Sunday, May 30, 2010

In This Week's Raytown Report

A Word About Comment Moderation by Greg Walters
Fitzwater Bought Out of Water District Contract
Summit Democratic Club Makes Endorsements
Upcoming Area Summer Festivals
The Taste of Sweet by Jenn Walters
Raytown South Wins Sectional Championship
Two Athletes from O’Hara Qualify for State by Brother Richard Geimer
Skyler Young is State Champion in Shot Put by Brother Richard Geimer
Last Week’s Poll Results
Every Picture Tells a Story
The picture at right is a of Kokanee Lake in the Kootney Mountains in British Columbia, Canada. Six inches of fresh snowfall greeted the three hikers that morning (two of them can be seen on the bottom left of the picture). The eight mile hike into the storm clouds in the distance took six hours. One hiker opined that hiking on the six inches of fresh snow felt like walking on feathers. The destination was a mountain lodge accessible only by mountain paths and helicopter (which had been grounded by the storm).
NEWS AND VIEWS
By Greg Walters
A Word about Comment Moderation
From time to time I receive an email from a reader complaining about the evils of censorship. Fortunately, it is rare that I receive such notes. And there is good reason to believe that they are all coming from the same person. It is still a good idea to review and update the rules that are used in governing comments that people post on the Raytown Report.
The prohibition on foul language is (and always will be) in place. And I am pleased tor report that this has become a non-issue with nearly 100% of those who post.
Another topic, that of name calling, is a very grey area. Some readers have noticed that I have tightened up the use of nicknames that are less than complimentary. For instance, names like “Simple Joe”, Mayor Bow Wow, etc., are meant only to degrade and will no longer be printed on these pages. Often times, the writer does have legitimate point to make, and I see it as a waste not to allow the message to be sent. So in the future look for such name calling to be edited out of the message.
Public officials, elected or appointed, will continue to have their names spelled out on matters of public business. That goes with the territory. When things go well, they deserve the praise. When they do not . . . they should be called to answer for what is wrong.
I have always believed that the main reason this blog is visited by so many is not especially for what is published each week, but more of an interest in what is posted by the general public. The high number of “hits” this sight receives each week is a good indication that many are reading what is being written by those who post.
I view that as a good indication of a growing interest in what is happening in Raytown.
Keep on posting . . . you are being heard.
Fitzwater Bought Out of Water District Contract
Former Raytown Alderman and past Manager/Director of the Jackson County Public Water District No. 2, Bud Fitzwater, has been bought out of his contract as a paid consultant for the District. According to newly elected Water Board Director Jerry Briggs the Board made its decision shortly after the April election.
Fitzwater had been hired by the District for a three year term to serve as a paid consultant during a transition period of newly hired managers. The three year contract had become an issue in two races for seats on the Water Board during the election.
Briggs told the Raytown Report that the District realized a cost savings through the early buyout.
Summit Democratic Club makes Endorsements
The Summit Democratic Club of Lee’s Summit met last Wednesday to make endorsements for the August 3rd Democratic Primary.
To view a list of the endorsements use this link Summit Democratic Club Endorsements
Upcoming Area Summer Festivals
Summer is here and so are community festivals. The gathering in area communities gives folks a chance to catch up with what’s going on our cities, make new friends, and learn more about each other.
Lee’ Summit Downtown Days JUNE 4TH THRU 6TH
For more information use this link Lee' Summit Downtown Days
Raytown Summerfest and BBQ Cookoff JUNE 11TH AND 12TH
For more information use this link Raytown Summerfest
TO YOUR HEALTH!
By Jenn Walters
The Taste of Sweet
