Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Recycling Effort Moves Forward

Raytown’s Recycling Committee took its first public steps forward at a recent meeting of the Board of Aldermen when it presented a Mission Statement for the city’s recycling effort. The statement gave a broad outline of the goals of the Recycling Committee. Foremost of those goals is a plan to relocate the city's recycling center. The current location on 350 Highway will become unavailable when construction begins on a new Walmart. The Committee has been narrowing down a list of seven different locations. Members have expressed a desire to find a central location with more convenient hours of operation for the public. Focusing on a new location is not the Committee’s only goal. “We plan to take a serious look at curbside as well as all aspects of recycling,” said Diane Krizek, co-author of the Committee's Mission Statement. City officials have told Committee members that grant money is available for start-up costs of some recycling programs. “I view the interest in recycling in Raytown to be extremely high,” said Alderman Greg Walters, Chairman of the Committee. “There is not a week goes by that I do not receive call from someone in the public who wants to help improve Raytown’s recycling efforts.” Raytown’s Recycling Center is currently open twice a month. According to Assistant Public Works Director Dave Frazier, the Recycling Center, located at the west campus of the Herndon Center on 350 Highway, routinely fills up with recyclables every weekend it is open. CARJACK WARNING: I received the following from one of my regular readers. It sounds like good advice. So I thought I would pass it along . . . You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into Reverse.When you look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car, that is when the carjacker appears out of nowhere, jumps into your car and takes off. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised! Simple solution -- Drive away from the parking lot to an area you feel safe in before removing the annoying sheet of paper.

20 comments:

Andy Whiteman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andy Whiteman said...

I think curbside recycling would be great. I have lived in 2 cities where it was required. In both cities, the city handled the garbage pick up and recycling. In Raytown it may be difficult unless the city could require the trash companies to handle recycling at no extra charge. Probably impossible because the companies wouldn't be willing to foot the expense.

Andy Whiteman

Pat Casady said...

Car Jacking?

Missouri is a "Right conceal and carry" state and I believe the Governor signed a law that says you have the right to protect your property with force.
I think if some low life, worthless piece of crap thief is going to steal they should
give their right to breath.
Not sure where that came from. But I get that feeling every time I drive past the Caylor's Bible Store location.

Anonymous said...

ANOTHER example of POOR decision making at last nights BOA meeting Buying laptop computers for two people on staff who produce the lowest amount of work. HOW STUPID IS THAT??? Truesdale does what???? I wish someone could give an accurate job description of what he does or better yet what he is suppose to do. Johnny Osborne is another example, just what has he done??? I haven't seen any big improvement in codes!!!! Now magically these laptops are going to make everything better. Wake up you have to have someone working to put information into them. Another big joke at taxpayers expense. By the way we have another new business in town. Take a drive by FETISH on 67th Street up from Pizza Hut delivery. Better yet go in take a look around and see if this is the kind of business we want in Raytown. I bet Mr. Truesdale welcomed this one with open arms and didn't give them a hassle about opening like he has done dozen of other business. What in the world do we need a Town Hall meeting for? The mayor knows what we want it's not more bars, a state audit, get rid of Truesdale, Miller,Newton and might as well throw in Johnny Osborne as he is another good for nothing. There are alot of people out in the world who are qualified to handle these jobs and want to work and I am sure would be better than what we have. So let's see some changes!!!!!!

Andy Whiteman said...

Yes, Missouri is a concealed carry state, but how many people carry and can defend themselves? As for shooting anyone, most states allow the use of deadly force only when your are in fear of deadly or serious injury to yourself or to another person. Colorado is the only exception that I know where it is now legal to use deadly force if someone is forcing entry into your home. Personally, if someone was carjacking me, I would have reason to feel my life is in danger. I don't carry so my chief of security (dog) would handle the situation.

The computer issue is garbage in garbage out. Were there 2 laptops purchased or 2 user accounts purchased? There is a difference. Any number of computers may be purchased while only 2 user subscriptions to the software are purchased. This really wasn't addressed. I still question why the city needs 2 groups of people doing the same job. As I pointed out last night at least one doesn't give out correct information and apparently doesn't know the ordinance they are supposed to enforce.

I noticed last night that the ordinances aren't what they appear to be on the surface. $333,409 was requested for a salt storage facility; however, when one of the alderpeople questioned it, it was actually a sum in excess of $400,000 they were approving because this wasn't a cash purchase as one would assume from the agenda. The agenda should have stated $333,409 PLUS INTEREST. Is this an attempt to sneak more expense past the board or to deceive both the board and the public?

Andy Whiteman

Andy Whiteman said...

Published in the Raytown Post (Page 2):
Mayor Bower will hold TOWN HALL sessions at City Hall Tuesday Oct 30th. One session at 3PM and a 2nd session at 7PM.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Town Hall meeting great idea but, after meeting lets see some action not just all talk

Andy Whiteman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andy Whiteman said...

Previous post deleted to correct typo.

I agree with Anonymous 7:11PM. This town has been a lot of talk and no action. I think Mayor Bower is striving for positive change but I don't know why he is dilatory. I think that possibly the establishment is rejecting change. (He has to get the Board's approval on anything.)

I used to live in a village of 125 homes. Most of the people worked there all their life and were resistant to change. The response was, "It's always been that way and can't be changed." or "That building has been there 75 years and has never caught fire; therefore, it never will catch fire." I think we are dealing with the same mentality here.

