One of our local physicians sent the following video.
Pretty interesting choreography – Enjoy!
Car Remains Key Clue In Raytown
Slaying KMBC.com
A Metro Squad is no longer working to
investigate the slaying of a Raytown man that happened early Sunday along Blue
Ridge Boulevard.
Harry Stone, 60, was out jogging past a gas station near the bridge over Missouri Highway 350 when a passenger in a passing car fired a shot and killed him.
Raytown police said they're still trying to find the car involved in the case. They released surveillance video of a newer-model sedan that they're looking for. VIEW VIDEO
KMBC 9 News showed images of the car to appraisers, technicians, collision repair technicians and body shop managers. All agreed that they saw some front-end damage to the car.
They said they believe the car is a foreign model, but they said it was harder to be more specific because of words that are superimposed over the surveillance pictures.
Police asked anyone with information about the car or the shooting to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS
Harry Stone, 60, was out jogging past a gas station near the bridge over Missouri Highway 350 when a passenger in a passing car fired a shot and killed him.
Raytown police said they're still trying to find the car involved in the case. They released surveillance video of a newer-model sedan that they're looking for. VIEW VIDEO
KMBC 9 News showed images of the car to appraisers, technicians, collision repair technicians and body shop managers. All agreed that they saw some front-end damage to the car.
They said they believe the car is a foreign model, but they said it was harder to be more specific because of words that are superimposed over the surveillance pictures.
Police asked anyone with information about the car or the shooting to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS
When Major
League Baseball visits the Kansas City area for the All-Star Game this summer,
Raytown wants to make sure visitors stop by. The city is planning to rebrand
itself this summer in order to lure more business during the festivities.
Lufti's Fried Fish is cooking up some of its signature fried dishes.
"The fish, once you bite into it, it will bite you back," said Lufti's Verletta Martin.
Lufti's is one of 30 businesses that are cooking up special deals for the All-Star Game.
"Raytown is not where people expect to come for events. But, we do have nice places for you to come hang out," said Martin. READ MORE
Lufti's Fried Fish is cooking up some of its signature fried dishes.
"The fish, once you bite into it, it will bite you back," said Lufti's Verletta Martin.
Lufti's is one of 30 businesses that are cooking up special deals for the All-Star Game.
"Raytown is not where people expect to come for events. But, we do have nice places for you to come hang out," said Martin. READ MORE
The Paul Livius Report
Board of Alderman Meeting 05-15-12
The Invocation
was given by Steve Jones of the Brooking Heights Baptist Church.
Mayor Bower
proclaimed May 18 as Raytown Night at the Royals. He
proclaimed May 20 – 26 to be Public Works Week.
He also proclaimed May 20 – 26 to be emergency Medical Service Week.
Mayor Bower said
the death of Harry Stone to be a very sad event in Raytown. The hearts of the whole community goes out to
his family. Mayor Bower said the police
and Metro Squad were working very hard to find the people who committed this
horrible crime.
The City
Administrator said the City Clean Up went well.
There was heavy traffic for the first 2 hours, but by 10:30 am there was
no line on Raytown Road. This year,
residents filled 35 dumpsters, compared to 47 last year.
- Alice Stohl came before the Board to report this year’s Senior Expo will have 27 vendors and lots of wonderful food. This is a good opportunity for people to see City Hall.
- Chief Jim Lynch introduced Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp. Sheriff Sharp said the cooperation between the Sheriff’s department and the Raytown Police Department had increased.
Mark Loughry
told the Board the annual City Financial audit went well. The auditors are Cochran, Head and Vick. They reported they found several deficiencies
in the City’s accounting. Mr. Loughry
told the Board he agreed there were several problems, all related to the prior Finance
Director. He is actively working to
correct the problems.
