Sunday, July 6, 2008

News and Views

New Formula for Sewer Bill Rates? At the last meeting of the Board of Aldermen I brought forward a discussion on sewer bill rates. The issue at hand was how residential sewer tax rates are established. The current practice uses what is called a four month “winter average” to set prices. The months used are November through February. I proposed that the city change to a two-month average using either a December/January or January/February schedule since November is not really a winter month. There is little doubt that using November as an average “winter month” will inflate the cost for those who use water for outdoor purposes during that time. Changing to a two-month period will bring equity and fairness to the system. In the ensuing discussion there was not any opposition to investigating the change. City Finance Director Jeremy Wilmoth told the Board Aldermen that he will look into the matter and should be able to report his findings in the near future. Board Priorities for Fiscal 08/09: A recent retreat by the Raytown Board of Aldermen held at the Teetering Rocks Golf Course left some definite impressions. One area the Board heard about was the need for more emphasis on street maintenance. As anyone who travels Raytown’s streets are painfully aware, street maintenance has taken a back seat for far too long at City Hall. Severe cuts in the amount of funds set aside for street overlay, curb replacement and sidewalk repair in the past two years has put the city in this predicament. To address this problem the Board must reset its priorities when it comes to spending. The issue is complicated if a new Walmart is opened on 350 Highway. It is estimated that 18% of the city’s transportation sales tax will be used to pay off part of the debt created by the TIF used to finance the shopping center. City sales tax dollars will pay on that debt for the next 23 years. Travel Expenses: One area the city can save some tax dollars is in the area of travel. In fiscal 2006/2007 the City or Raytown spent $109,564.93 on travel. The pace of spending on travel has not abated. In fact, as of June 30th, the city has spent close to $60,000 on travel. At that rate the amount spent could very well eclipse last year’s expenditures. Some travel is necessary. For instance, Municipal Court employees are required by state law to attend certain conferences to keep them up to date on Missouri statutes. However, in this day of on demand electronic communication it is possible for individuals to attend conferences via the internet and through other correspondence. Until city fathers right the good ship Raytown, the Board of Aldermen should throttle back on the amount of money spent on travel. City Adminstrator's Discretionary Spending: Under the city’s current code the City Administrator has the authority to spend up to $10,000 per purchase without specific Board approval. When this authority was established, then City Administrator Curt Wenson made a practice of notifying Board members of his intent to spend the money. If any Board member did not approve, the question was taken to the entire Board for approval. Two city administrators later, the practice has been discontinued. The Board should re-institute what was a good system of check and balance. It’s the Economy . . . The metropolitan Kansas City area, like most of the country, is feeling the effect of an economy weakened by a mortgage crisis and inflationary fuel costs. Until those twin demons are brought under control look for tight economic times at Raytown City Hall. In the meantime, the Board of Aldermen should refocus its attention to maintenance and upgrading of our city’s infrastructure. The maintenance of our neighborhood streets, improvements to public safety through additional street lighting and like areas that are more people friendly are the best ways to address the current economic downturn. More clearly stated, ride out the storm and take care of business.

48 comments:

Andy Whiteman said...

Good article Greg. What is happening in other jurisdictions? I would think other jurisdictions would cut back on travel. Those State Court Trainings could all be held on teleconference!

How are employees paid for travel? One City of Albuquerque employee while travelling was turning in 8 hours straight time plus 16 hours overtime since he was away from home and technically on duty. Is that why Raytown's travel costs are so high?

When I worked for AT&T in Denver, our 2nd level was in Conyers, GA. He had to make numerous business trips arriving on Thursday and leaving on Monday. Much of his conversation was about Jazz bars in downtown Denver and about the newest shopping mall in Lone Tree. Actually it appeared like he was taking a long weekend on company expense. Since we were in the telecom business and had a video conference room, I suggest video conferenceing. Needless to say, he didn't like my suggestion. I suggest the same for city travel. It is time for these paid vacations at taxpayers' expense to end!