Joanne Chen, author of The Taste of Sweet, hit the nail on the head when she said that America has a complicated love affair with all things sugary. Although many fad diets ban sugar or severely limit it and even the federal government’s official statement on sweets is “in moderation,” the average American—and I take this directly from the book—consumes about 99.2 pounds of sugar and other caloric sweeteners (read: high-fructose corn syrup) every year. Okay, not that this isn’t obvious but 99.2 pounds is a lot. Like twice the weight of my medium-sized dog. In sugar.
Ms. Chen, a self-proclaimed sweets connoisseur, uses the book’s 221 pages to dissect why we love sweets so much, the reasons that love is complex and even a look to the future as to what our confectionery future could hold. She begins with the history of sugar—basically people fell in love with it and fought over it, which makes sense because back in cave-woman times something that was sweet generally meant that it wouldn’t kill you—and then transitions into a fascinating look into taste buds. I had no idea, but taste buds aren’t like bones—not everyone has the same number.“Super Tasters” have a ridiculous amount of taste buds and generally aren’t a fan of bitter foods like coffee or broccoli (not me), while non-tasters enjoy just about anything you place in front of them (me). It’s important to note that just because Super Tasters are called “Super,” it doesn’t mean that they are blessed with super hero powers; they can just taste this compound called PROP better. Oh, and they also taste sweet as sweeter, fat as fattier and salt as saltier. But, I’m not bitter. (Har. Har. Har.)
Other chapters touch on America’s eating habits, addressing the phenomenon that there’s always room for dessert. Similar to studies discussed in this other fantastic book, The Taste of Sweet brings up research that found that people who were offered a lunch with four different courses consumed 60 percent more calories than a group that had the same exact course four times for lunch. Humans love variety. Heck, even my dog agrees. She’d much rather eat anything off the floors than the same bowl of dog food every morning and night.
Some of the most fascinating information in the book has to do with sugar being named as the culprit for America’s obesity epidemic. Ms. Chen argues that it’s the highly processed food that we eat all the time that has caused America’s growing waistlines, as dessert is no longer balanced out by three square veggie-filled meals like it was in the 1950s. Not to mention that many processed meals and fast-food is injected with high-fructose corn syrup, so it’s like eating all sugar and no fiber all the time.
Besides covering heavy issues such as America’s health crisis, history and food science, she throws in some great party trivia. My fave was why we like the combination of salty and sweet so much. Any guesses? Breast milk. I bet that’ll make you think twice before you buy a bag of kettle corn at the farmers’ market.
But dessert lovers, don’t despair, this book is a celebration of all things sweet, and it really made me appreciate dessert and what role it fills in my life. From wedding cake to eggnog at Christmas, sweets are a beautiful part of our culture. They shouldn’t make up your entire diet by any means, but life just wouldn’t be as sweet without them.
To visit Jenn's website use this link . . . Fit Bottomed Girls
Raytown South Wins Sectional Championship
Marquise Cushon won the boys triple jump, A. J. Anderson won the 100 meter dash, Alex Sanders qualifier for state in the 100 meter dash, Kyle Frayling, Phillip Kind , Marcus Moye and A.J. Anderson qualified for state in the 4x100 relay, Stephen Addison qualified for state in the 110 high hurdles, Anthony Ward, James Dawson, Dennis Turner and And Kendal Meyers qualified in the 4x400 relay and Kendal Meyers qualified in the open 400 meter dash; Girls champions include Jade Nalls record breaking triple jump, Amiris Warren qualified in the 200 meter dash, Miasha Mitchell open 400 meter dash, jade Nalls long jump, 4x100 meter relay champions Miasha Mitchell , Alia Ward, Mickala Mitchell, and Amiris Warren, state qualifier 4x200 relay Miasha Mitchell Mickala Mitchell, Amiris Warren and Kelsey Harris, and girls 4x400 champion relay team Kelsey Harris, Miasha Mitchell , Mickala Mitchell and Amiris Warren. Please congratulate our track team and cheer them as we go for another state championship this holiday weekend in Jefferson City.
For more stories and pictures about Raytown South Sports use this link Raytown South High School

