Changes . . . and other stuff
Changes . . .
Many readers have noted that a counter has been added to the Raytown Report. Just below the counter is a button that reads “view my stats”. You are invited to visit the link to the counter homepage. A wealth of interesting statistical information can be found at the site.
At the same time, it is important that readers know the counter does not provide personal information of any visitor to this page or the counter site.
Another change that will be instituted on this blog will be a no tolerance rule for those who use profanity in their posts. Simply stated, if you are going to post a message, keep the language clean or your post will be deleted. This has not really been a problem for 99% of those who post on this page – a statistic that speaks highly of those who share their comments here.
The People’s Right to Know . . .
A review of the many posts has shown that this site has become a gathering place for those interested in sharing information. One regular contributor, Andy Whiteman, questioned the veracity of some reports that are written.
I visited with former Raytown Post owner and editor Lee Gray about comments like Mr. Whiteman’s. He told me that people generally believe what they want to believe – that the best course of action is to “simply lay out the facts – they will tell their own story.”
I think it is good advice and will continue to publish all that is legally allowed under the law for your consideration.
As to the accuracy of what is written here – as Thomas R Amlie once said, “let’s look at the record.”
The question has already been answered. It was on this page that Raytowners found out the City Administrator was actively looking for another job. It was also on this page that Raytowners learned of the true cost of the HyVee/Walmart/Benetti's/Coldwell Banker tax abatement/TIF schemes.
One issue that has received a lot of attention on this page is the Raytown School District spending close to $200,000 to buy the former Raytown Sewing Machine/Vacuum Building on Blue Ridge Boulevard (next to Raytown High School). Originally the building was to be used to as a warehouse. It has since been discovered the building has serious structural problems. A well-placed source within the School District says City Hall code inspectors estimate the cost of bringing the building up to code at nearly $100,000.
That same source says the School District now plans to raze the building and turn the property into a parking lot.
City Grounds to Re-Open Under New Ownership . . .
The closing of City Grounds has been another hot topic. Sheri Wells, the former owner/operator of City Grounds says she has sold the business to Inge Howard. Look for a grand re-opening of the local bistro in the near future.
And She Said . . .
Ms. Wells has alleged that a highly placed city official used the city’s email to promote her competition’s business. She also has witnesses to the same city official promoting her competition’s business while performing official acts as a city official.
The following excerpt from the Kansas City Star pretty much sums up a reasonable position on a similar matter. Ms. Wells tells me that she has yet to receive any official explanation or apology for the abuse of public office.
From the Kansas City Star . . .
“On February 21, The Kansas City Star published a short story about the one-day suspension of a staffer who was hired to play guitar at Kansas City Councilman Ed Ford’s 55th birthday celebration, which was also a political fundraiser.
That performance violated the newsroom Code of Ethics which states that while staffers are encouraged to “exercise their franchise as citizens to discuss matters of public interest to register and vote,” they should avoid any deeper involvement. That includes “active campaigning” . . .
Comments
Once again, thanks for opening up the blog. I find all sorts of useful (& useless) information as well as very entertaining as well. Sure beats the three 'news' sources currently in town (i.e. Post, Tribune & the falling Star).
Justin Tomac
I don't know what your policy is on promoting other places for opinion, but after seeing your success I decided to start a blog with a broader focus on topics of interest for Greater Kansas City in general. Mine will be less 'hard news' as you report, and more opinion and discussion. Please just keep in mind that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and keep up the good work!
-JNN
What about abrasive topics or subjects that can bring about heated or spirited sparring between some, sometimes the end result can be name calling and degrading or deragatory terminology being used? Is this a mere form of censorship that we are starting to see?
I just figured that I would toss that out for discussion. I don't have a problem with keeping things clean until someone else draws 'first blood' if you will, then any and all is fair game to me.
Sounds like everyone had better be thick skinned to hang with this crowd.
The school district could have saved money if they would have had a professional inspection of the building. $195K is pretty high for a small parking lot! Why did city codes inspect it since the school district is exempt from city codes?