KCMO has had really poor streets as long as I can remember. Now it seems Raytown has worse streets. Is Raytown trying to set a record with KCMO?

Is there some reason maintenance stops at city lines on private property? The parking lot at Price Chopper on 63rd St in KCMO is in bad condition. As soon as I cross onto the Raytown portion, the parking lot goes from bad to worse with numerous pot holes! The exit onto Blue Ridge Cutoff is baddly covered with potholes. It appears to be a city street. I question, is it a city street or a parking lot exit? I have already reported this as a possible code violation. All I can say is that being right on the border, this creates a poor image of Raytown!

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

I am really confused do we have a city administrator or not. If we do then do we have a department head for public works. We lost one manager out of public works a few weeks back, to take about the same job in another city and we are losing another in a few weeks. Maintenance staff in the Street department turns over at a pretty good pace. So even if you budget more money for streets who is going to fix them. Word on the Street is no raises again.

This is from careerbuilder and it does not reflect the City of Raytowns thought pattern.

Once you consider how much time and money it takes to post a new job then recruit, interview and train a new candidate, you can appreciate the value of a long-term employee.

We just train them for someone else.

Anonymous said...

Had a opportunity to visit the new recycling location today. Just want to thank you Greg, and your committee, for continuing this important service. Only one comment and it has nothing to do with recycling. Why does the public works lot look like a junk yard? Old trucks and junk that I'm sure are not running should be disposed of. The lot needs to be paved and the new salt barn looks so cheap that I'm sure it will be falling down in a few short years. This is another case like the old Baptist church that looks like the city should be citing itself for numerous code violations. The city should be setting a good example instead of contributing to the problem.

Anonymous said...

Does the city have a Department of honest answers?

Sometimes I wonder.

When will Walmart be built? Is the old First Baptist Church really going to be torn down?

It seems to me that there should be answers to these basic questions.

Maybe someone out there can answer them.

Pat Casady said...

It's the Economy........
Greg, you are so right! It is the economy. Buy I fear this
will not slow down the city and schools quest for more and
more tax increases.
Every day gasoline, food, utilities and in general the cost of living goes up. Yet all forms of government spending and waste goes on.
City and state. I really don't know how much more the working family can foot the bill for everything. The city, state and federal governments
have pushed the working people too far. Most of us are on a very tight
budget with no end in sight and yet the spending goes on with little or no seeable results.
I fear the people of Raytown will be asked to pay for the sins of
administrations past and present. It's a shame that elected officials
can't own up to mistakes and just correct them. Instead they want us
to pay for them. Giving away a huge portion the cities income for over twenty years should be stopped before it starts.
This city has been lied too since early 2005 by developers.
I was looking at my back issues of the Post and found a Feb. 23 2005
article on the 350 live project.
It stated that "construction on the first phase would start the summer of 05 and open in 06. Then it stated that after this was finished, construction
would start on the 200,000 for one building (Wal-Mart) and five pad sites for smaller businesses."
Common sense, honesty and being truthful is all we can ask of elected officials,
with hopes they will spend hard earned tax dollars the way the taxpayers would want them to. So far all we have seen is wasting of tax dollars and tax increases
so it can continue.

Andy Whiteman said...

Anon 2:13PM 7/6 is entirely correct about training for someone else. That has been going on all 8 years I have been here. I didn't know we had a public works director. Our interim PW director left for greener pastures and I don't blame him. I would too. Now we have another interim PW director. I emailed him and got a response from an interim supervisor. I am begining to wonder if ALL employees are interim somethings. Eventually we will be down to interim code officers and interim public works worker. Is it possible to get down to interim Mayor and interim Aldermen? (LOL)

I have pointed out to the BOA that upper management is overpaid and the workers are not paid enough. In todays economy, $14/hr doesn't make house payments or even pay the utilities! I doubt it pays for gas for those who commute. When I worked I received much more than out city workers and I still had to work at leaast one day overtime per month to pay the gas and electricity. Our workers need better pay! They should join an Union and DEMAND more pay.

