Fireworks Reminder / Raytown Report History

Raytown BOA Meeting May 17, 2011

Sorry I was unable to post the May 3rd meeting of the Raytown Board of Aldermen. I was down with the flu and simply did not have the strength to put the report together.

Here is this week's report on the what transpired at the May 27, 2011 meeting of the Raytown Board of Aldermen.

Keep those cards and letters coming folks! - Paul Livius
 
Mayor Protem Jim Aziere called the meeting to order.  After the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Aziere presented a proclamation to the Raytown Public Works department in recognizing of Public Works week.  He also recognized the Emergency Medical Service week.

During the public comments, Ms. Evelyn Anderson asked why resident were not notified of the potentially dangerous situation during the police standoff last week.  She said she didn’t know about the problem until she turned on the news and saw her apartment complex.  She tried to leave for work, but was directed to return to her apartment until the situation was under control.

Mr. Andy Whiteman commented that Raytown has good Public Works and Police Departments.  However, he reported to the Board of Alderman four years ago that the 6200 block of Willow was unsafe.  He said it is still unsafe and wanted to know when the problem would be solved.

Ms. Marilyn Gray reported that while at REAP, she noticed a white truck pull in the parking lot.  Several times during the week, she noticed the same truck following her around Raytown.  She spotted a police officer sitting in his car at Walgreen’s and tried to report the problem.  He asked her if she came from Grandview, or perhaps 47^th and Troost.  She told the officer that she was a Raytown resident and didn’t feel safe due to the stalker.  Mr. Aziere told Ms. Gray that public safety was important to the Board of Aldermen, but that the open comment portion of the meeting was for citizens to bring city business before the Board.  If she feels unsafe, she should talk with the police, not the Board of Aldermen.

Mahesh Sharma, the City Administrator, reported to the Board that there will be a blood drive on Friday, May 20.  Also, the goal setting session will start on May 31 and continue on June 14.  He will provide detail to the Board at a later date.

A resolution was brought before the Board that would reappoint John Ness to the Policemen’s Retirement Fund.  Christine White stated that she was uncomfortable appointing anyone to the Retirement Fund until after the goal setting session.  Joe Creamer said that John Ness was an outstanding citizen and had done a lot for the City of Raytown.  He thought the Board should reappoint Mr. Ness to the Retirement Fund Board.  Shane Pardue said that the Board should reappoint Mr. Ness so the Retirement Fund Board would not be short one person.  He reminded the Board that reorganization might not happen. Mr. Aziere said that even though Mr. Ness’ term had expired, he would stay on the Retirement Fund Board unless removed by a vote of the Board of Alderman.

The Board voted to transfer $4,895 from the Miscellaneous items to Lab Fees.  There was no cost to the taxpayers.  Chief Lynch said he hoped these funds would carry the Department through the end of the budget year.

Andy Noll, Public Works Director, reported that Miller Paving had defaulted on their contract with the city for the concrete repairs.  He asked that the city enter into a contract with Solid Construction Solutions in order to finish the projects. 

The first reading of the Bill authorizing the City to enter into an agreement that would provide bicycle and pedestrian trail along 350 Highway from Blue Ridge Blvd to Maple.  Andy Noll said that the total cost of the project would be $643,000.  A grant from the Federal Government would pay for 75% of the construction.  The city would have to fund approximately $151,000, plus the $60,000 engineering cost.   

Charlotte Melson said that we need bike paths, but this one will end at Maple.  She asked what happens to the bike rider when they get to Maple.  Mr. Noll said the bike rider have to ride on 350 Highway.  Bill Van Buskirk* pointed out that the bike path is only 7/10 of a mile.  Since 350 Highway is already heavily congested, the bike path will create a hazard on the highway.  He said the bike path would be a deterrent to traffic. 

The taxpayers of Raytown would have to spend $200,000 on this project.  He thought that money should be used for street improvements, street lights, or sidewalks in residential areas.  He said that the 83^rd street bridge needed attention, as did 79^th Street and 59^th Street.  He urged the Board to forget about the grant because there were better uses for the City’s money.

Mr. Aziere asked Mr. Noll if the bike path would make 350 Highway unsafe.  Mr. Noll said the MoDot will have the final say on any design, and would not approve an unsafe design.  Mr. Aziere asked if there had been a study to find out the true number of pedestrian traffic on 350 Highway.  Mr. Noll said there had not been any study.

* This is a clarification from Alderman Van Buskirk; his suggestion that it could create traffic hazards was due to the elimination of the shoulder on the roadway and not necessarily the addition of the path. This would create huge traffic problems when vehicles break down or are involved in accidents. It would make it very dangerous for police officers, EMS personnel, and firemen working vehicular accidents or emergency medical situations on the roadway. It would also make it extremely difficult for emergency vehicles to respond to a situation on that roadway (no place for cars to pull over), or emergency vehicles needing to use that roadway to get to another location, especially during rush hour traffic. This highway carries a tremendous amount of traffic, which appears to be increasing all of the time. He is not opposed to improvements on the highway or to adding a sidewalk along side the highway, it is just that this particular plan is not what is best for our city at this time.

