Company Profile
City of Kirkwood
Company Overview
Kirkwood is one of the premier communities in St. Louis County, with above-average income levels and real estate values. It is a full-service community, providing electricity, water, sanitation and recycling services, parks and recreation, police, fire, ambulance and EMS, municipal court and its own street, dispatch, and code enforcement departments. The St. Louis region is composed of the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, and several adjacent counties. The region is home to the St. Louis Cardinals, the world-famous St. Louis Zoo and St. Louis Art Museum, the renowned, first-tier St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (the 2nd oldest symphony in the nation), and of course, the St. Louis Gateway Arch. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport services all major carriers and averages 520 daily arrivals and departures each day to 70 national and international destinations. St. Louis City and County are served by Metro which provides both bus and light-rail mass transit option. Kirkwood’s easy access to Interstates 270, 44, and 64 is also an asset.
Company History
THE HISTORY OF KIRKWOOD AND ITS GOVERNMENT
In 1849, overcrowded living conditions, a rampant epidemic, and a tragic fire forced many St. Louisans to move from their urban homes. As the Pacific Railroad moved west, it served as a lifeline for many former city dwellers, providing commuter transportation to and from jobs in St. Louis. The City of Kirkwood was part of this railroad expansion and was named after the engineer and surveyor James P. Kirkwood, who routed the railroad from St. Louis through the present downtown district. Original streets were named for U.S. Presidents.
Formally established in 1853, Kirkwood was the first planned suburban residential area west of the Mississippi River. It received its charter of incorporation in 1865 as a village and by 1930 became a third class city with a mayor and four council members. In 1982, a 13-member Charter Commission was elected to draft a charter for Kirkwood to take advantage of a Missouri constitutional amendment, which permitted a greater degree of home rule for cities. The charter was approved by voters in April 1983 and took effect in April 1984.
Kirkwood, the “Green Tree City,” has also been called the “Queen of the St. Louis Suburbs”. The city’s annual budget of approximately $65 million provides services to a population of 28,000. It has a land area of 9.14 square miles and contains 106 miles of streets.
Kirkwood has the fourth largest municipal electric system in the State of Missouri and has been serving residents since February 1901. The electric department maintains and services all its equipment, including approximately 1,000 streetlights.
The water department maintains all water supply mains (approximately 135 miles of pipe), City-owned fire hydrants (approximately 1,050), and water meters (approximately 10,300).
The sanitation department provides curbside pickup to over 9,000 customers picking up yard waste, trash and recycling.
The Mayor and six council members are elected at large with staggered terms. The Mayor of Kirkwood is a voting member of the City Council. The Mayor and City Council Members have term limits of two consecutive terms. Each term is for four years.
Benefits
The City of Kirkwood provides medical, dental, and vision insurance to all full-time employees. After 6 months of employment a full-time employee is eligible to enroll in one of the city's pension plans. The City of Kirkwood has two pension plans, one for Police and Fire and one for Civilians.
The city also offers vacation, sick leave, emergency leave and 10 paid holidays per year.
Long term disability, accidental death & dismemberment and life insurance are paid by the city for full-time employees.