We need a common sense reasonable and prudent test before a person is allowed to run for alderman. I can count those who meet those qualifications on the fingers of one hand.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Andy you're being optimistic or you've lost some fingers! As far as earning enough to pay for gas for those who commute, all the more reason to live where you work.

Anonymous said...

Pat, Greg et al:

Predating the economic issues of rising fuel prices and the cascading effect that has had on food prices, corn going to ethonol instead of animal feed, food products, etc......

And predating the housing mortgage collapse by lending 120% on homes via first and second mortgages when the borrowers couldn't afford the homes in the first place...

And predating whatever effect commodities speculation has had on oil, corn, coffee...etc.....

Is the one thing that completely undermined the economy and is destroying America: THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN!!!!!

We disrupted Iraq's oil supply...we pissed off most everyone else in the Arab world, who provides oil...and we made the fat cat buddies of Bush and Chaney (see Haliburton) rich!!!!!!!!

The value of the dollar has been declining for even longer and was joined by our deficit balance of trade to create more havoc in our economy.

Governments --- including the local one --- cry and cry about needing more money, being unable to fix the streets, hire quality workers, etc. As governments always are, they are the weakest sisters in the grand scheme of things.

When people don't have money, they do more with less; hunker down and make ends meet; go without. But not government! When the going gets tough, the tough get going! But there's nothing "tough" about bureaucrats and politicians.

Add corporate America (Wal-Mart being the main icon) and look at "out-sourcing," which is just a fancy way of saying "nothing made in America and no jobs for Americans," and you have the formula for what exists right now!

Oh, and let's don't forget the media --- from the blowhard Rush Limbaughs, who plays to the ignorant, to the clueless trying to pass themselves off as local media --- and you have the distractions to keep you from seeing what is really going on and what is really important.

Selfishness, ignorance and parroting the conventional wisdom has become the new media predicted in George Orwell's 1984.

Like Randy Miller, said in his hay day, "I don't want to get on a rant here"...but I already have...

Lee Gray

And Andy...the city workers, just like everyone else, are fortunate to even have a job whether it provides a living wage or not! See tough times above!

Anonymous said...

About this Public Water District #2 mystery. Who are the elected members? How many are there? When and where are their meetings held? How do they advise the public of these meetings? They surely fall under the sunshine law, meaning that their meetings can be attended by their patrons. Why is their so much secrecy about an elected body? CAN ANYONE HELP?

Anonymous said...

Lee, you are wrong on most counts as usual. As always, your biases are shining through very brightly from your dark, distorted views.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, my Republican friend. Lee

Anonymous said...

Lee; you are most welcome; I always try to be helpful whenever it seems necessary and the situation deems it to be appropriate.

Anonymous said...

To whomever is looking to clear up the shroud of mystery around PWSD #2, have you tried just calling them on the phone and asking them? Or how about emailing them? Their website address is on the water district's webpage or it is on your water bill. Better yet, get ahold of Alderman Pat Ertz, as he is listed as manager of the water district on their website. Another method is to go to the Secretary of State's office and see if a current list of directors are on file with the state. There are all sorts of avenues to find out information, you just have to ask yourself how bad do you want it?

Anonymous said...

Also, their water rates are listed on their website as well. FYI.

The Graduit said...

Lee Gray looks to have pretty much nailed it to me. Which specific statements does the Republican naysayer think are products of Lee's dark, distorted, biased views?

Also, since we now know the stated reasons for going to war in Iraq were bogus, what were the real reasons? It looks like the whole drumbeat to justify the Iraq war was orchestrated by a man who had been CEO of Halliburton, one of our largest oil companies.

It sure looks like the real reason for the Iraq war was to get their oil. So, if we control a country with the second largest oil reserves in the world, we should be able to turn on that tap to increase supply and bring prices down. Too bad that isn't working out either.

News flash for the gullible: Your government will lie to you. Big Business will lie to you. Rush Limbaugh will lie to you. Acknowledging these simple truths make make one dark, but not necessarily biased.

