VFW Post 2593 in Arnold serves local veterans and families and is at the center of ongoing policy discussions.

At a recent Arnold City Council meeting, a local veterans organization made a direct appeal to city leaders; asking them to consider how future policy decisions on gaming machines could affect nonprofit groups that rely on that revenue to serve the community.

Matthew Saller, a Marine Corps veteran, VFW service officer, and candidate for Arnold City Council Ward 3, spoke on behalf of VFW Post 2593 during public comment. Photo courtesy of Matthew Saller

Saller urged officials to recognize a key distinction between commercial gaming operations and nonprofit organizations like the VFW, emphasizing that the issue is not about expanding gambling, but about preserving a funding source that helps keep the post operating.

A Question of Survival

The VFW, Saller explained, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans, their families, and the local community. Revenue generated from gaming machines helps fund operations, maintain the facility, and provide assistance to those in need.

“Nobody makes money from them,” Saller said in a follow-up interview. “The post keeps the lights on with them… we use that money to help people in the community and other veterans.”

“I don’t know how we could even survive without them at this point,” he added, describing the funding as essential to the post’s mission.

The entrance to VFW Post 2593 in Arnold.

City Response

City officials indicated that no immediate enforcement action is planned, noting that Arnold is waiting on further legal clarity before determining how to proceed with gaming machine regulations.

That pause may provide time for discussions like the one raised by the VFW to shape future policy decisions.

Why It Matters

Beyond policy, Saller framed the issue as part of a broader commitment to service, one that extends from military duty into local leadership and community involvement.

“If I can serve in any capacity… whether it's in the military or serving the people in the community I live in, that’s what I want to do,” he said.

As Arnold continues to evaluate its approach to gaming machines, the conversation highlights a larger question facing communities across Missouri: how to balance regulation with the realities faced by nonprofit organizations that rely on those resources to serve others.

Other Business Before the Council

In addition to public comment, the council moved through several routine items and approvals during the meeting. A minor subdivision request on Edgemont was approved following a unanimous recommendation from the planning commission.

The council also approved a three-year contract related to the city’s data backup and cybersecurity systems, along with repairs and upgrades to heating and cooling equipment at City Hall.

Council members also approved a conditional use permit allowing a tornado-impacted gas station along Jeffco Boulevard to move forward with plans to resume operations, pending additional review by the Board of Adjustment.

Another conditional use permit was approved for a proposed coffee and wine bar concept at a shopping center along Jeffco Boulevard, reflecting continued small business activity in the area.