- The Board heard a resolution authorizing and approving the purchase ofparts and certain vehicle repairs from Bob Sight Ford in Lee’s Summit in excess of $15,000.00. Alderman Ertz said the City needs to review the purchasing policy with the staff. He said we have 10 auto repair shops in Raytown. He asked why we can’t bid for vehicle repair from Raytown businesses. Alderman Lightfoot asked Andy Noll if this was sent out to bid to Raytown businesses in the past. Mr. Noll said the city chose Bob Sight Ford, but Dick Smith is sometimes less expensive. It depends on the availability of parts. Alderman Van Buskirk said the City should use Raytown businesses more often. The City Administrator told the Board this resolution was about spending money, not purchasing practices. If they wanted to change the purchasing procedures, that was a discussion for another day. Alderman Lightfoot said he would love to see the City buy only from Raytown businesses, but they have to consider the best way to spend taxpayer money. He said we would all like to buy American, but we still buy things at Walmart. The resolution was passed.
- The Board passed a resolution authorizing certain property owned by the City as Surplus. There are 4 vehicles, 1999 GMC C-3500, 2003 Ford F-550, 2012 Ford F-150 and Ford F-550. There are also 2 Toro mowers no longer used by the Public Works department.
- The Board passed a resolution authorizing and approving a consulting services agreement with Milliman Inc. for actuarial consulting services in an amount not to exceed $12,000.00. This is a consulting company for the Police Pension fund.
- The Board passed a resolution authorizing and approving the purchase of a field training officer system from Crown Pointe Technologies in the amount of $5,490.00, the purchase of two wireless transceivers and equipment from Setcom Corporation in the amount of $5,500.00 and the purchase of audio/visual camera equipment and accessories from B & H in the amount of $2,500.00 for a total amount not to exceed $13,490.00.
- The Board passed a resolution authorizing and approving the purchase of digital P25 capable/compliant mobile and portable radios and equipment from Motorola Solutions, Incorporated in an amount not to exceed $191,000.00.
- The Board passed an ordinance amending the first amendment to the first
- amended and restated Raytown Live Tax Increment financing plan and approving Project 2 as a redevelopment project and adopting tax increment financing.
- The Board heard the first reading on an ordinance authorizing and approving a municipal agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for sidewalk improvements along 350 Highway.
The Board moved
to a closed session.
Purchasing
Policy Should be Revisited BY GREG WALTERS
Ward 4 Alderman
Pat Ertz made some comments at last Tuesday’s meeting of the Raytown City
Council that may shake up how the city awards contracts to service providers.
Ertz was unhappy
that local merchants were being passed over in favor of competing contractors
not located in Raytown. He argued that the city should give consideration to
the fact that local business owners directly support the city through property
and business taxes.
Most of the
discussion centered on automotive services. Public Works Director Andy Noll,
who manages the automotive bids for the city, told the Board that sometimes
local bids are lower. However, his recommendation remained with the out of town
bidder.
A number of
Aldermen spoke in agreement with Mr. Ertz’s suggestion that local vendors be
used. But when the roll call was called Alderman Ertz was the only vote* against
a resolution awarding a $15,000.00 contract to Bob Sight Ford of Lee’s Summit.
*Aldermen Melson
and Creamer were absent.
A strong
argument can be made for supporting local businesses in the city’s purchasing
practices. One easy step would be to be more concise on the contract packages.
Mr. Noll told Board members that sometimes Dick Smith Ford of Raytown is less
expensive than the bid price of Bob Sight Ford of Lee’s Summit.
The fault lies
in using an “all or nothing” bid procedure that can end up costing the city
more money.
Another point
that should be factored in is the expense and time used to take cars to an out
of town location. This can be especially costly if police personnel are used to
shuttle the vehicles back and forth from the city.
Fit Bottomed Girls
The joke goes that those who can’t do, teach. And while I’m not going to
agree with that entirely for obvious reasons (although I do think that
in many ways we’re drawn to things that we love and want to do better), I
will say that one thing is definitely true: those who teach, learn.
Like big time. Since I’ve started... Continue readingTo post a comment on this blog click on the word comments on the line directly below this sentence.
Comments
The car in the video is too small to see and appears to be a widely available car. The needle in the haystack lies with spotting a car with the damage that was NEVER made public. Why not? The public might spot the damage on a vehicle. BTW: I heard on TV tonight that a reward has been offered but it didn't state how much. The murder sounds gang related and hopefully a member of the gang could turn his buddy in and collect $$$$.