As Juston said, the blog is a better source of news than the 3 newspapers. Even the 2 local papers could never cover the detail that is covered here by nunerous writers. Thank you Greg.
Andy Whiteman
Talk about an agenda! They ask for your comments and then ask which Ward you live in! Check out the button that has comments. Contributors are identified by their initials.
Hmmmmm, I wonder, who would be: TT BH CW VT
Or, for those that need the help:
T-- T--------
B-- H---
C------- W----
V----- T------
If you feel the need to discuss us,
1)At Least Have the Common Courtesy
to SPELL our name CORRECTLY.
2) The CORRECT Spelling is FUNKY MUNKY, not FUNKY MONKEY!!!! and
3) Make sure your FACTS are CORRECT!!
Thank you!
Many Blessings to you XXXXXXXX!!!
Joye Hughes
Owner Namaste Unlimited - Funky Munky Gifts
Justin Tomac
I do wonder why they want Ward numbers.
Better check your SPAM blockers if you give them your email address.
Otherwise you may end up receiving unsolicited email messages about how to vote in Raytown elections.
Of course, they may want the Ward numbers so they can more easily give directions to out-of-towners!
Evidently the school board awarded the construction bid for the
Herndon Career Center to a contractor that pays below area standard wages.
But here's the problem, the awarded contractor's bid was $783,000.00
higher than the low bidder, a local contractor that uses higher standard craftsmen and pays area standard wages.
In other words someone is making a lot of money from the Raytown taxpayers and the quality of the building may be in question.
You want to know why I created the Complaint Free Raytown Campaign!!!
You want to know who I am!!!
You want to know my agenda!!!
You want to know what the Stats are for!!
It is real easy to find out if you REALLY want to know, all you have to do is email or call.
I have even set you up your very on email address,
So EMAIL me at bloggers@namaste-unlimited.com
Or
You can call and setup up an appointment with me, I will be happy to discuss all of it with you personally. You should allow a minimum of 2 hours to 4 hours for this scheduled appointment.
To setup up an appointment with me, call 816.313.1680 or email bloggers@namaste-unlimited.com.
And Thanks for the free advertising for Funky Munky - Raytown's only "Hippie and Feel Good" Store
Joye Hughes
Owner - Namaste Unlimtied - Funky Munky Gifts
NATIONAL NO CALL LIST FOR CELL PHONES
If you want to block telemarketing companies from calling your cell phone – call this number:
1-888-382-1222
It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five years.
You must call from the cell phone number you want to block.
You cannot call from a different number.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE ECOMOMY?
AIN'T IT THE TRUTH!!?
Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock
(MADE IN JAPAN) for 6am.
While his coffeepot
(MADE IN CHINA)
was perking, he shaved with his
electric razor
(MADE IN HONG KONG).
He put on a
dress shirt
(MADE IN SRI LANKA),
designer jeans
(MADE IN SINGAPORE)
and
tennis shoes
(MADE IN KOREA)
After cooking his breakfast in his new
electric skillet
(MADE IN INDIA)
he sat down with his
calculator
(MADE IN MEXICO)
to see how much he could spend today. After setting his
watch
(MADE IN TAIWAN)
to the radio
(MADE IN INDIA)
he got in his car
(MADE IN GERMANY)
filled it with GAS
(from Saudi Arabia)
and continued his search
for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.
At the end
of yet another discouraging
and fruitless day
checking his
Computer
(Made In Malaysia),
Joe decided to relax for a while.
He put on his sandals
(MADE IN BRAZIL)
poured himself a glass of
wine
(MADE IN FRANCE)
and turned on his
TV
(MADE IN INDONESIA),
and then wondered
why he can't find
a good paying job
in AMERICA ...
Y'all gotta Keep this one circulating, please.!
Good one and agree wholeheartedly!
Now for something to think about.
