May the Joy and Wonder of the Season be with you

 throughout the year.

PHOTOGRAPH OF ST. JOHN FRANCIS REGIS CATHOLIC CHURCH 

Greg Walters, Paul Livius, Truth Watch   

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Board places two

taxes on April 7th Ballot

BY GREG WALTERS

At its last meeting the Raytown Board of Aldermen voted to set an election date of April 7, 2026 for voters to consider two Sales Taxes. Those two sales taxes are:

• A one-half cent Transportation Sales Tax for a term of ten years
• A three-eights cent Capital Sales Tax for a term of ten years

By so doing, the Board doubled the term length of the term of the sales tax from the original term of five years (approved in 2002), which was subsequently changed in the following two elections to a 3/8 cent tax for a term of ten years in 2006 and 2014.

State law requires all municipal ordinances be read before the Board of Alderman in Public Session twice before they are approved.

The purpose of the two public readings is to gurantee the public has been informed of the upcomign election. This allows the public the ability to reach out to their elected representatives in a two week “window” in which they can communicate with their representatives on the Board of Aldermen regarding the issue.

Two votes were held on the proposed taxes at the meeting. The first for suspension of the rules allowing the majority of the Board to push the legislation through in one meeting instead of (State  Law) requiring two separate reading before proposed ordinances are considered.

The vote fairly close, it was approved by one vote (suspending of the rules requires a two-thirds majority to approve a vote without conducting a second public hearing. The moiton was made by Ward 5 Alderwoman Bonnaye Mims

VOTE TOTAL:    7 YES    1 NO    2 ABSENT for suspension of the rules

VOTE TOTAL:    7 YES    1  ABSTAIN     2 ABSENT  to approve holding an election on April 7th

Our View . . .

What we find bothersome about the tax proposal is that the Board chose the most expensive date available to them to place the item on the ballot. Consider the following:

APRIL 7TH IS AN “OFF YEAR” ELECTION FOR RAYTOWN

In other words, if Raytown holds the election in April, they will probably be the only city to do so. Elections are not inexpensive to hold. We checked the record. There is no doubt about it. Holding a "stand alone" in April is much more expensive than placing it on the August, 2026 election date. 

The reason is simple. The cost of the election per community is based on the number of governmental institutions participating in the election. The August Election date has state, national, political and county elections. All those costs are divided by the number of participants. This lowers the cost per voter dramatically. 

In April the only elections planned would be the City and School District. That means those two entities must pay the same cost without the benefit of other governmental agencies sharing in the cost.

AUGUST AND NOVEMBER  ARE “MID-TERM” ELECTIONS

Mid-term Elections are held by the Democrat and Republican in State and other regional government entities. This influx of fees to the election Board creates lowers the cost to cities like Raytown that have only two tax issues on the ballot.If Raytown has the only item on the cost will be significant. If other races and issues are on the ballot . . . the Raytown would realize a significant savings in election costs.

TWO OTHER ELECTION DATES ARE SCHEDULED FOR 2026

Both elections are expected to be crowded with State and National elections and issues. Elections are billed to the governmental body holding the election. Larger elections cost more. Smaller elections costs less.

The cost of Raytown holding an election in April is significantly higher than holding it in August or November. That is because State and National issues will be filling up most of the ballot. The savings to Raytown wouldj be significant. It is estimated the City could save up to $30,000 on holding the elections in August or November.

Who knows? Perhaps the Board of Aldermen will jump at the opportunity by using tax dollars saved on lower election cost by spending the savings on improvements on our neighborhood streets.

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BUDAPEST

ROAD TRIP

Photography on Display at Raytown City Hall

For more information contact

Mecee Walters 816 358 1930

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TRUTH WATCH RETURNS!
"Follow the Process"

TO VIEW A VIDEO OF THE MEETING USE THE FOLLOWING LINK:

https://raytownmo.new.swagit.com/videos/362494 

At last Tuesday's Board of Aldermen Meeting three applicants applied to change the zoning of their homes from "commercial" to "residential" property. Their reason was simple. Changing the zoning from commercial to residential would save the applicants money on property taxes. The change would also expand insurance benefits for their property.