I agree that purchases and services should be obtained from Raytown merchants (with the lowest bid) as long as it isn't Walmart. This issue came up at a previous BOA meeting and it was stated that purchases must be made under the regional government contract. To me that is a stupid reason. Requests for bids should be posted publicly. I don't understand the reason for buying from a Lees Summit merchant if Dick Smith has a lower bit. It is idiotic to do this.
Andy Whiteman
who are passed over for services can't
choose who they pay their taxes to.
This town has never supported local businesses.
They have done their level best to run
a lot of businesses out of town and have succeeded
to do so in many cases.
Our leaders want us to support them and this town
but then they don't support local business.
This should be no surprise to anyone. This town loves
out-of-towners!
No wonder so many of Raytowns businesses have moved
to Lee's Summit. It's the only way they can get any
support from Raytown.
There are factors other than the actual bid that should be considered. For example if the city has to pick up an item or to take a vechicle in for service, obviously it cost less to go to a Raytown merchant in both time and distance traveled than to go to Lees Summit or elsewhere. This is especially important if 2 city employess are required to make the trip (i.e. drop off a vehicle and bring the other employee back.)
Andy Whiteman
Who works for whom and who cannot do the right thing and move is family to Raytown!
I think when trips are needed out to Lee Summit the head of public works and the city administrator need to do it after 5:00 PM as they are both salary employees who don't live in Raytown and don't understand that there are other cost like employee time and travel.
So it is time they both learn the hard way what a salary employee must do at time and maybe next time the will do the right thing.
Sunday evening I observed an officer parked at the office building 63rd St and Blue Ridge Tfwy apparently working traffic. If you are looking and don't see any on the road, they may be off the street working traffic.
Tonight I observed a dark blue or black squad car in motion turning from Blue Ridge Bl/Tfwy onto 63rd St. They must have a new color. This was a black car with white lettering. Not really visible and in my opinion an accident waiting to happen. I have a black car and have added yellow florescent tape for visibility so some idiot doesn't claim that he didn't see me.
Gee I saw 2 in 2 days and wasn't really looking!
Andy Whiteman
You sure can tell who is wearing the big boy pants at City Hall.
Andy Whiteman
Andy Whiteman
That's an interesting article about Lufti's Fish. Will the city be doing anything else to spruce up the area for the All Star Game?
in education of who is elected they, we will
always have problems. I will never understand
why we let underqualifyed elected officials
tell businesses how they should run their
businesses and how the police Department
should be run. It's no wonder why we are plagued
with bad decisions that have hurt this town.
By the way, the City Administrator works for
the Board of Aldermen, or at least that's the
way it was designed. But, for the last fifteen
years or more it has been the other way around.
That's what you get when.....read the top of
this article again.
Andy Whiteman
I wonder why 1:48PM mentioned car dealerships? Raytown has many ASE Certified shops than can perform the same work usually at lower cost. They can obtain parts from a dealership or use aftermarket parts for greater savings. In all of my years in Raytown I have had to take my Suzuki to an OP dealership because the local dealership(s) only once when an out of business local dealer, a local shop (I no longer do business with had a rude employee who want to be bothered) and the Lees Summit Dealership I was referred to by the out of business dealership was incompetent to do the work.
Other than that I have been very satisfied with a local Raytown auto repair shop who also sells tires at a good price.
Andy Whiteman
I would challenge the PW Director on his decision to go with an out of town dealership. It is just plain wrong...
give local businesses a chance to bid
on repairs or products being paid for by taxpayer
dollars. Let's face it, City Hall works
for the taxpayer. Although they never follow
that creed.
On the other hand, if a local vendor or shop
is stupidly higher, then out of town vendors
should be tried.
Anonymous 1:48,
We have all watched what our leaders have done
with our tax dollars. We all also know if they save
money one place they will blow it somewhere else.
It might just as well stay in our city.
Maybe they let the city administrators call the shots back home, but we don't play that game here as well elect people to do that.
We have fought and won many wars to keep things working were the elected people speak for us and not the appointed individuals.