Anonymous said...

I see I should have quoted "Dennis" Miller instead of "Randy" Miller.

Neither is particularly funny anymore but might as well correct my mistake since my Republican Buddy didn't. Lee

Anonymous said...

The Republican naysayers ALWAYS want to be confrontational on every issue because of their 'I am always right and you are all wrong' attitude or mindset. And they can NEVER, EVER admit that they are wrong, even when they have been caught red handed. They are, and have been for big business, big oil, and big profits. Because of their greed they feel that they should not share their wealth with their subordinates even when they deserve it. We need change, and the sooner, the better.

The Graduit said...

Correcting myself: apparently Iraq has the fourth largest proven oil reserves in the world, not second.

The country with the 2nd largest reserves: Canada.

That's interesting, because I can't recall ever hearing about Canada's oil reserves reported on by the media. "Canadian Crude?" Never heard of it. That seems very odd to me. I would have never guessed Canada was right behind Saudi Arabia in proven oil reserves. Since oil prices and production have been such a huge subject recently, it seems like Canada's oil reserves and production might have been at least mentioned.

Pat Casady said...

I keep saying that you can't tell a Democrat from a Republican
without seeing the tattoo of the donkey or the elephant on their
butts. I don't think in a small town it matters much what party you
are affiliated with either.
However people seem to put a lot of stock in the difference between
the two in federal politics.
I choose not to believe in either party. In fact I think if they could
get a direct line into your billfold they wouldn't think twice about
doing so. Ask yourself when was the last time a president did
anything to change your life for the better?
If you will, take a look and "America: Freedom to Fascism"
on Google you will see, if you believe what they say, no party cares about
you or me. They are in it for your money.

Anonymous said...

Graduit... There was a program on Canadian oil sometime back. Probably Science Channel. They have in the far Northwest crude that basically oozes up in the sand and tundra. Takes some effort to separate it. But suspect that's why our neighbors to the north have the 2nd largest reserves. Lee

The Graduit said...

Gosh, I can't help but think that the effort to separate Canada's crude would pale to triviality compared to the effort that we've taken to separate the Iraqi crude from the Iraqis.

Pat Casady said...

By the way, if you don't think the government, BOTH Republicans
and Democrats are in it for your money check another web site.
Type in Who killed the electric car.
If this short movie doesn't change your mind then the government
has done it's job. You will believe anything they tell you.

Anonymous said...

To change the subject here. Has anyone noticed the increase in Big trucks and trailers parking in residential areas again. The BOA passed an ordinance 2 or so years ago about this very thing and nobody seems to be doing anything about it. What a suprise that is. They are know longer just sitting in commerical areas but more and more in residential area. I just got home from running errands and I was just astonished at who many trucks were sitting in our neighborhoods. When this ordinance was passed it was a 9-1 vote for this ordinance. I guest that is the reason that that woman form Ward 4 does not turn in the big box van that is only 2 blocks away form her house. She is the only one who voted against the ordinance. Once again we are beginning to look like a town that anybody can do anything they want no matter what it does to other peoples property values.

Also there is so much trash being thrown out car windows in our neighborhoods. What happened to pride in where you live? I will say it's not those of us who have lived here for a long time it these new poeple who are moving in here. I watched a group of kids stop in front of me and though out all of their McDonalds bags on to the street and then laughed about it. I would have gotten the license plate number but I knew no one would do anything about it. I am getting embarrassed to have any of my friends come to Raytown.

We have a Mayor who doesn't want to make anyone mad. I hope he loves it here when he has to live with his property value dropping, but he will probably will cut and run. There are so many things that are not being taken care of to make our city a place where people may want to come to and live or just a place they can't drive threw fast enough. I am beginning to feel that it is never going to get any better. There are some of us that don't want to be forced to move just to keep from losing our investment but it looks like that's coming.

Andy Whiteman said...

I don't understand the oil issue. We have plenty in Alaska, but it will take years to get it out!

