BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo.—Residents in this North St. Louis County community were unable to access most city services except for public safety Wednesday as an employee walkout effectively shut down city government for a third day.

An unsigned letter from city employees which was posted on the door at Bellefontaine Neighbors City Hall and on the city’s website says because of understaffing, they have been “working beyond reasonable capacity to try and keep the city functioning. Despite our best efforts, it feels as though the proverbial ship continues to sink.”

The letter blames what it describes as dysfunction from the city’s board of aldermen.

The board meets Wednesday night at 6:30, according to a meeting agenda posted on the door at City Hall. It will meet in closed session because the agenda says it will discuss “employee matters.”

One resident who pulled into the parking lot at City Hall and the adjacent community center wondered if the city planned to offer refunds to people who have paid for memberships to use the exercise facilities but haven’t been able to access them during the lockout. 

The community center is also supposed to serve as a polling location on Tuesday for the general election. An undated sign on the door said it would be open, but officials at the St. Louis County Board of Elections were still investigating if there would be any impact on operations as of Wednesday afternoon.