Their goal was to reverse a decision made by City Hall in 1972 when the property was changed from residential to commercial property. 

The State of Missouri requires specific procedural processes be followed when  changing the zoning of private property. The City of Raytown is subject to those procedures and State laws.

A Zoning Application is first reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The application is then reviewed by the Board of Aldermen. Under Missouri State Law the City is required to hold Public Hearings in both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Raytown Board of Aldermen before a decision on the Zoning  Application can be approved.

Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters pointed out to the Board of Aldermen that he did not believe the Public Hearing requirement(s) had been met. 

A check of the record shows the Board of Aldermen voted on the issue on Tuesday,  December 2, 2025. Details of the Planning and Zoning Commissiion meeting were not published until two days later on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Walters also suggested the number of Public Hearings had not been met.

Another Alderman stated that the applicants had met at a neighborhood meeting between prior to a meeting with the Planning and Zoning Commission . . . implying that a Public Hearing Meeting had been held.

Morris Melloy, was then recognized by Mayor Michael McDough to speak. 

Melloy reminded the Aldermen the meeting referred to was in fact "a neighborhood meeting", not a Public Hearing. His point is valid. The City does allow for an informal neighborhood meeting between applicant and neighbors to clarify the complexity of the application. 

A meeting disclosing the intent of the applicant is held. However, that meeting is not a Public Hearing per se. City Staff does not participate in the meeting. The purpose is for area residents to meet with applicants in an informal setting to become become familiar with what the applicant has in mind. 

There are not any minutes or any other written record made of what transpires at the meeting. Witnesses are not sworn in to speak, nor are they recognized to give testimony.

Melloy told the Board of Aldermen the Neighborhood Meeting held with the applicants and the public was not a formal Public Hearing. He urged the Board to "follow the process" as layed out by the State of Missouri.

Shortly afterward the Mayor called for a vote on the application. 

The Board approved the application by a vote of   8 YES   0 NO   2 ABSENT.

If there is a lesson to be learned from what transpired at last Tuesday's meeting it is this:

• Rules are made to be followed.
• States laws are not to be ignored.

Mr. Melloy was right . . . There is a process by which Public Hearings are to be held. The city would be wise to "follow the process" when considering changes to zoning laws.

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Every Picture tells a Story (part 2)

Just before Thanksgiving we announced an art display of photography by Greg and Mecee Walters. As some are aware, Greg and Mecee had displayed some of their work at the Raytown Library on Raytown Road. This "new" display at Raytown City Hall does have some of the material shown at the Library.

This showing is expanded . . . with a mix of photos shown at the library and some new ones as well.  

The showing is open to the Public during Raytown City Hall operating hours . . . 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday throughout the month of December. 

The following photo (which is not being shown at City Hall) is a sample of what you can expect to see.

The picture is of a narrow city "street" between two buildings in Budapest, Hungary. The business owners along the street have painted the cobblestones with bright colors to lead potential customers to their stores. It worked well enough to lead us down the street.

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Tax Forgiveness for vendors of Raytown event raises eyebrows

The Publisher of Raytown Community News (Morris Melloy) sent us a copy of a message he received from Ward 4 Alderman Theresa Garza. The message was one of putting out the word for the Raytown Community Tree Lighting program. The event has been held in Raytown for a number of years and, if the weather cooperates, usually brings out a good number of people to view the lighting.

What we found puzzling was the fifth and sixth paragraphs of Alderwoman Garza's message in which she wrote:

"NO RAYTOWN BUSINESS LICENSE IS REQUIRED FOR VENDORS OR POP-UPS FOR THIS EVENT!! (food trucks need county and state permits and Kansas City Metro HOA fire sticker, but no Raytown business is required for this event day)."

$20 for Non-Profits/Municipalities
$35 for Food Trucks, Vendors, Pop-ups.

The language of the notice is confusing to say the least. If there is not a "business license" required, then why are they charging $20 to $35 for operating a business at the event?

It is also questionable that anyone at City Hall has the authority to arbitrarily not charge a city tax that was put in place by the City Council.