Two Track Athletes from O’Hara Qualify for State

by Brother Richard Geimer

Cyndee Reese won the discus event in Sectionals Class 3 Section 4 at Kearney High School on May 22. Skyler Young placed second in the shot put, so both Celtics will compete next weekend for the State Titles. Reese had a distance of 125'10" edging out her closest opponent who had 125'7". Young's heave was 38'3.25" which was shy of the 40'4" winning thrust. As a result of the two athletes' feats, O'Hara as a team tied Notre Dame de Sion for 16th place among the 27 schools that scored team points.

Skyler Young is State Champ in Shot Put

Improving each week, sophomore Skyler Young won the gold medal in the State Class 3 shot put on May 29th.The Archbishop O'Hara High School athlete achieved the Championship with a distance of 41'4". In the Sectionals, Young had a distance of 38'3.25" which was good enough for second place and at District in previous week she took second with a distance of 35'10".

Cyndee Reese, a freshman from Archbishop O'Hara High School, place fifth in State Class 3 in the discus event with a 125'6" distance.
For more stories and pictures of this event please use this link O'Hara High School
Last Week’s Poll Results
Should future Rockfest Concerts be banned from Liberty Memorial / Penn Valley Park?
Yes . . . .45%
No. . . . .55%

45 comments:

Andy Whiteman said...

I see much more blight in Raytown than in the city I am moving to but her is what a City Commissioner there has to say about blight. Raytown needs to take a good hard look at blight!

Blight is serious issue in Alamogordo
Alamogordo Daily News
By Aaron Rance, For the Daily News
Posted: 05/30/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT

Hopefully, this is the first of many Commissioner Corner columns yet to come. As your newest city commissioner in District 2, I want to address issues the city has been faced with - and ignored - for some time.

The city has, for years, disregarded the situation known as blight. We now recognize the problem and will start addressing it. This will be a challenge, but it's a challenge we can overcome.

Blight is considered unsightly and depressed properties (homes, businesses and vacant lots) throughout our community that are filled with trash and debris. Typically, one of the first things that come to mind when this type of conversation occurs is either "Yes, we need to rid the city of those ugly, junk and dilapidated buildings" or "You can't tell me what to do with my property. It's my right to grow weeds four feet tall, park 10 cars on my yard and let my roof deteriorate and blow onto my neighbor's cars."

Guess what? If you and I choose to live within a municipality and that municipality has codes and ordinances on such conditions - and you or I are in violation of those ordinances - then we need to be regulated.

I no more want Big Brother in my back pocket than you do. But, I also have a responsibility to you, my neighbor, to keep and maintain my property, as you have a responsibility to do the same. This is a community problem. There are few areas of town that are unaffected with these falling-down structures and the filth and degradation that go with these types of properties.

The commission will soon institute new ordinances that put some teeth into the consequences of these violations. The present process is cumbersome and ineffective. A new, enhanced set of codes will be adopted that give officers enforcing the violation a clear, direct path to resolution or governance.

We should look forward to living in a community that is proud of their property and wants to establish community pride. We need to be proud of our community and show that by keeping our properties, homes and business attractive.

If we want Alamogordo to grow, we need to look outside the box we live in and ask ourselves, "Is this the type of environment in which we want to raise a family?"

It has been said that you need to know where you have come from to know where you are going. Does Alamogordo offer the quality of life that we expect? If so, we need to ask ourselves why we would encourage businesses and families to move here, only to see block after block of homes and business properties in disrepair, overgrown weeds and falling structures with no one paying attention to them.

The city is asking for your input. Let's work together as we change - for the better - the look of our community.


Aaron Rance is a city commissioner representing District 2 in Alamogordo.

Hey, Alderman Creamer said...

Hey, Alderman Creamer. I live in Gregory Heights. Do you ever drive over here? We have weeds in front yards, sides yards and back yards almost up to your waist.

Think you can do something about it?

Clean it up or ignore it. It is your decision.

I will be watching.

Andy Whiteman said...

Lees Summit had a whole advertising section in the Red Star promoting their yearly event. I wonder why Raytown doesn't do the same?

True most businesses are closed or not near the event, but it is a way to put their name and services or products offered before the public. It might mean a new customer. You know most people in the metro see these supplements about events and will look at them to find out more.

As for censoring, a TOPIX blog follows the newspaper op-ed by Commissioner Rance. Some were filled with obscene language which tells me that person has nothing to say. One of the obscene writers basically said he would not pull weeds on HIS property and if anyone didn't like that, they could come and pull them. I was thinking he would sure like it if the city pulled the weeds, fined and billed him for clean up.

