RAYTOWN REPORT

The United States Postal Service has spoken. Raytown will continue to have more than one zip code. In a letter to Raytown’s Ward Four Adlerman Pat Ertz, Timothy Dwyer, Manager of Operation Programs Support, wrote: “Based on the information provided, we were unable to identify any operational needs, substantial savings, or service improvements that would support the need for ZIP Code realignment.” The letter puts to rest a minor issue that has had amazingly long legs in the Raytown political theatre. The scope of the matter is emphasized by the list of individuals copied in the correspondence. Not only were the Mayor and Board of Aldermen addressed, but also Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and a host of U.S. Postal authorities. The question of one zip code for Raytown came to life over ten years ago when then Mayor Sue pledged to have the city’s zip code changed to one number. Beyond announcement to the local news media, it is not known if she made any official effort to make the change ...

Budget Time at City Hall The Raytown Finance Committee will soon begin a series of meetings to review budget recommendations from the city administration for the 2009 / 2010 fiscal year. A representative from each Ward of the Board of Aldermen serves on the city’s Finance Committee. The Finance Committee will either endorse or change the recommendations and then send the budget to the entire Board of Aldermen for approval. Income figures for the upcoming 2009/2010 budget year have not officially been released, but the word is that the city’s financial picture is looking bleak. Revenues, which were up earlier this year, have been dwindling due to the combined economic hammer blows of a housing mortgage crisis and escalating gasoline prices. The five member Finance Committee, Joe Creamer, Jim Hamilton, Christine White, Pat Ertz and Clifford Sargeon, have their work cut out for them in the next two months as they hammer out a workable budget for the city. Smoke and Mirrors The Comm...

Readers have probably noticed the work the city has begun in preparing the drainage area for the planned Walmart Store on 350 Highway. Remember, those are your tax dollars at work. The drainage system is part of the city's agreement to bring the new Walmart to 350 Highway. Construction is also coming to an end at Blue Ridge Elementary. A new early childhood development / day care center is nearly completed along Hunter Street and Blue Ridge Boulevard. The building and grounds are impressive and blend very well with Blue Ridge Elementary. Kudos to Raytown City Hall for completing the sidewalk along Hunter Street between Blue Ridge Boulevard and Blue Ridge Cutoff. When I became aware that the School District would only build sidewalks directly in front of the building I asked then Public Works Director Mahesh Sharma if the city could complete the work. Through his intervention we now have sidewalks the entire length of Hunter Street. A large of pile of new aluminum street light pol...

One of Raytown’s elected leaders recently commented that all Raytowners do is complain about “everything”. Who said it is not as important as the fact that it was said. Is he right? Do Raytowners just complain and whine about everything in their city. Or, is there some justification for the discord that the ten Aldermen and Mayor are witnessing from their seats of power at city hall. A quick look at the past year’s agenda gives some clues that may explain the angst many Raytowners are expressing. There have been some successful efforts in changing the direction from the previous administration – for the first time in almost four years, some new street lights are actually being installed in neighborhoods. The city’s recycling center has been revamped into a more secure and, more importantly, financially stable operation. But for the most part, the Mayor and majority of the Board’s attention have been almost exclusively on promoting economic development. In fact, the Mayor put out t...

A Raytowner asks an elected official why his street will not be overlayed with new asphalt this year. The only reply he receivies is a curt, “we don’t have the money”. Having learned a long time a go not to take such short answers on faith, I made a quick phone call to the Finance Department at Raytown City Hall see how the city is fairing financially. Readers will remember that it was revealed on this blog earlier this year that the city’s annual audit reported 2.2 million dollars in unspent funds returned from last year’s budget. The money is still there, though some of it is committed to certain projects. About $50,000 is set aside to pay debt incurred by the last administration (something I think is criminal, but that is another story). Another chunk of it is set aside to architect fees and fulfill final payment to the Lords of Walmart for expenses in conjunction with the 350 Highway project. Some of the money has been set aside for an un-needed infill study ordered up by the Boa...