Random Thoughts
New City Logo: It appears that many people are very unimpressed with the proposed city logo.
I happen to be one of them.
The proposed logo is bland – it has a cookie cutter look to that would fit ANY area city. But what I find most disturbing is the political overtone of the “Reaching for Tomorrow” language affixed at the bottom. Like it or not, the simple fact is that “reaching for tomorrow” is synonymous with a political faction in Raytown. That is the truth. And any thinking person who votes in Raytown is well aware of it.
It would be the same as if Lee’s Summit created a logo that with at tag line that read, “Lee’s Summit . . . a Republican stronghold east of Kansas City. Or, if Wyandotte County in Kansas had one that read, Wyandotte County . . . the most Democratic County in Kansas.
City logos should speak for all the community – not just to those of a political club or faction.
How about a contest? I’ve received calls this past week from individuals within the community who believe that Raytown should conduct a contest of local artists to design a logo that reflects the heritage of the Raytown area.
It is not a bad idea. The large mural at the back of the Raytown City Council Chambers is the result of just such a contest. The mural depicts Raytown’s past and present. Hundreds of local artists vied for the honor of creating the work of art. Local historians tell me that a non-partisan commission chose the winner of the contest. The mural can be viewed anytime city hall is open.
I’ve also heard it said that it may be too late to conduct such a contest – because so much time and effort has already been spent on the “new” design.
Time spent does not especially mean that we must accept the result. The new design will be another straw on the camel’s back that would further divide our community. There is room for compromise here. But compromise is not defined as a political faction flexing its muscle on the City Council.
Other area cities have been down this road before. We should learn from their mistakes.
Years ago the City of Kansas City, Missouri dumped their logo for a design that looked like four paper clips stacked on top of each other. The public reaction was so negative that the design was scrapped in less than two years. The current design was created by an ad agency that ballyhooed the number of fountains in K.C. being greater than that of Rome or Paris. Hence, the tag line, the city of fountains.
Last year an article in the Kansas City Star exposed the claim was bogus. But the lesson learned is that simply adopting a poorly designed logo (such as the paper clips) was not and is not a wise move.
Trying to create an image that does not fit is also a bad idea. Some marketing analyst at an ad agency probably thought the “city of fountains” tag line was clever. It was also untrue. The end result is a logo that does not fit the city it represents. Ultimately the effect was just the opposite, by leaving the city open to ridicule.
The Raytown area is rich with history and people who want the City of Raytown to succeed. Many want to help in that endeavor. Open the creation of a new logo up to the citizenry – give the people of Raytown a chance to prove themselves.
Hold a contest to learn what the people of Raytown have in mind for a city logo.
The City Council is scheduled to vote on this item at its next meeting, Tuesday, August 21st at Raytown City Hall (meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.). The meeting is open to the public. Any interested Raytowner may address the City Council at a time set aside for public comments at the beginning of the meeting.
Comments
What I may dislike more is that it, like just about everything else that occurs in this city, becomes a stepping stone for partisan, mean-spirited attacks.
I like Greg's idea for a contest. Now, who else can step up with a solution, instead of just another attack?
It's a terrible design, very un-professional looking, with no reflection of our communities history. It was designed with obvious political overtones and motivation, intended as a slap in the face to a large part of our community who choose not to be aligned with the "in" group who has been in power at city hall these last few years.
I like Mr. Walters’s idea regarding the logo. I'm not really sure why we need to change it at all, but if we must, let's get it right. Actually we have many important issues that need to be addressed by our city, and I don’t think the city logo is one of those!
But two of my customers last week had moved to Lee's Summit a couple of years ago, basically because of all the reasons we have mentioned in the past, but here's what they said that was kind of disturbing. They told me that the Lee's Summit schools were a year ahead of Raytown's. They said their children had to play catch up to stay in the grade they were supposed to be in.
I'm not knocking the Raytown school district, but isn't there a standard that Missouri schools have to uphold?
If in fact this is true maybe the school district should concentrate on education instead of buying properties.
When I was forced to move here, I was first considering KC because of lower home prices. I didn't care about the quality of schools because I have no children (except a dog who is my child and medical situation alert).
School taxes in Raytown are 67% of my property taxes which are totally outrageous to be paying close to $1,000 per year! Home prices in Lees Summit are outrageous and the Post Office didn't pass my inspection so I choose Raytown. I wonder what school taxes are like in Lees Summit? I bet they are higher than Raytown.