From our point of view, it is not vendors that will bring a crowd. 

It all comes down to the weather, Good weather will undoubtedly bring out more people. Cold windy conditions, and even worse, cold rain, will dampen any outdoor event a this time of the year.

In other words, Pray for a small heat wave to hit the area next weekend.

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Every Picture tells a Story
The City of Raytown has a tradition of supporting the arts in our small suburban community. For many years there has been an on-going “local artist display” shown on a monthly basis in the rotunda at Raytown City Hall.

The Raytown Artist Association has partnered with Raytown City Hall for years. It works like this. City Hall provides the wall space. The Raytown Artist Association provides the artists.
The month of December, 2025 will feature the photography of Raytown Ward 1 Alderman Greg and his wife, Mecee Walters. Greg is not the first elected official to share his artistic effort at City Hall. Ward 2 Alderman Jim Aziere displayed his wood carving abilities at an exhibit at City Hall many years ago.

Credit for this joint effort between the City and the Artist Association goes to Diane Brown and newly elected President of the Association, Rachel Marquette.

Diane does the complicated work of finding artists who wish to show off their abilities to the public. Currently she has work on display at Teetering Rocks Golf Course.

Diane told us, “Raytown is a unique city with many artistically creative people developing their skill. It is exciting to watch it happening.”

This month at Raytown City Hall
The month at City Hall the photographic artwork of Greg and Mecee Walters will be on display through the month of December. Greg has always been a shutterbug. He started out as Graphic Artist. This mixture of design and photography led him to enjoy capturing moments in time.

Greg told us Mecee is incredibly gifted. “Two of the photos on display were recently taken by Mecee at the Top of the Rock just south of Branson, Missouri. I spotted the photographic opportunity. But her timing of the shot and resulting other photographs are eye-catching to say the least."

The Walters’ artwork will be on display at Raytown City Hall through the month of December.

GREG WALTERS

A note from the Publisher
of the Raytown Report . . . 

Years ago I came across the following video of an upset victory by a British track star named Steve Jones. It is by far, the most inspiring short video of a sporting event I have ever seen. The video is only 2:45 minutes long but well worth every second of watching.

What makes this epic sport video special is the commentary by English Sports Announcer David Coleman. His commentary is so crisp and on spot that you feel as if you are running along side Steve Jones as he makes an astounding comeback to win the 10,000 meter event.

Recognition is also due whoever did the work editing the video you are a about to see. Whoever it is, they are a master at his craft.

USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO VIEW THE VIDEO . . .

ttps://share.google/6wzm8YvJgNb4dkLbQ

INTRODUCTION BY 
PAUL LIVIUS 

The Paul

Livius Report

Early this week we received the following comment for publication on what we call the "Back pages", (aka, The Comment Section of the Raytown Report. 

We received the following comment earlier this week in our "comments" section of the Raytown Report. The message was unsigned. All the same, there is no doubt that author has been watching the story unfolding at the Bowen Apartments and the ongoing debate over Latrice Thomas and the Mayor's failed attempt to dismiss Ward 3 Alderwoman Latrice Thomas from public office. 

This comment is a "keeper" . . .  well written and to the point. We have reproduced the comment here on our front page. The writer's final point that the longer the situation exists, the worse Raytown looks. It is hard not to agree. It also emphasizes the need for the Board of Aldermen to become more active in standing up for residents of Raytown.

The writer also took on the Mayor's attempts to oust Latrice Thomas from the seat she won last April to serve as Alderman in Ward 3.

Both situations are controversial and a black eye to Raytown's reputation.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
RECEIVED NOVEMBER 17, 2025

I just watched the public comments section of the meeting in question. I'm disappointed but not surprised. This isn't the first time our mayor has squelched the public comments portion of a meeting. If our elected officials can't make time to listen to their constituents.

I read about the Latrice Thomas situation earlier this year. The mayor has decided that it's ok to punish the people in her ward who voted for her. If she was not qualified to hold office, it should have been made clear before the election. From here it sounds like someone at the election board dropped the ball. If that's true, it still seems that Mr. Malloy has a valid point. I'm not a lawyer, but it's counter-intuitive that the Mayor should have the right to dismiss an alderman based on what appears to be a clerical error.