I was glad to see Hy-Vee step forward with a proposed new, larger store. If the Board approves this, we are going in the right direction. At present, there really is no quality, modern, well stocked grocery store in Raytown. This would give Raytown residents a good place to shop locally and may attract shoppers from around the area. It will be good competition to Walmart. Walmart has a lot of stuff made by slave labor in China as well as meat packed elsewhere in large packages. I don't shop there for those reasons. If I want to buy a steak, I want them singly packed. I won't buy a package of 6, 10, or whatever they want to force on the public.

Andy Whiteman

sparky said...

I know that Hy Vee or Apple Market are really better places to shop than Wal Mart for grocries, however, do not forget about The Store up on Raytown Road. It has been there since about the late 70's or early 80's and they have very good quality beef, steaks, chicken, even better than Hy Vee's Amana Beef! Try them out. Buy Raytown first!

Pat Casady said...

Andy,
Missouri's Governor signed a law, I am told that makes it legal to
use deadly force when someone is stealing from you. They don't have
to be a threat to your life, if they are stealing from you they are fair game.

To change the subject,
I just read the post. The article about "Estes resigns as finance director."
Please correct me if I wrong here but didn't Mr. Estes just admit to making a mistake in Raytown financing? I'm not putting him down, we all make mistakes.
But I thought it caused talk about cutting back on Police and other personnel.

If this is the case, you have to wonder, what is Liberty thinking?
Curt Wenson cost Raytown a small fortune in nearly irreparable
damage by talking our city leaders into buying the old church and
leaving Raytown a huge debt. He went to Liberty.....for more money.
It's like they rewarded him for hurting our town.
I would have liked to see Curt stay in town to rectify his mistake. Instead he took the easy way out and left Raytown holding the bag.
Now Liberty has hired Estes away from us after a mistake was made that also hurt Raytown financially.
I certainly don't have anything against Mr. Estes personally, and I know Mr. Estes has done many good things for Raytown too, and I'm in no way comparing him to Wenson, but it makes you wonder doesn't it.
Now if we could talk Liberty into hiring just one more person away from us maybe Raytown could start on the road to recovery. We could get some new businesses here without fear of being put out of business before they even open.
OK, I know, I know, but I can dream can't I?

Anonymous said...

Pat, Dreams do come true so let's keep dreaming and while we are dreaming maybe throw Mr. Miller into that dream too.

Andy Whiteman said...

If Wenson or anyone else sold the board of Alderpeople a bill of goods that causes a loss, who is really responsible? The Board of Alderpeople approved it. Are not the Alderpeople really responsible for making a bad decision?

I think it is time for the voters to start paying attention to the local elections and vote in some people who will be more frugal. Just by listening to the dialogue at the meetings gives me a good idea for who is doing a good job.

Maybe when the next election comes around, a merchants group whould publish the voting records on certain issues.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

I've seen a lot of complaints about Trussdale and Miller on this blog. Specifically, what has to be done to get these two out of their positions?

True Blue said...

To anonymous 11:39, Write letters to the editors pointing out their mistakes. Then put pressure on the mayor and the aldermen to get rid of these deadbeats. Don't forget Teresa Newton. If they don't then make it a campaign issue in the next city election.

Anonymous said...

What kind of "pressure" can you put on the mayor and aldermen if they don't listen? I've complained to two aldermen and the mayor about Truesdale. Truesdale is sitting back laughing that he's not going anywhere.

Anonymous said...

Why you folks are so negative about some individuals at city. It appears that you have your pesonal interest. This blog should not attack individual and I am surprised that Greg continue to allow this kind of nonsense.

Anonymous said...

Greg maybe you could develop several pages with various topics here. I know the C-2 school district deserves a look as no one reports all the "threats" at the local schools, the out-of-whack spending and other problems. You might even consider an advertiser for "two-for-one margaritas" so board president Mrs. Mack would look at it.
And it might help to establish an individual page for your more active "bloggers," like Mr. Whiteman who continues to fill the landscape with uninformed opinion (like where Blue Ridge Mall is located, what conceal and carry laws are, ad nauseum).

Andy Whiteman said...

I agree with Anonymous 9:42 PM. We need to focus on the issues not on personalities. What is needed to win this battle is FOCUS.

The city's intention is to divert us to trivial issues. As long as we are sidetracked to other issues we will NOT achieve our goals.

If anyone thinks a city employee should be disclipined or fired, state the specific reasons in writing. Be very specific as to the aledged wrong doings and send it to the Mayor. Specific allegations that you can prove are required to disicipline an employee. Just make sure that you have proof because the employee can appeal and could possibly file a slander suit against the person who is demanding their firing.

Andy Whiteman

Pat Casady said...

To Anonymous 9:42:
The negativity is justified in most cases.
Though I have rarely used names, there is a person that has done his best to run businesses out of town or keep them from coming to town.
It will be interesting to see if Wal-Mart will be treated the same way small businesses are treated now.
I'd like to see this person tell Wal-Mart they couldn't even install a telephone without his permission.
Raytown should welcome ALL businesses in the same manor, they should ALL be treated with respect and most of all be helped not hindered.
That is this persons job. Instead it seems this person bends over backwards to make both existing businesses and businesses trying to come to town miserable.
By the same token, if a city employee was bringing in new businesses and Raytown was booming again, or at least showing signs of growing, again his job, I would scream it from the rooftops what a great job was being done.

In my opinion it's not negativity expecting someone being paid by the taxpayers to do their jobs. That's to do what's best for the town, not to destroy it just
because they have to power to do so.