Thank you, Greg, I am glad you have rules and make it known that you expect them followed.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

I think it's pretty obvious that most at city hall don't do
their jobs well or at all. When you can drive down a main
street like Raytown Rd just north of Gregory and see grass
three feet high, somebody isn't doing their job.
That just shows that city hall doesn't care about how this town
looks or is viewed upon by visitors.
As long as they can have their Wall Mart, Hy Vee and bbq the
heck with everything else.
By the way residents of Raytown, how's that street repair tax working out for you?

Anonymous said...

I know what the problem is at city hall. Mayor Bower is NEVER there. He shows up at the public meetings, but other than that he is simply gone.

If he doesn't want to seriously take on the job he should step aside and let someone else take over.

The people in Raytown deserve more than the lack of attention and non-caring attitude that are trademarks of his term in office.

Anonymous said...

You are right about our city employees not caring about how the town looks. It's always been my feeling if they see pride and concern about things such as codes at the top, it filters down to the man on the street doing the enforcement. Bower and Ms Linn show no real concern, they only try to put out the
fires as they come in. Have you ever seen Bower or Ms. Linn out in the field looking at the real problems? I haven't. They need to get out of their offices and drive the streets to see what our citizens are putting up with daily. Too much laziness at the top.

Andy Whiteman said...

7:40 AM, Why would you expect to find Mayor Bower at city hall? I expected to find Mayor Frank at city hall. I was told by whoever answered the phone that, "the Mayor has a business to run." Apparently it is not city business that is being run. I finally contacted Mayor Frank after calling her office.

Just think about it, the mayor's salary is only a token of that the salary of a full time mayor should be. Hence, the mayor must have a full time job and the mayor's job is filled only part time.

I really feel rolls should be reveresed with the mayor being paid a full time salary and the City Administrator (who doesn't live in Raytown) being eliminated. We need a Mayor who can devote full time to the job. Raytown is run like a podunk town with the mayor actually donating his time since his salary is minimal. Things need to change at city hall.

Andy Whiteman

Robbie Tubbs said...

How does one go about lodging a complaint with the codes department? There are two houses on Willow between 72nd and 74th that have grass 2-3 feet high. They both appear to be empty.

Do I simply have to call city hall, or do I have to go in to sign a complaint? Thanks

Anonymous said...

The Mayor is paid of $1,300 per month plus a car allowance of $100 per month.

That's a lot of something for nothing!

Anonymous said...

you can reach the codes department through the city switchboard 737-6000.

Anonymous said...

Well I noticed the Gary Knabe Swamp at 79th & Spring Valley has been half mowed, but the center where the big ruts are must be 2 feet tall. Why does Mayor Bower and Beth Linn allow this problem to go on and on? It's been about 5 years now and he's never been made to clean up his mess. Couldn't be because he is a friend of the mayors and also a campaign contributor ( check the records). This Gary Knabe belongs in jail for not obeying our city codes.

Anonymous said...

I understand that the new economic development director has a"pipe dream" project for the downtown park, oh excuse me "green space". Why don't we do something to try to keep the businesses that are fleeing Raytown before we try these silly ideas of bringing something to downtown that will only attract the same group that supports Walmart?

Andy Whiteman said...

1:01 PM, Would you do the Mayor's job for ONLY $1300 per month and do a good job? I wouldn't. That is not a livable wage for a full time job. Anyone who is paid that little for being mayor is actually donating their time!

Robbie, The direct number to codes is 816-737-6014. I suggest you ask with whom you are speaking to and document the date and time of your call. A written complaint is not required but I normally email my complaint so that I have a trail of written documents. The city website says it may take 60-90 days for a resolution if it goes through muni-court.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

If you want to see Raytown cleaned up then first you must vote out the people that think
they are doing a good job of running this town.
You need to vote in people that put Raytown and it's citizens first and foremost. Not big stores that can talk them out of tax income that hurts every
person in Raytown. Causing higher taxes and lower property values, not to mention higher crime rates.
This stuff is elementary.
You get rid of the bad and try to find good people to run this town.
You can't have people running and working for this town that have code problems of their own and expect things to get done. Likewise you can't expect department heads that live elsewhere to care about your town.
It's time to wake up or just say the heck with it and let this
town sink deeper to where there is no chance to recover.