Back in the 70's we had a gas shortage. My father noticed numerous oil wells not pumping in Texas. He stopped and asked why they weren't pumping. He was told that oil was too cheap and not worth pumping. I think that when gas is $10/gal, there may be incentive to drill and pump it out of the ground.

I spoke at the BOA about the board passing ordinances which aren't enforced or are unenforceable. I wonder why they waste their time passing these ordinances?

Anonymous 3:17PM, I invite you to come to the BOA Tuesday at 7PM and state your opinions but you won't be anonymous. I wonder why I am the one of the few who takes the time? Maybe it is a waste of time. I would rather stay home with Red Dogg.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

There is NO CODES ENFORCEMENT in Raytown. Look at our neighborhoods. They are full of trash, many houses with unkept yards, and same old codes problems come up year after year. If I were mayor I would just do away with the codes enforcement department. Just well be saving the money we are wasting on salaries and vehicles. This mayor and board of aldermen just don't care about anything except drawing their big paycheck each month.

Pat Casady said...

Andy, there is no oil shortage in the world. I saw a documentary
that said there was over a trillion barrels of oil still in the ground.
This is why there are no real electric cars on the road. The technology is in place for electric cars but if you do the math there is still
over a hundred trillion dollars to be made from crude.
This is why the government made General Motors destroy the best electric car ever made, the EV-1. It was a perfect car. But it used no oil!
It had to go!
The next time you here a government official mention the need for an alternative fuel source, don't believe them. They had one for the automotive industry and they made them crush over thousand
brand new electric EV-1 cars and shut down the dealerships that sold
them. That same year the government asked GM to sell the military version of the Hummer to the public. It gets about six miles to the gallon.
Kind of makes you proud doesn't it?...................NOT!

sparky said...

I have been saying all along that there is a real crisis involving our neighborhoods, streets, and infrastructure (including sidewalks). Our neighborhoods are becoming more trashy each and every day. I have lived in this area for all of my life and I do remember when the only place that you would find a pothole in this city was in the old Pendergast concrete of the old 2 lane Raytown Road before it was widened to the 4 lanes that we have today.
Parents taught their children not to throw trash and litter out of car windows, not to throw their chewing gum on the ground because it can endanger wildlife, and the occaisonal pair of shoes as well.
The influx of new residents and the younger generation that have not been taught about these skills can for the most part be to blame for a lot of the trashyness that is now rearing its ugly head here in our city.
Socioeconomic status could have something to do with this as well. And just plain laziness has a lot to do with it also.
I know that Kansas City has a bulky item pickup and lots of people in Kansas City mistake that service for 'Dump everything at the curb' including items that could go in the regular trash like baby diapers and food sacks.
When some of these people have become conditioned to this way of living, then they move here, and continue their same way of living, not knowing that is not how things are done here.

They may have been raised this way by their parents. I know that I was not raised that way, and my children have not been raised that way either. Common Sense left here a long time ago.

If you mow your grass, you should walk the yard and look for objects, including rocks, newspapers, toys, tools, etc. Don't throw these objects into the street! Just who do you think is going to clean this junk up? I think that on my street that we must be the only ones that actually pick up trash that blows into our yard.

I have seen people clean out their cars by simply dumping everything out of the car and into the street or their front yard, only to blow everywhere else. And I have been known to take this same trash and throw it right back into their cars when they are not looking too!

What a bunch of lazy, lowlife scum suckers!

Image has a lot to do with things here also. We have friends that actually say 'You still live in Raytown, If I were you I would get out. It's not safe there. It looks like a slum or ghetto'. To me, that is very embarrasing to hear that about my community. Some friends just flat refuse to come back here because of the crap that is and has been going on. Everything from shootings, murders, to even the City's refusing to help out new small businesses when they are just getting started by imposing such BS restrictions on them.

I have a feeling that when Wal Mart becomes reality on 350 Highway that things in the surrounding neighborhoods are only going to get worse.

They may be right, it may be time for some of us to sell, take our losses, and get out while there is still time. I really hate to do that, but I do not like what is going on around here and I do not see it changing for the better either.

