RAYTOWN REPORT

It is that time of year when newspapers and magazines “wrap up” their stories and pontificate on what kind of a year it was. Usually the “wrap up” comes with a bright glowing picture of the future. The formula is as old as the trees that were chopped down to make the paper it is printed on. Rose Colored Glasses . . . It is good to be optimistic. But sometimes it is better to take off the rose-colored glasses and do a reality check. In the long run, promises of false hope do far more damage than good – particularly in the public’s view of how they are governed. It is difficult to look at Raytown’s future without taking into account some of the past events that are shaping that future as you read this page. The City Council’s experimentation with tax abatements and TIFS is moving forward at an unbridled pace even though there are signs that such machinations are not working. A good example is development of 350 Highway. The one-half cent tax districts that have been created for Walm...

. . . from the Book of Luke In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you...

Tuesday night the Raytown Board of Aldermen will hear a second reading on an agreement that will create tax abatements for three properties in the Downtown area. The three properties are located at: 6109-6111 Blue Ridge Boulevard, application made by Jeff and Diane Page. The property currently houses Bennetti’s Coffee. 6326 Raytown Place - application made by Gary Knabe. The property houses Knabe’s real estate office for Coldwell Banker, Hometown Realty, Inc. 9715 East 63rd Street - application made by Pam McKinley Clark and Quentin Clark. The property in question is Clark’s Appliance Store. Page is requesting an abatement totaling $190,000.00. Knabe’s request is for $56,117.00, and Clark’s is for $36,503.00. The reasoning behind the abatements is to encourage businesses to locate in Downtown Raytown. The city has declared the Downtown area economically blighted and created the Raytown Municipal Development Corporation to promote investment in the Downtown area. Tuesday’s night m...

Filing for the April, 7, 2009 Raytown Municipal Elections opens on Tuesday, December 16th and closes on Tuesday, January 20th. In the April, 2009 election six seats on the ten member Board of Aldermen will be filled. Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 will each elect one member to the Board. Ward 5 has two open slots for the election. A four-year term and the remaining two years of an incomplete term. The two year term election in Ward 5 is to fill the spot left vacant by former Ward 5 Alderman Pat Reilly. If more than one candidate files for any particular seat on the first day of filing, ballot position will be chosen by lottery. Candidates filing for public office after the first day will be placed on the ballot in the order in which they file. Also up for election this year are the offices of City Marshal/Chief of Police, and Municipal Judge. Both elections are for a four year term of office. Following is the Public Notice of the Filing Fees, Salary and Benefits for each position. REQUIREME...