Anonymous said...

Yep, it takes 60 to 90 days to go through court. It also takes 30 to 60 days for our codes people to realize their was a violation in the first place!

If the weeds are too tall they are health hazard and the city can cut them without going to court. They are misleading you up at city hall.

As for Mayor Bower and his being underpaid (I can hardly believe that one!)

The problem is that Bower is their only for the money. He cares more for his out of town department heads than he does the people in this city and his inaction on codes proves it.

He has single-handidly destroyed the local economy of small businessmen in Raytown with Walmart.

He has tunnel vision when it comes to economic development. Unless it a new building project with lots of architectural fees attached he is not too interested in it.

Remember how he went campaigning for Mayor Funkhouser's light rail scheme? The rails would not have come within five miles of Raytown. But our Mayor was out their stumping for it north of the river, on the east side and who knows where else holding forums for Funkhouser.

Go ask Bower to get an illegally parked vehicle trashing up your neighborhood. He won't even return a call.

The problem with our Mayor is that he is there only for the money.

His inaction on neighborhood services and code enforcement show this is all too true.

Anonymous said...

Look at the bright side. At least Knabe did try to cut the grass in his swamp. No doubt this morning's rain has filled it back up to a small pond by now.

Anonymous said...

Used to be that Raytown was in the country, under County Rule, and if the pasture grass got tall, then it may get cut and baled.

Now you have people that get all weirded out if your grass gets a inch or two taller than their grass. Then those same people are the ones that do stupid things like scalp cut their lawns in 90-100 degree temps and wonder why their lawns are brown and dead when your lawn is lush and green. Then these same people are the ones with nothing better to do than to call city hall and report you for your grass being 4 inches tall saying that it is a 'health hazard'? Come on, I can understand maybe a foot tall calling in and complaining.

BTW, has anyone ever heard that grass can reproduce it's own seeds and you can reseed your lawn for free once in a while by letting it grow a bit taller, and you will help to develop a better root system, and a thicker lawn? Sometimes wisdom should prevail.

Anonymous said...

Bower is a poor excuse for a mayor. He does care more about his "out of town department heads" than he does about our taxpaying citizens. What a shame. I thought that when Mahesh's daughter graduated from high school that he was supposed to move here. She graduated last month, so are the moving trucks headed to Raytown yet?

Andy Whiteman said...

I recall reading about Swamp Knabe for at least 2 summers. I don't understand why the weeds are so important. It is the swamp and mosquitoes that would concern me if I was there.

Why doesn't someone call the health department? It is health issue.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Let's be fair about this. If everyone kept their grass cut at four inches it would be an improvement over the knee high to waist high weeds I have seen in some yards.

I just drove down Blue Ridge Blvd. south of Gregory. There are two yards along there that look like they have not been cut this year.

Does someone reeally want to make excuses for that!?!

Robbie Tubbs said...

There was an article in the Neighborhood Section of the Kansas City Star today that said Grandview has a program to bring in new business. Any resident or business owner that convinces a new business to set up shop in Grandview will receive $1,000 from the city as a "Finder's Fee".

Several of the bloggers are or appear to be business owners in Raytown. Do you think this idea would work in Raytown?

Robbie Tubbs said...

Greg,

My spelling is awful and my typing is worse. How hard would it be to add a spell-check to the comment section so that I don't embarrass myself? Thanks

Greg Walters said...

I have not been able to find a way to incorporate a spell check into the blog software. Some people write their messages in word, use the spell Microsoft spell check, and then cut and paste the finished product into the comment section.

Andy Whiteman said...

4" is the proper height to mow a lawn. Any shorter is wrong as stated above. In this heat, you don't want it short. I think the people mowing short don't want to mow as often. The exception is Bermuda which should be mowed short.

