri, Chicago and Detroit, and is moving its Chesterfield branch to Truesdale.

Culbertson said 12 to 15 employees will be operating out of the Truesdale location, and that operations will mostly keep to typical weekday business hours, as well as some Saturdays. Culbertson eventually plans to add paved surfaces for vehicles along Market Street and the west side of the building.

Alderman Mike Thomas raised the issue of box trucks for the business operating and parking on the west side of the building adjacent to Bruer Park, and asked if there would be any concerns about safety or trespassing on the business’s lot.

“We can look at putting trucks somewhere else, but right now that’s what we’re considering,” Culbertson replied.

“I think as long as they’re pretty close to the building, we should be safe,” added Alderman Robert Green.

Thomas also asked if Culbertson has any concerns about community events in Bruer Park, during which visitors are likely to park their cars on the business’s property. Culbertson said he has no issue with that and wants to be a good community partner.

“They can park there anytime they want. ... It doesn’t bother me whatsoever. Anything we can do, we’d like to be a good partner,” Culbertson said.

Animal control contract

Truesdale is considering changes to the cost and structure of its contract with S&R Animal Control, a regional company that works with a number of smaller towns. The company is currently asking local cities to increase their contracted payments to adjust for inflation. Truesdale aldermen, meanwhile, said they have complaints about the service being offered.

“In my experience, they are not very receptive to coming out and looking at an issue. They are slow to react,” said Alderman Jerry Cannon. “But I don’t know who else does this. There’s no one else.”

City Clerk Elsa Smith-Fernandez said Truesdale currently pays $275 per month for five visits per month, consisting of animal pickups and patrols looking for strays.

“Some months are busier than others, as far as strays that we pick up and have to call them to come get,” Smith-Fernandez added.

Police Chief Casey Doyle said he hasn’t seen much value in one of S&R’s main practices, which is to do self-initiated patrols in each town to meet that town’s quota of contracted visits. Doyle said the city would be better served by S&R only coming when called, and billing per visit. He pointed out that Wright City recently partially adopted a similar system with S&R.

Aldermen also expressed a desire for better tracking of stray animals, once captured, to ensure they are being moved to foster homes and not euthanized.

City staff said they will examine potential changes to S&R’s contract and return the issue to aldermen in August.