The Bowen Towers living conditions should be dealt with. I haven't seen the conditions with my own eyes so I'm hesitant to make judgements, but I tend to believe the residents. What I have seen is that landlords are given a pass when it comes to maintaining rental properties. I'm interested to know how much revenue is generated from the fines charged to property owners who are not willing to maintain their properties. Many of these "owners" aren't individuals - they are corporations. If Raytown allows the current practices to continue unchecked, they're making a mistake. I guess I'd also be interested to know if anyone is being paid to look the other way."

I'm sure this isn't something that's going to be solved in a short time, but the longer the situation exists, the worse Raytown looks. Shameful

If our elected officials can't make time to listen to their constituents, then they should resign.

INTRODUCTION BY GREG WALTERS

The second story in this week's Raytown Report was written by Morris Melloy. Mr. Melloy publishes a local Facebook Page named "Raytown Community Awareness.

He has in the past shared some of my editorial on his web page. 

Since I agree with him 100% on
the topic he had written I
thought, why not?

Morris and I do not always see eye to eye on issues in Raytown. However, in this one we are in 100% agreement. So please take a few minutes on a topic that has been simmering at City Hall since last April when the Mayor attempted to remove Latrice Thomas from her position of Ward 3 Alderman. A seat she won in a three way race for Aldermen in which she defeated the incumbent Ryan Myers. 

A Call to Action
BY MORRIS MELLOY

Raytown Residents Meeting to Discuss Alternatives to Unnecessary Litigation.

Sunday, November 23, 2025, several residents will meet to discuss issues in Raytown in particular the City Clerk and Mayor unilaterally removing an elected official from office without due process.

This meeting is the continuation of a forum for Raytown residents to express their voice on matters within our community and stop the injustices within our community. Most importantly, the meeting is to discuss what we can do to prevent the unnecessary expenditure of our tax dollars with litigation as has been suggested by one Aldermen.

Quite simply, the City of Raytown is governed by its own statutes and applicable statues of the State of Missouri. The Aldermen, Mayor, City Attorney and it the City Clerk have been provided, on multiple occasions, documentation of violations of the codes that apply, yet question have not been address and the answer has not been provided. It is time for us to find a way to regain the governance of our city and residents through our elected officials, versus unilateral decisions by the Mayor and City Clerk.

Join us to try to find a way to not expend unnecessary taxpayer money on litigation.

Midcontinent Library 

6131 Raytown Road

Raytown, MO 64133

3:00 PM

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BY GREG WALTERS

Bowen Apartment
Residents voice
complaints to the
Mayor and Board
of Aldermen

At last Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the Raytown Board of Aldermen a group of approximately 30 individuals gave testimony supporting their complaints regarding living conditions at Bowen Apartments. 

Raytown City Administrator Diane Egger gave the Board a report outlining what steps they have taken through the City Codes Enforcement Department to address the situation. 

Three Bowen Apartment residents shared their testimony in written form regarding living conditions at the Apartments. The following letters are their complaints now formally filed with Raytown City Hall.

MR. JOE MOUNT WROTE:

My name is Joe Mount and I live at Bowen Tower Apartments in Raytown. I am one of the leaders of the Bowen Tower Tenant Union. Bowen Tower has been my home for seven years. I joined with my neighbors on October 1^st to launch a rent strike after living with unsafe conditions for many years. 

Every time I think about our decision to go on rent strike, I think about my neighbor Paul.

We are friends. He always calls me Army and I call him Navy because we are both veterans.

Our landlord illegally evicted Paul for protesting about flooding and mold in his apartment that almost killed Paul’s wife.

Our rent strike is not just about unjustified rent increases and unsafe conditions. It is about dignity. My neighbors and I are prepared to end our strike at any time. We just need the landlord, Charles Hill to meet with us.

Bowen Tower owner Charles Hill of Alta/CGHS Real Estate is an out-of-state landlord from Los Angeles, California. On August 1^st he committed to negotiate with the Bowen Tower Tenant Union. But he has since refused to follow through on that commitment.