I am just curious as to where he obtained the money to purchase all of these foreign made items, including the wine? Probably invested in the Stock Market when he had a job and helped drive the insanity to offshore because he was not getting his Media hyped 10-20% ROI so he reallocated his stock/mutual funds to "Wall Street Picks of the Week". Which in turn sends an indirect/direct message to the CFO/CEO of the major corporations that they are not giving the maximum shareholder benefit, now the CFO/CEO does something drastic to shore up the company in the short term like offshore & lay off all the employees.
Justin Tomac
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp
See you there.
Sandy Hartwell
You are right on the money! Why do you think the union is picketing the Raytown School District! I shows that there are to many "brother-n-law" deals that go on in the school district. I just can't wait till they move into the new Herdon Center and see in the near future all the inferior construction work that will have to be fixed. That will probably take another "tax increase" to come up with the money. Just like the Lander's Farm on Noland Road that the district bought and uses for some sort of "Warehouse". Isn't amazing that Terry Landers is on the school board? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?????
They should be paying the area's prevailing wage and fringes, including health insurance and retirement benefits. But they are not. I believe that a rat, or non union contractor is performing construction work for the General Contractor on the Herndon Career Center.
The Carpenters Union has an ongoing labor dispute with this particular contractor, named Enterprise Interiors. Excel, which is the General Contractor, was not even the lowest bidder for the job. The lowest bidder, a local general contractor, actually pays their subcontractors area standard wages and benefits, but did not get the job. Excel's base bid was $783,000 more than the low bidder.
Watch out for shoddy workmanship!
Also, I thought that the Board of Education was a lot smarter than that, especially knowing that local Labor Unions are contributing monetarily to the ongoing programs at the Herndon Career Center as well as funding from the US Department of Labor. Thanks a lot C-2 District! Helping to tear down working conditions, wages, and benefits for all working families here locally. Shame on you C-2 School Board!
I am glad that my kids will not be attending any classes at that scab building!
Lee Gray
Just like Smith or Jones. How many are NOT directly related to one another, they just happen to have the same last name.
T-- T--------
Tim Truesdale
B-- H---
Ben Helt
C-------- W----
Christine White
V----- T------
Vickie Turnbow
Anyone want to do a crossword puzzle?
Anon 7:24 AM, I am not good at crosswords. I only got one name correctly. Thanks for the answers. (I haven't seen that blog anyway but if I wrote on it, I would use my dog's initials--not mine.)
Andy Whiteman
I made a typo yesterday regarding the address for the caucus. It is 9904 E. 62 St. instead of 9902 but there will be signs on old Raytown Rd.. Sorry about the mistake. Sandy H.
of degrees it doesn't increase your common sense
as shown by most of our leaders.
The school district spends money like they are playing
the game "Those who die with the most toys wins."
(In this case property) Along with awarding bids that are
way over the lowest bidder.
I was told this morning that the low bidder didn't have all
the paper work turned in or correctly done, but common sense
would tell you that in order to save the taxpayers three quarters of a million dollars you tell them to do it right. Not tell them what to bid, that would be illegal. But tell them to do the paper work right or point out their error if that was the case. Anything to save the people money
and get it done right.
I just don't get it. Why aren't people upset about the way things
are being done around here?
Elected officials are supposed to watch out for the taxpayers.
City officials are supposed to promote business, neighborhood
growth and safety.
Maybe I'm not smart enough to get it. Could someone please explain it to me? I get just a little crazier every time I try to understand what the heck
these people are thinking.
District Responds to Union Allegations
The Carpenter's Union has a current labor dispute with Enterprise Interiors, Inc., who is a sub-contractor for Excel Constructors, Inc. Excel serves as the Raytown C2 School District's general contractor for the Herndon Career Center construction project.
The dispute alleges that Enterprise does not pay area standard wages. The Carpenters Union also has concerns that Excel's use of Enterprise is unfair.
The State of Missouri requires public entities, such as the Raytown C2 School District, to uphold Missouri's Prevailing Wage Law. This law requires contractors to pay workers a minimum wage rate set by the Division of Labor in an Annual Wage Order. The bid specifications for Herndon Career Center construction project require all contractors to adhere to the Missouri Prevailing Wage Law. To ensure compliance, contractors submit pay applications and certified payrolls to the architect and the owner of the construction project.