I am wondering, what is the zoning where the grass is too tall? If it is in an area that was once farm land, the farming zoning may be grandfathered. When Albuquerque annexed to the west, they annexed farmland and ranch land. People had animals and the zoning was grandfathered for animals. Then people built homes and started complaining about neighbors having animals. Maybe the people shouldn't have moved there since the animals were there first.

Robbie and others, If you download the Firefox browser, Firefox will provide spellcheck on this blog and other internet things you may be doing. I think Firefox has better security.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Did I read wrong? I thought there was a 1/2% tax passed in Raytown to improve our police department, put more officers on the street, cut down on crime, blah, blah. Now I have heard on the 10 o'clock news2 nights in a row that a bunch of unruley teens have attacked a woman in her 70's, beat up a 15 yr. old, & broke into a man's house & robbed him. And it is all in one area. What is going on? There has been damage done, the police HAVE to show action & prove that Raytown will not tolorate a bunch of teenage thugs to contol our City.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone seen Chief Lynch around lately? I'm beginning to believe that is absent from the city as much as Mayor Bower. For those who don't know it Bower is out of town about 8 to 10 working days a month. So, you see he draws a pretty good salary for only working part- part time. We need someone that is in the Mayor's office every day. We will never become a better city until we get some elected officials that want to work at their job instead of just showing up for council meetings.

Pat Casady said...

To Robbie Tubbs,
I have been trying for years to talk some friends into
bringing their businesses to Raytown but, there are
several reasons they, so far, they have refused to try.
First is the Wal-Mart on 350 why and then less than
six miles away the Wal-Mart on 40 hwy. In between
you have Raytown and Raytown's downtown area.
Next for over ten or more years Raytown had
a Community Development Director
that had a reputation for running off business and not
working with any new business wanting to try Raytown.
There were also a couple of City Administrators that didn't
do Raytown any good either.
They are gone now but, the damage was done. The reputation
is in place.
The other thing is City Hall.
Would you invest thousands of your hard earned dollars in a
town that looks like it is going downhill?
Put yourself in a prospective business owners shoes. Drive
around the downtown area, look at the shape the streets,
sidewalks and in general the whole downtown area is in.
I must admit my building doesn't look like I would like it to and,
I'll work on that.
Lastly the people that are running the Center 63 and the Raytown
Plaza are asking too much rent for where they are. Most average
fifteen hundred a month or more for an, at most, six hundred a month space.
There have been over thirty five long time businesses leave Raytown.
Most left after Wal-Mart and City Hall announced they would be building a super store on the highway.
Please don't get me wrong. I love Raytown, I always have. Nobody
wants it to grow any more than I do but, there have been some
extremely bad decisions made by our elected officials that have
really hurt this town.
However, there is a group of people that are trying to get Raytown's downtown to come alive again. They are the Raytown Main Street Association. They are donating their own time and money to try to make this happen. It is a strictly volunteer organization and they need members to make it work.

Andy Whiteman said...

I saw Chief Lynch enter the BOA meeting room last Tuesday. He was not there later but he was not my focus. I believe he spoke with the officer who was there and then departed.

The mayor's job is part time. It was public knowledge and published before the election thay Bower's work took him out of town. People voted with this knowledge.

A person's primary job has to come first. Raytown is paying for a part time mayor. If the citizens want a full time mayor, the salary needs to be adjusted. I suggest that a full time Mayor's salary be $5000 more than the city administrator. Better yet, lets cut expenses, eliminate the city administrator and pay the mayor what the CA is now receiving.

Continue paying the Mayor $1300 per month and all you will have is a part time Mayor. Based on what I made when I was working, $1300 is less than 2 weeks pay. If you paid me $1300, I would work no more than 8 evenings per month.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Mahesh, the city admiistrator. is never going to move to Raytown. His wife does NOT WANT to move here. He came from St. Louis and came here because she did not want to move there either.
she wants to stay in Olathe, KS. They should have never allowed the changes in the contract. It was unfair to the city administrators that did have to move here. When he signed that contract he knew that was part of the contract and he also knew when his daughter was graduating. He should have never signed that contract if all of the stipulations in it would not be met in the time frame that is allowed in the contract. The moving stipulation is ONE year not FOUR.
Don't get me wrong I like Mahesh but a contract is a contract and should not have been entered into it under false pretences and the board of alderman should have been smarter than that. Mark my words he is out looking for another job or maybe already has one and we just don't know it yet.