Instead of negotiating, Hill responded by mass filing of eviction notices of 27 tenants of Bowen Apartments. He has also issued five lease non-renewals. This California landlord wants to force tenants like me from our home for his own profit. As a retired truck driver and veteran, I get by each month on social security and my veterans benefits. Where are veterans like me supposed to go? Would you allow your parents to be treated this way?

I ask the Mayor and members of the Board of Aldermen to stand with us.

Our union has requested a meeting with the Mayor and Board. A meeting they have not yet agreed to take. We are here to ask you to meet with us and publicly call on our landlord Charles Hill to fulfill his commitment to negotiate with our union.

ELIJAH BRINK WROTE:

I am here tonight to ask the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to support our “Bowen Tower Tenant Union” at Bowen Tower. My father and I own the Raytown Pool Hall, a local business that has been in my family for over 50 years. We are hardworking people who care about our neighbors, our community, and our city.

My neighbors and I at Bowen Towner made the decision to go on rent strike October 1^st after our California-based landlord, Charles Hill of Alta/CGHS Real Estate failed to follow through on his commitment to meet and negotiate with our union.

We have been forced to endure broken elevators, flooding, bed bug infestations, mold and the loss of hot water, heat, air conditioning and gas. Mr. Hill raised our rent this past year by 15%. We simply want what everyone wants – a safe, healthy, and affordable place to call home.

Bowen Tower is my home. Raytown is my home. It is where I grew up. It is where I want to continue my family’s legacy at the Raytown Pool Hall.

We are here tonight to call on the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to stand with us. We ask ask you to meet with our union and agree to send a letter to Charles Hill demanding to do what he promised . . . Come to the table and negotiate with our union.

DOROTHY COLLINS WROTE:

My name is Dorothy Collins and I am a leader of the Bowen Tower Tenant Union.

I am here tonight to ask your help to bring our landlord, Charles Hill of Alta/CGMS Real Estate to the table to meet with us at Bowen Tower.

We have endured unlivable conditions at Bowen Tower. I have mold, no heat, water leaking into my apartment from the ceiling, bed bugs, an air conditioner and an oven that do not work.

My apartment flooded and left mold throughout my unit.

My son and I are sick from these conditions. We deserve to have a safe and healthy home. I ask you to do inspections at Bowen Tower and call on our landlord, Charles Hill, to meet and negotiate with our union.

We encourage our readers to view the following video of last night’s meeting of the Raytown Board of Aldermen.
USE THIS LINK TO VIEW Bowen Apartment Meeting                         

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BY GREG WALTERS

A Solution to
Neighborhood
Speeding.

On the night of June 9th at 2:00 a.m. in the morning 100 cars slowly drove into Colman Park located at 59th Street and Lane Street. At 2:00 a.m. occupants of the vehicles pulled out their weapons and began firing weapons from pistols, shotguns and  to high powered rifles (some with "bump" stocks) into the night sky. 

The salvo continued for ten minutes. It ended when the Raytown Police arrived. Those firing their weapons fled immediately.

At this point you may be wondering what does this have to do with "Neighborhood Speeding"?

The answer is simple.

The solution engineered by Park Board Director Dave Turner and set into motion by the Raytown Park Board has ended the dangerously lawless behavior at Colman Park in the wake of what took place on June 9th.

Three sets of speed bumps were installed on Lane Street, which stretches the length of the 13 acres that comprise Colman Park.

ONE OF THREE SPEED "BUMPS" INSTALLED AT COLMAN PARK

What happened next has proven to be a pleasant surprise.

It turns out those who like to speed through residential parks in their favorite toy, in this case their cars, do not like speed bumps. Here is why speed bumps make it impossible to hold drag races on Lane Street through Colman Park.Speed bumps shorten the unimpeded driving space to an area too small to conduct "side shows". Driving over the speed bumps at high speeds can literally destroy the front steering of a motor vehicle. Riding a motorcycle at high speed over speed bumps is not a good idea either. More import there has been a return of young families, walkers with and without their dogs on the walking trails in the park. The number of people playing pickle ball, tennis and softball has increased.Which begs the question . . . if speed bumps can have such a positive effect at a city park. Can the same speed bumps speed bumps (or humps) be used to slow down speeders on our neighborhood streets?