Anonymous said...

Sparky you are 100% right, couldn't have said it better myself!!!

Andy Whiteman said...

Code enforcement? It depends on who you are. I can't get the barking dog ordinance enforced because the judge won't enforce it.

But the Fascist Fief of Raytown claimed by fence was in violation and made me spend close to $1000 to alter it to suit them. It was not in violation, but I had to waste money to please the Lords of the fief. The city took advantage of my disability. If I wasn't disabled, it would be in court; but since court is only during the day, I am unable to go to court since I don't function days.

The trouble with moving is that anyone who wants to move has to find a place to move to first. Other than that issue it is a good idea. I have been looking over 6 years for a house. After I buy one, it will take me about a year to pack and put it on the market after I move. I know a person without a disability would sell there house before moving, but they still have the problem of finding a house to move to as well as finding someone who wants to buy a house in Raytown.

I know there is no gas shortage. There wasn't a shortage back in the 70's either. But someone is making money. I would like to know how the government can require GM to destroy their EV-1s? As far as I know big business has more rights than the average citizen.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Andy the government could buy the patent. Or in various other ways scuttle anything it wants to. Just like LBJ used to use IRS audits to punish opponents.
Pat if there is a blueprint on the EV-1, I suggest you find it and collect the $300 million goofy McCain is promising for an all electric car. I doubt, however, that the car used "no oil," as it had moving parts.
Now lets all realize something here: None of you really know what you're talking about. That includes me.
We all know second hand information, things we've been told, things we've seen, things we've heard but we really don't know anything. Pass off your opinions but not FACTS because they don't exist in our arena of knowledge. Only the Big Boys get to know what's really going on.

Pat Casady said...

To Anonymous 3:54,
You are right about the EV-1. It had to use grease for moving parts.
However, synthetics are out there.
I have written both of the pitiful candidates we have to chose from
for the presidency and ask them about the EV-1. I doubt they will
get it or even read it for that matter, but at least I tried.
The EV-1 was a real car that's a fact. It used no 'Gasoline" another fact.
It was a true electric car and was destroyed because of it.

As far as saying none of us know what we are talking about, I believe you are wrong there. I like the think we have the ability and common sense to determine what makes sense and what doesn't.
As I've said before, Use your search and look up "Who killed the electric car." It's that simple, but be ready to get upset.

Anonymous said...

Does Public Water District # 2 ever have an election for it's board of directors? Maybe the Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners could answer this question. If we knew these things maybe we could get some answers on why our water bills are so high.

Andy Whiteman said...

Anon 8:25 AM, Raytown Water Company buys water from KSMO which is high anyway. I lived in KCMO 1994-97 and rates were high back then.

I assume Dist 2 is also buying from KCMO. That is my guess. Resellers of water or anything have the typical costs of business which is added to raise the rate, plus also, they are there for PROFIT which further raises the rate.

I would think you could check with the State Public Utilities commission for the information requested.

Has anyone thought of calling the Water District 2 and asking?

One issue that concerns me with an electric car is where does one recharge it if they are not at home? Can it be plugged in at a motel overnight or at the store while shopping. The main issue I see is travelling.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Dist #2 does have an elected board but when they are no contested board seat elections, it doesn't have to be out the expense of the election - thus no election via ballot. Its water supplies, the last I heard, was wells along the Missouri River and Independence.

Anonymous said...

With water rates so high maybe it's time for some new board members. THINK!!!

Anonymous said...

You are correct about the source of the water for District #2, however, they also purchase water from KCMO as well as from Independence (well water from the aquifer by M291 and the Missouri River)

For the person wanting information about the PWSD #2, they have a phone number, just call them. They have an email address, email them. They have an office, stop by and ask them. Just do something if you really want to know about it, just dont get on here every few posts and repeat the same stuff over and over again. You obviously have a computer, use it!

You can also go to the State of Missouri's website, look at the Revised Statutes, Chapter 247 on Public Water Supply Districts. There, everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask the people at the district's office. How hard was that?