Andy Whiteman
It got me to thinking.
Ol' Foul Mouth Al Maddox said he was raising money for trees and plants at the park.
Since there are not any new plantings at the park I wonder what he did with the money.
I think this park is too small to properly care for. How does anyone mow with industrial size mowers when short, frequent turns are required?
I don't quite understand its purpose. Is it supposed to be a hang out for drug dealers or gangs like the park to the north attracts? We really need drugs and obnoxious music to activate downtown!
Andy Whiteman
I'm not sucking up to the city but I think the mini park is kind of nice.
Look at it as a start for the downtown, and it sure looks better than it did. Besides it might not be finished yet.
Time marvches on and as the months pass and we make more and more payments to fund the interest on the Folly it does add up. One can only wonder how many chuckholes or broken curbs could be repaired with the money being paid out every thirty days to feed the interest. We can only thank the Diety that the city, in its fiscal
stupidity, didn';t sign an ARM.
Maybe shey should have. Only a fool would fight being evicted from a building with water in the basement, broken windows and nearly every kind of destruction known to man.
As for the new city logo. One word will be adequate to describe this tasteless design--hickish. It
also describes the people who worked on the logo. The fools on
the city cvouncil will probably vote it in because most of them are hicks.
Next time you RRFT people are out in public I suggest you pull up your trouser or slacks and let everyone see your white socks.
The Salamander
I am sure the pocket park is far from finished and can be nice. I noticed the safety hazard long ago when I was talking my dog and stopped to talk to a friend who lives in the apartments to the south. There is a drop off that is as tall as an average man. Hopefully a wall will be put up before someone gets killed. I can see children playing and droping 5 feet!
I agree the park will look nice and be a benefit to downtown provided it is Policed and the wrong crowd is kept away.
Are you using the email address from the city's website? I have had much trouble with emails to the city's site. Mine were getting bounced back as SPAM. These bounce backs were being picked up by my SPAM detector, dumping into the Bulk folder and I didn't discover this for several days! In the meantime I was wondering why I didn't get replies.
I don't know these 2 personally and whether or not they check their city email. You might give them a call and ask if they receive it. I would think if they don't check their email, they shouldn't have an email address. That is only logical. My may not be a question of being technically inclined but a time issue. I have been known to spend over an hour replying to a single email. Your alderpeople may not have seen a need to reply. I think it is a common courtesy. I have received form letters from Congress people saying, "Thank you for your letter, I will keep your opinion in mind when I vote on the issue." That basically says nothing but it shows the courtesy of a response.
One of the alderpeople said something once that really annoyed me. Since I doubted that the city email would go through, I also snail mailed a copy to her. (I never received a reply to either.) Maybe citizens don't deserve this courtesy.
I assume you didn't send it annomymously. I don't respond to anonymous emails and many times delete them without opening because of the viruses coming from unknown senders.
I addressed my issue with emailing city hall to both my email provider and to Mayor Bower. My issue apparently has been resolved, but SPAM filters are tricky: If anyone using the same email server as you has been marked as SPAM, the whole server is blocked including you. That may or may not be the problem with the non-response.
I agree with internet streaming of city meetings. I do NOT waste money on cable either, but strangely I will pay for a DSL connection. The issues of streaming may be expense. It eats a lot of bandwidth. You basically must have at least DSL to received it. You can get it on dial up, but the download is so slow, it will come through in bits and spurts and difficult to view.
I was at the meeting last night and got the impression the logo issue was like the animal control ordinance: "This has been going on for over a year. Lets get it over with."
The person in charge of the committee that created the slogan made a good point for it, but I think it could be worded differently to give it a better meaning.
Since we can change the new logo as warranted, how about; Raytown, "where most of our city leaders couldn't find their ass with both hands". Another appropriate one might be; Raytown, "most of our city leaders are idiots and we are proud of it". Just so the word "Raytown" is included, that is all that is really important; right Alderman “Bird Man” Jim?
The KC Star had an article some time ago about a wall for street art. The photo showed art and not gang symbols. It is one thing to encourage art but here is a difference between art and graffiti. Actually I saw "graffiti" in LA back in the 80's that resembeled art and couldn't understand the objection until I started seeing gang symbols, that I couldn't understand.