Our answer is Yes

All Raytown need do is follow the lead of surrounding cities like Lee's Summit and Kansas City to see how successful such a Traffic Calming Program can be.

First, a distinction needs to be made as what we are talking about.

A proposal I intend to bring to the Board of Alderman at City Hall would be to offer neighborhoods a program of installing "speed humps" in residential areas plagued by speeding and dangerous driving practices. 

Colman Park uses "speed bumps", which works perfectly for the problems the Park had.

Speed humps (as the pictures below show) have a less radical incline for residential streets than the speed bumps used at Colman Park. 

Speed humps have a "calming" effect on traffic. This "traffic calming" works at slowing down speeders. It works in Lee's Summit. It works in Kansas City.

The genius of speed humps is that they work ALL THE TIME. You do not need police personnel to enforce the speeding because speed humps are self-enforcing. They literally teach drivers with an ongoing experience to slow down and follow traffic laws.

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Paul’s Rant! BY PAUL LIVIUS

An interesting exchange between two Aldermen at the last meeting of the Board deserves some attention. So without any further ado, we will get straight to the chase!

Park Board Director Dave Turner had just finished a report on the construction of a new skate board park at Kenagy Park. The current skate board park is over 20 years old has reached that point of "it can't be repaired any longer".

In his report, Turner said the cost of the project is under budget. But, since it is a grant, the city is not required to return the extra funds.

Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters suggested a good use of the funds would be to install fencing on the southern most tennis court at Colman Park with fencing for Pickle Ball use. The Park Department has already striped the tennis courts for Pickle Ball.

Walters said, "The balls used in Pickle Ball are made of hard plastic. Though light in weight, they are very sturdy.

When a ball leaves a court into an adjacent court it could create a trip hazard for a player in another game on a different court. 

Pickle Ball is not a "contact sport". However, it most certainly is competitive. As in most sports, the players are concentrating on the game. A ball rolling from one court to another could be the prelude to a disaster."

After Walters finished his comments Alderwoman Bonnaye Mims asked for the floor. She said, "I am confused, I thought we were talking about a skate board park, not pickleball".

To which Greg replied . . . "We were talking about both".

Well said, Mr. Walters!

SPEED HUMP IN KANSAS CITY ONE
HALF A CITY BLOCK EAST OF
62ND TERRACE AND WOODSON ROAD

On another topic

I did some digging on the topic of speed humps and came up with some interesting facts. 

Kansas City has gone big into using speed humps to slow down speeders in many residential neighborhoods. This year the City of Kansas City is on track to install and additional 120 speed humps on residential streets. Since beginning the program five years ago Kansas City has installed close to 500 speed humps in residential neighborhoods in their city.

And that number does not include areas like Brookside, a residential neighborhood just south of the Country Club Plaza. Kansas City installed speed humps as long ago as the turn of the century (25 years ago!). 

Lee's Summit has also embraced a policy of installing speed humps in both new and established neighborhoods throughout their city.

The reason this path has been taken is because speed humps work. The Board of Aldermen would be wise to take a serious look at starting a program for Raytown.

This illustrates that speed humps are effective and popular. There is not a valid reason for not using this same traffic calming method in Raytown. 

THE PHOTO ABOVE IS OF THE FOURTH
 SPEED BUMP ON THE TWO MILE STRETCH
THAT BEGINS AT 62ND TERRACE AND
 WOODSON ROAD AND ENDS AT
LITTLE BLUE ROAD.

If you run into one of your elected officials do you and your neighbors a favor. Ask them to please support any initiative that would bring the safety of speed humps to our neighborhoods.

By the way, anyone wanting to check out some speed humps near Raytown can view them just east of Woodson Road and 62nd Terrrace. Just take a left turn on 63rd and Woodson. Then a right turn on 62nd Terrace. You will be entering Kansas City almost immediately. The street is approximately two miles long and has four speed humps on it. 

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