So if some appointed individual doesn't like how it works here in America they best just move back home!
Please keep in mind, which if educated in Raytown is hard to do as shown by our very own Board of Alderman.
$700 is not a true $700 savings.
I will try to keep it simple for you and those that are slow with math.
The drive to Lee’s Summit will add an addition on at least 15 minutes each way for the associates who are sent out of town to have a vehicle worked on. This means for a full trip to take and pickup the vehicle we are talking at least one hour. Depending on whom we are sending from public works we are talking $35 an hour to $15.00 an hour and that is based on actual pay from over four years ago. Remember our fine city gave out several raises in that time frame with at least one being 5%. If we average those pay values we are looking at $25.00, but we have to double that as two associates are used to complete the task so we now are spending $50.00 per service issue. However, that still is not a true cost impact for the associate as we have to keep in mind that those two associates are now not able to do their normal jobs, which we have to double the $50.00 to account for this, which now has the associate cost at $100.00 per incident. Now that doesn’t account for millage. Being these are public works vehicles or so we are lead to believe we will guess they get 10 miles to the gal these means 2 vehicles at 3 trips full trips or 60 miles. This translates to 6 times the current average price of gas, which we will say is $3.30 a gal or $19.80, which to keep things simple we will round up to $20.00 this also accounts for a slight increase in gas cost.
Wow!!! One service incident now cost an additional $120.00 to take the business out of Raytown.
If we truly only have one service incident we are only saving $580.00, but are we sure it is only one service incident! Just think a few trips to pick up parts and a few more service incidents and we are loosing money.
It is time that those who believe we have professionals working at city hall vet the information they are recommending to verify what the hidden cost are and that those cost will not bit us as I sure appears this one will!
Lets turn things around and REQUIRE ALL TIE WEARING CHAIR WARMERS TO LIVE IN RAYTOWN! It is time to stop this foolishness.
Andy Whiteman
As for your calculations of gas mileage, you left out wear and tear on the vehicles. I think we need to use the IRS figure for vehicle mileage. You have figured on the low side on both salary and vehicle expense.
This brings me back to my comment: Lets turn things around and REQUIRE ALL TIE WEARING CHAIR WARMERS TO LIVE IN RAYTOWN! It is time to stop this foolishness.
Better yet I would like to see more business people on the BOA. I can only think of one board member who actually owns a business. There are others who work in a business or have high ranking titles in a business which is not the same as owning a business.
Andy Whiteman
We all need to thank Alderman Ertz for standing up for businesses in Raytown and asking the department heads to explain why not shop Raytown first.
We also need to encourage Alderman Lightfoot into working the votes to put our city administrator on notice about the fact the board was elected to run the city and he works at the pleasure of the board not the other way around.
Also if I was getting ready to run for mayor I would make sure that no TIF was going to hurt any small business in Raytown, which I have had enough small business complain to me about.
The time is now…
Come on get real!!!
Any tie wearing chair warmer who refuses to allow the board to address an issue or presents only one option will quickly find that his services aren't needed any more.
Andy Whiteman
Would you also agree with Anon 5/24 @ 10:05 pm that we need to combine the city collectors job with the city marshall as it too saves the city money?
Andy Whiteman
Obviously those who borrow to go to college are wasting money if they won't make close to $25. My mother wanted me to go to college. I had no clue why especially since I had no career goal. All I would have had is a useless sheepskin. I am sure glad that I wasted only a 1-1/2 years in college.
My wife went to college because of her parent's demands. After 5 years (extra year due to transfers) the degree qualified her for a little over $7 per hour working at a State Park. Another waste of 5 years. She and I both had much better jobs without a degree.
Andy Whiteman
I recomend that you go up to city hall and ask for the list of city employees and their salaries, which must under state law be provied.
You might want to have some depends on when you read it as you will justs...
It is so nice to know who the good old boys are taking care and who is getting taken advantage of
Andy Whiteman
Also remember, these same businesses either pay personal property tax, real estate tax, or a lease that includes the tax that support the schools and other agencies here in Raytown.