Additionally, the Carpenter's Union alleges that Excel did not provide the low bid for the project, claiming that another company's bid was lower.
An apparent low bid was provided by another company. The bid was found to be non-compliant for the following reasons:
- No bid was provided for alternates 1, 2 & 5, which are related to mechanical systems and ground source wells
- The company had not been involved in three projects of equal size and complexity in the last five years per the requirements of the bid specifications
- A sub-contractor to be retained by the bidder to install ground source heat pump systems was not properly qualified to perform the work
After conferring with the architect for the Herndon Career Center construction project, Excel Constructors, Inc. was identified as the lowest responsible bidder.
Might want to check and virus scan. Took me six tries to find current comments.
That is what those administrators with multiple (useless in my opinion) degrees are doing!
*******
Re: Prevailing Wage Law: Does it have any relationship to Union Scale, or is it the prevailing non-union wage? There could be a lot of difference between the two.
Anon 10:23 PM, I noticed that this blog now has a pop-up. The 1st time it tried to pop-up, it was blocked by my security system. Anyone with a pop-up blocker or Windows security features needs to click "allow all pop ups from this site." I suspect that may be your TBL. At least it was mine.
Andy Whiteman
Prevailing wage may include both wages and benefits. It encompasses the compensation for a worker given for performed labor.
In the Davis-Bacon Act all federal government construction contracts, and most contracts for federally assisted construction over $2,000, must include provisions for paying workers on-site no less than the locally prevailing wages and benefits paid on similar projects.
In the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act the federal government set the minimum wage equal to the prevailing wage in an area.
That should help shed some light on things Andy.
"From the Kansas City Star......"
It mentions a "Code of ethics." This brought to mind
a question. Does the City of Raytown have a "code of ethics?"
And who enforces it, if there is one?
As for school board, you can choose to not vote for any incumbents, but that means you won't be voting at all. The candidates are three current incumbents and a fourth who was once on the board and is running only to give an alternative to voters (meaning bringing back old incumbent to replace new incumbent). If you really want change on the board, you are going to have to get off this blog and get out there and find candidates that share your views, get them to run and support them financially. Griping here changes nothing!
According to the Star the bid originally went toa firm owned by a member of the School Board. A fellow named Steve Mullaly.
Was he the lowest bid? Not even close. Mullaly's bid was 38% higher than the lower bid.
In case you wonder why the bid was rejected, read on. The lower bid, Prestige Photography did not meet all the bid specs.
One specification required was that the successful bidder must have previously provided similar service to a district with at least 7,000 students.
Think about what you just readc. Is it any wonder the School District is and has the reputation of being the most money-wasting bureaucracy in the area?
It is obvious, with specs such as the one item outlined, the District wanted to give the bid to a selected individual. I wonder why they didn't also require the successful bidder's first name to begin with an "S" and his last with an "M".
I also wonder if Supt. Dale Houck or his new replacement would ever have been hired had either been required to meet a seven or ten thousand student requirement.
Give them more money in April. They will find a way to waste it!
When I was working as a Project/Program Manager for a publicly held company I wrote a lot of Bid Spec's and at times wrote it in a way that only the 'management preferred' bidder won. After reading the Bid controversy in the Post last night, it appears the same was done in this case...my question is, you have to have a Website in order to be qualified? Give me a break! How does that impact the quality of the photo, unless you want all the students to order on-line.
Justin Tomac
This morning a friend of mine showed me the section in the
Raytown web site with the ethics lists. But the real question
is will they use the rules against each other......doubtful.
In sec. 14-16......Conflicts of interest, it states,
"No person in the municipal service who has the power
or duty to perform an official act shall:
(3) Grant any special consideration, treatment, or advantage
to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other
citizen."
This is in Ord. No. 3686-91 08/06/91 and Ord. No.4267-97
05/06/97.
So can that person in the municipal service who has the power
or duty to perform an official act tell us all again where we should
get a cup of coffee or what business to patronize?