The City of Arnold will pay $200,000 to increase the size of the pipe connecting the Metal Container Corporation to the city sewer system.

The business is owned by beverage-maker Anheuser-Busch InBev and will undergo a $70 million expansion, within the next two years, that will add about 130,000 square feet to the company’s existing building along Arnold Tenbrook Road.

The larger building would require a larger sewer pipe, former Arnold City Administrator Matt Unrein wrote to Anheuser Busch Companies in a letter dated November 9, 2011.

While a few councilmen voiced their surprise, at the July 12 work session at City Hall, they supported Anheuser-Busch’s expansion in Arnold.

Ward 2 Councilman Bill Moritz said he wanted all city costs, in such business expansions, prominently presented to the council members.

Ward 3 Councilman Phil Amato said the building expansion is an economic boost to the city and the county. “This is a blue-collar city and county and that expansion means a lot of jobs construction workers.”

Anheuser-Busch provides about $200,000 in annual support to the Fox C-6 School District and the container plant buys about 10 percent of the water used in Arnold, Amato said. “That kept all our water costs low for years.”

City Hall negotiated other benefits for Arnold residents.

Unrein’s letter said the city would require Anheuser Busch to:

• Create at least 20 new manufacturing positions within three years
• Those jobs would have an annual starting pay of $60,000, excluding benefits
• Retain at least 130 existing full-time jobs