Deja Vu by Greg Walters

Someone once said that if you wait long enough you will see history repeat itself. Sometimes the wait is shorter than you would you expect.

This morning while reading the KC Star I came across an article entitled "Extra Eyes on Code Violations". . . . to read the story use this link Extra Eyes on Code Violations. . . . tells how the City of Kansas City, Missouri is seeking volunteers to help find and document code violations within their city. 

David Park, Director of Neighborhood Services said "It's a great partnership between the neighborhoods and the city."

Deja vu!

It was just four years ago that a small number of Raytown citizens went to Mayor David Bower and volunteered to help identify code violations in Raytown. They were concerned owith decreased value of neighborhood properties and increased crime that comes when city maintenance codes are not properly enforced.

Bower rebuffed their offer with an exclamation that he was not going to use "Gestapo tactics" to enforce codes.

Seems those good Raytowners that approached the Mayor were just ahead of their time. 

I urge you to read the story. If it works in Kansas City, it can work in Raytown.

Bits and Pieces by Greg Walters

A Bicycle/Pedestrian pathway along of 350 Highway is in the planning stages. The pathway would run from the western city limits to Maple Street (across from HyVee) and would be on the south side of the east bound lane of 350 Highway.

The pathway would be 10 feet wide and is funded, in the most part, through a federal grant. 

The first reading of the bill funding the bicycle/pedestrian pathways is scheduled for the May 17^th meeting of the Raytown Board of Aldermen.

Last year sidewalks were built along Blue Ridge Cutoff along the city’s western boundary. That money for the sidewalks was part of the Federal Stimulus Package.

As summer draws near many Raytown homeowners show off their gardening ability. We plan to take some time to visit neighborhoods and take some pictures of that talent to showcase on the Raytown Report. If you have any pictures you would like to see published, feel free to email them to us at gregtwalters@sbcglobal.net

You don’t have to sign your name, and our space is literally unlimited. Why not share with your fellow Raytowners what you have to show off!

The Fourth of July is less than six weeks away. This year should be an exceptional Fourth of July in Raytown. According to Matt Mace, Raytown’s Fire Marshall, no less than nine Raytown non-profit organizations have applied for permits to sell fireworks.

Fireworks sales are allowed in Raytown from June 29^th through the Fourth of July. The shooting of fireworks in celebration of our nation’s birthday is limited to July 4^th.

Finally, we received the picture at left in the mail last week along with a request asking us to see if anything can be done about it. It is of a stack of tires at an abandoned house located at 6240 Hunter. The tires are a health hazard as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We have forwarded a copy of the picture and the complain to the Property Codes Enforcement office at Raytown City Hall.  

ASK PETE  A column dedicated to gardening

Garden Pests

By now, you may have enough growth in your vegetable and flower garden to furnish a meal for rabbits, deer and other critters.   Some flowers seem to attract deer and of course rabbits are known for their taste in lettuce and one can never forget the pesky squirrels.  Most dedicated gardeners will have stories to tell and many different cures or preventive measures.

Sometimes you will find that some product will work for a while, then as the critters become accustomed to the product, another product will need to be applied.  Most repellents will use one of three methods.  You will find that a ’hot pepper’ solution will be one method and you can make your own using off the shelf peppers and a water mix.  Another solution will use a mix that includes eggs.  As a deterrent, coyote urine or urine of other wild animals may be mixed so that you may spray your crop.

When animal pests interfered with the reforestation of our mountain areas, a product was developed and it goes by the name of Plantskydd.  You may find that this is one of the best items to use and since it has a dried blood as part of its mix, it also acts as a foliar fertilizer.  In addition, it is approved as a ’organic’ product and we can use it without any fear.

Although this product works for deer, sometimes we feel the need to resort to fencing for deer.  There are a number of deer fences including electric fence.  Deer can jump high, but they have a problem with jumping high and long.  The simplest fence will have a slant and this will deter the deer from jumping.

Looking forward to next week, it is time to start thinking of the small creatures that eat our plants, the bugs.

Don’t Sweat It! By Jenn Walters

3 Comments

There’s little I love more than a good run or high-energy kickboxing class where you leave completely covered and dripping with sweat. There’s something about being drenched that signals—to me—that I’ve had a really good workout, really given it my all. But I’m not normal. I know that for most people, especially those who don’t like exercise, sweating has a big ick factor to it.

Sweat can get in your eyes, it can make you smelly, and it can really mess up your hair. And let’s face it: Some people hate sweating so much that they don’t like to work out. But don’t throw out your workout with the sweat puddles. Even though heart-pumping and sweat-inducing high-intensity exercise is often touted for its health and weight-loss benefits, low-intensity workouts have their perks, too.

In fact, a three-month study from the University of Queensland in Australia found that subjects who did Tai Chi (a graceful mix of gentle exercise, stretching and meditation) regularly for 90 days—without any high-intensity activity—had decreases in blood pressure, blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. Not to mention that they also reported lower levels of depression, slept better, had more energy, and dealt with stress more easily.

Read on for 8 workouts you’ll love if you hate to sweat!

To read more of Jenn's thoughts on life style choices use this link Fit Bottomed Girls

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