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| BY GREG WALTERS |
If you want an example of the
difference between this Board of Aldermen and the previous one you need not go
far. The recent purchase of a skid loader for the Public Works Department
pretty much tells the tale.
Just in case the reader is not aware,
a skid loader is a machine used to move large skids, pallets and other packaged
material in warehouses. It is a necessary piece of equipment in the Public
Works Maintenance Facility. However, it is not used as extensively as in a
warehouse situation.
Jim Melvin, the temporary Director
of the Public Works Department, decided the skid loader used at the garage had
outlived its purpose. It was about 12 years old and becoming very expensive to
maintain.
So the City Administrator decided to
put the piece of equipment up for auction, and, purchase a new skid loader in
its place.
The item went before the Board for
consideration. The Aldermen objected to
the purchase because they believed a lease of such equipment made more economic
sense.
City staff checked into a lease
option and found the suggestion was a good one. They embraced the idea and to
come back with a new proposal.
Two weeks later, a new proposal for
the “purchase” of a new skid loader was back on the agenda! Apparently there
was some language in the lease agreement that city staff objected to.
Then, a couple of days before the
meeting, the “purchase” proposal was removed from the agenda.
Ward 5 Alderman Eric Teeman wondered
what so objectionable about the lease. He made a phone call the leasing agent
and found out the language had been removed from the contract. He quickly
informed his fellow elected officials and city staff of the change. The
contract for the purchase of a skid loader was removed from the agenda.
Problem solved . . . crisis averted.
Good job Alderman Teeman!
The only question that comes to mind
is why city staff had not made the phone call? Teeman says he is not sure if
someone was going to, he just wondered what was going on with the lease contract,
so he made the call. Little matter, as Teeman points out, the important thing
is the issue was resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.
Had this happened under the previous
administration before the last April election, any member of the Board of Aldermen
would have raised an objection to the purchase would have been ignored, or
worse, chastised for “micro-managing” the city’s business.
As this case shows, oversight is not
a bad thing. In this case it led to a solution.
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| BY PAUL LIVIUS |
Paul’s Rant . . .
Last April the people of Raytown
made some wise decisions in replacing four of the five Board members on the
city council and a new Mayor.
Greg’s “Skid Loader” story
illustrates how that difference in members has brought new ideas to the table.
It is not the only area the Board
has made changes from the past administration. Following is a short list of
changes we know will happen and a few we expect to happen in the months ahead.
STREET REPAIR: The Mayor and Board
have directed the City Administrator to quit using the subs-standard slurry
seal to repair Raytown neighborhood streets. The new material used to repair
streets is supposed to be far superior in both appearance and endurance.
Hopefully the Board of Aldermen will keep a close watch on the process to make certain
street sub-surfaces are properly prepared before the new material is used to
overlay the street.
SUPER SPLASH: Raytown’s aging water
park may soon become a memory. Despite a hot summer, the numbers are not
reaching hoped for totals to make the park viable. Under the previous
administration each year was greeted with a new “plan” to turn the facility
around. The city has tried replacing staff with private management and then
replacing the private management with a new enlightened staff. It is beginning
to feel like we are in year five of a three year plan to make the park work.
Last year the Park Board voted to
close down the facility. Former Mayor David Bower pushed through an unfunded
mandate to keep the park open. The Board, on a split vote, agreed to fund the
facility one more year.
It is time to face reality. The
aging water park does not offer as much as other nearby venues in the
metropolitan area. The numbers of young folk who are the life-blood of any
water park are not here. Read the census reports. Raytown is an aging
community. Not one full of people who want to go down waterslide to pass the
time.
The SuperSplash is remote and
secluded. Police reports tell of a high amount of vandalism both on and off
season at the park. Which brings up the parks worst deficit . . . plainly
speaking, people do not feel safe there.
Look for the Board to pull the plug
on the operation after this year.
PRIVATE SECTOR AT WORK: Raytown will
also see a resurgence of some public events. Two events slated to take place
late this summer is the Festival of the Lost Township hosted by Crane Brewing
Company, beer festival in Downtown Raytown scheduled for September 5th
and the Raytown Arts and Music Festival
on scheduled for August 29 at Kenagy Park sponsored by Dick Smith Ford.
For more information use these
links:
Both of the events would not be
taking place if it were not for the participation and generosity of two of
Raytown’s corporate citizens.
SMALL BUILDING BOOM: Raytowners have
noticed a small explosion of building and development. Most of which is being
driven by a Family Dollar Store in Downtown Raytown and a Dollar General Store at 53rd
and Blue Ridge. Another area worth noticing is the recent purchase of the old
Cheverolet dealership on 350 Highway by Dick Smith Ford. Plans for the property
have yet to be announced. An expanded Quick Trip is also planned along
the 350 Highway corridor as well.
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| BY KRISTEN |
15 Must Try Popsicle Treats
Just the other night, I finished up a group run on the
beach. It was hot and incredibly humid, and all I could think about was how I
wanted to drink all the water. That is, until I was handed a coconut chia
popsicle, and suddenly, all was well. It was cold, creamy, delicious,
refreshing … and it made me wonder why I don’t make (and eat!) popsicles every
single day. And now, I can, because I’ve found enough mouthwatering popsicle
recipes for every day of the week (and then some!).
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10 comments:
Could you please clarify. I thought the business that is going in on 63rd st is a Family Dollar .
Family Dollar is opening in downtown Raytown. Dollar General is opening on 53rd. They are two different companies. Just as Sears and Penneys are both department stores but two different companies owned by separate enities
What is confusing to me is the word "Dollar" in the company name. There are 3 companies with "Dollar" in their name! I rarely go to this type of store but if I see something in one of their ads, I frequently go to the wrong store due to Dollar confusion.
Andy Whiteman
Andy,
I buy all of my paper products from the "Dollar" store. I don't care which one. They all have cheaper paper stuff than any grocery store.
I can see the confusion since under small business boom listed above it does have it wrong ; you are correct it is a family a Dollar going in on 63rd. Must be a misprint which I am sure Greg will catch and correct
Andy
The Dollar store has name brand items at a discounted price. Laundry detergent and coffee is one of my buys. Paper products are great at dollar tree as everything there is a dollar. Family dollar and dollar general are owned by different corporations. I. Believe the person asking for clarification was asking the question directed to the blog administrator because of their writing of new business coming in Raytown
The confusion on the Dollar names has been corrected. Thank you to those who pointed out the mistakes. Our bad!
Peter and Anonymous 11:01 AM, Thanks for your suggestions but the only paper products I use are legal size printer paper which is difficult to find so I buy it on the internet. I buy at grocery stores only when they have sales. Consequently I have enough laundry stuff and coffee to last several years since I buy in quantity. I do go to a Dollar named store if they advertise something that I want on sale, then I frequently end up at the wrong store.
Andy Whiteman
Andy
Maybe think of it as Family, General or Tree. Those are the three that I know of with the dollar name in it. However only Family and General run ads. This helps me when I see an ad item I want. I even think of Apple, PC, HyVee, when I remember grocery ads. As I've gotten older I go thru the ads with paper and pen and jot things down under the titles above. Now do I Always remember my list?? I would like to say yes however that is not the case
Peter,
Good idea, I will try to ignore the word "Dollar." I keep my grocery ads and sometimes others on the coffee table until they expire and sometimes look at them before I go shopping. I haven't used a list in years because I am physically unable to write and can't read the scribbled list.
Andy Whiteman
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