Anonymous said...

The sad thing is that the Board of Alderman have the power to correct the non-resident rule but are afraid to because it might offend city employees.

Don't you get the impression that Raytown is not good enough for them to live in?

So sad what is happening.

You would think that our elected officials had more pride than that.

Andy Whiteman said...

1:58PM, Either you or I have the facts wrong. I like Mahesh and recommended him as most qualified for the job (if that counts.) Does he live in Olathe? I believe when he took the job it was Peculiar or somewhere in that direction. My understanding was his contract granted an exception to live where he was for 3 years until his daughter graduated High School. I felt that was reasonable because different school districts have different graduation requirements and a change could easily set her back a year. I can't remember when it was, but I think he has at least one year or maybe 2 more.

It really doesn't matter what his wife wants. HIS contract is with the City of Raytown. The City hired him and not her. When I decided to change jobs and locations, I TOLD my wife. When she protested I told her that since my job paid more, I would make the decision. If she made more she could make the decision.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Andy,
The mayor knew what he was getting into when he ran for office. Now it seems they can't get out of their meeting fast enough. They agree to anything just to move on.
Remember all those pre-election promises he and others made? None have come to pass.

To Anonymous 9:05,
I believe the words you should have used was, you would think
our elected officials were smarter than that. It's clear from the
neighborhoods lack of code enforcement that they don't take pride in Raytown.

Anonymous said...

Our elected officials are the weakest bunch that I have ever seen trying to run city hall and I have lived here a long time. Yes, they should step up and change the ordinance that requires ALL city department heads to live in Raytown. It's really quite a simple thing to do. The voters should DEMAND this change in anyone running for office next year. You don't get my vote unless you agree to make ALL city department heads move here. Case closed.

Anonymous said...

Why make Mahesh the sacrificial lamb? How about Beth Linn? I know she didn't sign a contract but she is a department head and if Mashesh needs to live here so does she. I can say one thing at least Mahesh works and gets things done that a whole lot more than I can say for Beth Linn

Andy Whiteman said...

9:05PM & 8:41AM, At the present time the only department head required to live in Raytown is the City Administrator. I have always said that ALL department heads should LIVE IN RAYTOWN. Why would it offend city employees if they are not department heads? BTW: there are certain types of employees required to LIVE IN RAYTOWN and they seem agreeable to that. It is a job requirement!

I think the problem is since it hasn't recently been a requirement it could only be made a requirement for new hires. Another possibility is the requirement could be added as a condition of employment at contract renewal.

I read on this blog long ago (I don't remember who said it) that department heads can't live in Raytown because they can't find a home that is good enough. That is BS. If the homes here aren't good enough, they can build or remodel. I know because I am very picky. It took me 6 years to find a home and so far it has been over 1-1/2 years remodeling it to suit my needs.

I have NEVER seen any elected official who keeps all of his/her campaign promises. I really consider the promises to be ideals or goals. In the case of the last national election, I considered them to be out and out lies and an attrempt to buy votes and didn't vote for the individual. The problem was too many people believed those lies.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

There is NO stipulation in any Dept. Heads contract that says they have to live in Raytown. That is one of the major mistakes in those contracts. It is however, the Mayors fault that Linn's dept. does not do their jobs. As we all have heard before he doesn't want them to do their jobs.

Masheh does have to live here according to his contract and every other City Administrators contracts. All of the other City Administrators have moved here and they were not given any other options. It is also the board of aldermans fault that both of those thing are happening. They need to stand their ground and make sure the contracts are enforced as well as all of the ordinances.

Anonymous said...

If the dept. heads and the city Administators had to live here maybe they would begin to feel the same way that rest of do and start doing their jobs. It doesn't take much to get into your car and drive around Raytown to see what our problems are. A majority of our problems start with city hall not doing their jobs. That is not to say that we don't have some every good poeple who work for Raytown but if management doesn't care why should they?