As I said this whole logo issue is trivial and the board needs to focus on important issues. I really think it is their way to keep us focused away from anthing important. All we have to do is bitch about a logo and not bad roads, the olde Baptist Church, etc.
Andy Whiteman
Actually, a better description of Alderman Walters would be that he has the guts (or ba_ _s, if you will) to challenge some of the idiotic things that take place at our city council meetings. No, he isn't always right, but he is a large portion of the time.
Greg Walters will talk to and listen to the people.
The last time I saw any of my aldermen was over five years ago and even then only one showed up and he didn't listen to us. There were seven of us that got together to talk to our representatives. (Representatives, sorry, bad choice of words.)
Calling Greg a Jackass in this case should be taken as a good comment.
He is stubborn and determined to do what is right for his ward and Raytown.
It's too bad the only time you hear from the other aldermen is when they are running for office or making decisions that nobody in their ward would approve of.
This is information from the "official" City of Raytown web-site;
Marilyn Fleming - Alderman (Ward V).... Reaching for Tomorrow - Liaison
Jim Aziere - Alderman (Ward II).... Member of the Raytown Reaching for Tomorrow Initiating Committee
Christine White - Alderman (Ward III)... Former member RRFT
Barb Schlapia – Alderman (Ward IV)... Board of Alderman Liaison to the Raytown Reaching for Tomorrow Implementation Committee
DOES THIS STINK TO HIGH HEAVEN, OR WHAT? These people are just not truthful or worthy of our trust!
Once again Mr. Riehle should get his information straight before he speaks. This is just typical of the council people and city hell (sorry, I meant city hall) trying to pull the wool over the citizens eyes.
Mr. Rehile are you ready to apologize for your untruthful, hateful statement regarding the "Reaching for Tomorrow" political group? Just fess up as to what this group really is, Riehle!
I have been told that Al Maddox is going around town asking for money for trees for that park. When that was brought to the board we were under the understanding that all expenses were to be covered by that $8,000.00. As for the trees the city does have a Parks Dept. who can handle that and they don't need help to find the trees.
So you see the park has nothing to do with Al Moddox but it WOULD BE NICE if the city would put a thank you sign dedicated to the person who gave the city the money. I think that is the least we should do. I'm sure the family would appreciate that.
Just so you know, I was against this park. I do think it would be nice to have a park in downtown but it's likely going to be torn down when we get a developer for downtown. We were told it would help to bring developers in if they thought we cared enough to put in this park. So because I knew that the money was from a donation and not tax payers money and if it could possibly help to make our city look more appealing to potential developers for downtown, I did with a lot of yes, no, yes, no, I did vote for it hoping that what we were told would be true.
Sandy Hartwell
The RRFT crowd kept yelping, "keep it simple". Fact is it needed to have details spelled out; otherwise we would be totally at the mercy of the city government to do whatever they wanted, whenever they might want to do it.
It is true that the last administration initiated the charter drive, but then turned around and opposed it when their “selected group” of people didn't dominate the Charter Commission. If they didn't control it, they didn't want it to happen. They even demonized it, put out false and misleading information, and openly campaigned against it after proposing it in the first place.
Where are you? I thought you were an Alderperson until I realized you are no longer sitting up there.
I agree that the city should place a plaque or small monument in memorial to the person who willed the park money to the city.
Andy Whiteman
Why is Maddox collecting to buy trees? Trees are given away about once a year! The pocket park is only big enough for one tree or maybe two at the most. Where is the money really going?
Andy Whiteman
I received no reply.
From talking with some people at city hall, it was explained to me that Miller and Estes work with the department heads to create each department budget and each department submits its numbers as proposed. Then the total package is taken to the finance committee for review.
The finance committee can cut some more, add to, make recommendations, whatever it decides to do with the "proposed" budget. So they have the authority to make Miller aand Estes go back and find funds to keep the pay plans in place for police and EMS, etc.
And, until the finance committee votes to take it to the full board of aldermen, the committee can hold it up for as long as they want until Miller and Estes come up with another plan. Or the committee can vote to take it to the board of alderman as it stands, and let all the alderman rip into it nd send it back to Miller and Estes for another plan.
I would suggest that we contact the members of the finance committee and let them know we aren't happy with the freezes and to hold it up until Miller and Estes redo it. Then contact your aldermen and let them know you don't want it passed until they find money for pay increases.