Anonymous said...

Is it true that Lee's Summit's water is cheaper than district #2? Could it be that Lee's Summit's operation is more efficient. Maybe district #2 is top heavy with bosses. Just wondering.

Andy Whiteman said...

OK Everybody,

Check out this link:

http://pwsd2.org/static/

It is obtainable via Live search for:
public water supply district #2 of raytown MO

Yes, the rates are higher than Raytown Water Company! The rates are posted here! Also a phone number.

One thing I notice is no mention of the board at all. This is obviously a secret, but I am sure the information and be discovered if someone makes a few calls. I don't recall seeing notices of election or maybe I ignored them.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

I was jusr recently told that Pat Ertz the Alderman for Ward 4 now runs Company Public Water supply district #2. I would say all of your questions should be directed to him to answer. He should have the answers if that is true.

Anonymous said...

Isn't this a conflict of interest, something like double dipping? Talk about feeding at the public trough.

Pat Casady said...

Conflict of interest. Now there's a term this city doesn't comprehend.
It's kind of like the codes department. Anybody that builds a building on 350hwy. cannot build a metal building. Or if you buy a metal building on 350hwy. you will have to install different siding on it.
That is unless you are the school district. They get to build the
biggest metal building on the whole 350 Live project area.

Conflicts of interest, double standards and if you play your cards right you might get to keep farm animals in your house.
Don't even try to understand it. I gave up six years ago.
As I've said before common sense, honesty and integrity is all
we can hope for in elected officials.............all I ask is when it will happen?

Anonymous said...

I just read in the obits that Mr. Raytown died but his name wasn't Foul Mouth Al. Never heard of this Butch chacter. Don't tell me Raytown had two of them, (Mr. Raytown) And neither one of them knows or knew a thimble full of what was and is really going on in Raytown. Just a side note went to the Legends shopping center yesterday. Now you WalMart pushers if you really want to see what a shopping center is really about go there. Up scale shopping is Not going to WalMart and if you think anyone is going to shop at your super Wal Mart you are sadly mistaken only the inner city will come out here to shop so you old bittiesj, and Larry Edwards that were at all the city hall meetings saying how great it would be and you know who you are. Strap on your gun and go shop the rest of us will be finding a safe place to take our family shopping.

Anonymous said...

I have an African American family that lives near me. They are a wonderful educated family and even they said they go to Lee's Summit to shop. What does that say about Raytown shopping? So think again who will be shopping here? It is not homeowners in Raytown they come from Kansas City and not the cream of the crop. Strap up you old bitties you have runied our town by pushing Wal Mart on us. The alderman certainly wasn't thinking about what was good for Raytown or the citizens they were suppose to be representing. So next election let's vote them out.

Anonymous said...

No offense, but if not for Wal-Mart who would want to come there? Everyone just complains about everything. I mean you talk about shopping at Village West, and talk about shopping in Lee's Summit, well guess what, all of the shopping was/is tax subsidized. So all of you complainers would be totally against it. Cause "in your day" stores just opened up where people are. Unfortunatley the days of TG&Y are long gone, and if you want stores you gotta pay for them with incentives. And, even with tax incencentives, you don't have much else. Sorry, but better Wal-Mart then nothing.

Anonymous said...

Sorry hate to disagree with you but Wal Mart is crap. A filthy store as well as the parking lot. Don't mind paying for for a nice place to shop and Wal Mart is NOT IT.

Anonymous said...

You are right Walmart is the WORST retailer that we could have gotten. I believe that if our city fathers had worked a little harder they could have brought us a true retailer that we could have been proud of, Target, Kohls, anybody but Walmart. I don't shop at the one we have and I will encourage people not to shop at the new one.

Andy Whiteman said...

Remember one Alderman was against the Walmart TIF:
GREG WALTERS

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Wal Mart sucks! We do not patronize this anti-worker, labor unfriendly employer and encourage other working families to do the same. There are plenty of other decent companies out there to patronize instead, just not in Raytown.