Anonymous said...

I am not a department head and I do not live in Raytown. I work for the City and I take pride in my work. It does not matter where I live, I treat all my work like I was doing it for my own property or how I would want it done if I was the property owner.

Sometimes I get very discouraged when I read this blog. People only seem to dwell on the negative and take cheap shots at certain employees while they hide behind their anonymity.

One major problem is the lack of communication between departments, department heads and aldermen. I have worked for the City for a number of years. There is not one alderman, past or present, that has ever taken the opportunity to speak to me about my job, and they have had many opportunities. It makes me realize what people think of the regular City Employee.

Everyone is so worried about their own agenda and not the welfare of the City as a whole.

Andy Whiteman said...

9:44PM, I am sorry that you have taken some of the posts personally. The problem is actually with management, not the workers. If management doesn't budget for street maintenance, the streets crumble. My complaint is not with you, it is with mismanagement. If a codes officer is afraid to cite a friend of a city official, the problem is with the administration. I come from NM where jobs were highly political. A police officer would question someone to see who they knew before they would write a citation.

Personally I appreciate our city w worker's high quality work. I really feel that 12 hour shifts for snow removal are above and beyond the call. I have called animal control in the middle of the night and had a response. If I observe a exceptional job, the mayor, city administrator, and the employees department head will get an email from me.

I used to work for the Post Office and it was my goal to give each person the same service that I would expect. Likewise when I was a telephone operator, I handled each call the same way I would expect it to be handled if I was the customer.

People making comments should be more specific about criticizing city administration and management rather than laying the blame on the city workers. City workers have really hard work, that I and probably many of the other bloggers couldn't or wouldn't do.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

It's my understanding that Mayor Bower criticizes any alderman who even tries to communicate with the department heads, let alone an average city employee. If I were an alderman I would get out in the field with the city employees and spend at least a day or so following each department head around to get a feel of what is really going on at city hall. You would also be able to identify some of the problems and maybe even come up with some solutions. Mayor Bower is the BIGGEST PROBLEM for communications being so poor at city hall and our aldermen are NOT doing their jobs. LET'S VOTE THESE GUYS OUT NEXT APRIL!!!

Anonymous said...

Last election brought four new faces and you still complain about vote these guys out. Nothing changed at school board either after some new faces. Quit complaining about and show us who will be running. Walters, Briggs, Mrs. Buskirk or Knabe??

Andy Whiteman said...

10:24AM, The big problem is the very few people in Raytown bother to vote in local elections. Therefore it takes very few voters to elect an alderman, mayor, school board member or whatever.

I am convinced that a complete moron could be elected if he had enough friends to vote for him.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

Andy,

When looking at some of the people on the present city council it is hard not to agree with your last observation!

Pat Casady said...

First off I'd like to say the city employee,
unless you are a codes enforcer, I believe everybody
that writes on this blog would agree that we are very happy
with the job most every other city employee does.
You should understand that when we complain about certain
things it is really about the way the department heads are
doing their jobs. As in any job the employee's can only do
what they are told to do by their bosses. Plus they can only
do the job if they have the right tools and equipment.
It's like our streets in Raytown. The people voted for a street overlay tax
and never got what they voted for. But, we see city employees
out filling holes and trying their best to make the streets passable.
It's not the fault of the city workers that our streets are bad, it's the fault
of the elected officials for spending the tax money elsewhere.
I'm sorry if we don't tell the workers how much we appreciate what they
do with so little resources.
I for one, appreciate what our city employees do.
As far as living in Raytown. Raytown has rules about certain department heads
living in Rayrown. Right or wrong in some cases it is a rule that they live here.
As in many decisions that have been made by our elected officials, they
decided to forgo the rules and let "Department Heads" that should live in Raytown, live elsewhere.
Many people feel that City Hall uses tax money and the rules to do as they want
not for what is best for the people.

Greg Walters said...

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES!!!

There has been some trouble with Blogger these last 24 hours. It appears the problem has been fixed.

My new post will go up this evening.