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.
38 comments:
Raytown needs some motels to draw tourist $$$$ not only for the All Stars but for all events at the stadium and elsewhere!
The car in the video is too small to see and appears to be a widely available car. The needle in the haystack lies with spotting a car with the damage that was NEVER made public. Why not? The public might spot the damage on a vehicle. BTW: I heard on TV tonight that a reward has been offered but it didn't state how much. The murder sounds gang related and hopefully a member of the gang could turn his buddy in and collect $$$$.
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
It's too bad that the local companies
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.
I think the question should be reworded slightly to "Should the City of Raytown give preferential treatment to local vendors if the local vender has the lowest bid?"
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
Are you kidding me the Board of Alderman backed down when the city administrator (a non-resident) told them what was the descusion topic.
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.
You do the community a huge injustice by not putting the tax payer's dollars back into the community. This reflects very poorly on Raytown CityHall, but also clearly shows all of us that Out of Town Department Heads have no loyality to Raytown business or citizens. This is a slap in the face to local businesses from CityHall, yet again. Thank you to the Aldermen who stood up for local businesses. Shame on the rest of the bobble heads.
For those who are tracking RPD presence:
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 hit the nail on the head about the city council bowing to the City Administrator. He tells them not to discuss the matter. The tuck their tails and say "yes sir".
You sure can tell who is wearing the big boy pants at City Hall.
Pat, I totally agree with your comment(May 21, 2012 7:41 AM) about freedom of speech, but anonymous would have a difficult time proving his case if he was discriminated against or fired. I wrote letters to the editor and my previous employer put them into my Personnel folder with a note, "Do not reinstate this person." This was hidden from me when I viewed my OPF but I discovered it years later when I was denied employment. Who knows what others may do?
Andy Whiteman
The next BOA meeting should have a closed session to address the actions of the City Administrator and decide once and for all who is the boss. It sure appears the CA is the boss.
Andy Whiteman
There's little doubt as to who runs the Board meetings. I've watched enough meetings to see the Mayor and his out of town department heads dismiss discussion because its "not on the agenda". And woe unto anyone sitting on that Board who dares to challenge that publicly. What is worse that you seldom see Board members stand together on an issue. Oh sure they will mouth platitudes about how they agree with someone else but when it comes to their voting look for them to line up like good little ducks in a row.
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?
When any city or town has no qualifications
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.
I agree with Pat. I always thought the tie wearing chair warmers served at the pleasure of the BOA. I guess I am wrong. They don't even live in Raytown, but they want to run the city! If I was an Alderman and the CA said what he is reported to have said, I would have told him he was out of order and at the next meeting, there would be a closed session to discuss conduct of city staff.
Andy Whiteman
As a taxpayer, I would rather they get more bang for the buck than using businesses in town, especially if there is more than a couple of dollars of diffenernce. Example- of a car dealership in Raytown offers repairs for $3700 and one outside of Raytown offers same repairs for $3000, I would rather they choose the $3000 because then the other $700 can be used somewhere else.
I am in agreement with 1:48PM's example, but on the other hand if the Raytown shop's bid is $3700 and the outside of Raytown bid is $3600, the Raytown shop should receive the job assuming the work is the same quality, same parts, and same warranty. The savings comes in the facts that it could cost more than $100 for 2 city employees to take the vehicle to a distance location. I am assuming it will be left one or more days and the 2nd employee is to bring the first employee back to Raytown. Two trips are obviously required.
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
Cityhall preaches support local businesses and then go out of town to spend tax payer dollars. Up front, it appears that dollars are saved, but factor in how one dollar can generate hundreds of dollars by staying in the community and it is easy to see that paying a bit more to keep taxpayer dollars in Raytown, easily exceed any upfront differences in cost.
I would challenge the PW Director on his decision to go with an out of town dealership. It is just plain wrong...
I feel that City Hall should always
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.
The City of Kansas City has put their vehicle repair out to bid. The company with the best bid does all the repairs for the term of the contract. Why can't Raytown put their vehicle repairs out to bid? KCMO has many different vehicles needing repairs, i.e. snow plows, water trucks, trash trucks, etc. Raytown could do the same if they wanted. This is the type of policy the BOA needs to look at.
Sounds like it is time to remind the city administrator this is America.
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!
Anon 5/23
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!
The PW Director lives out of town. How can we expect a CA, PW Director, or any out of town tie wearing chair warmer to have any loyalty towards Raytown and buy localy?
Lets turn things around and REQUIRE ALL TIE WEARING CHAIR WARMERS TO LIVE IN RAYTOWN! It is time to stop this foolishness.
Andy Whiteman
8:38 AM, I agree with your logic, but you used the KISS system. Let me throw out more numbers that will confuse those not familiar with payroll math. If we are assuming a city worker earns $25 (which I think is more than the real workers make), that is what that person is paid, but his actual payroll cost is $37.50 or more per hour because we must figure that benefits cost 50% of pay. That was what I was told 30 years ago but the figures may have changed. Not only is the work these 2 were supposed to do not being done, but they will probably be paid overtime to do the work. This translates to the fact these employees are receiving a long paid break as well as overtime because they had a paid break!
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
It is not the fact that the City Administrator told the Board they should not discuss something. I expect that kind of behavior from a bureaucrat. It is that the Board laid down for it like a docile little lamb. I've watched Raytown politics a long, long time. Board members from past years would never have tolerated such behavior from someone they hired. Their lack of action speaks volumes about the elected officials we now have, from the Mayor on down.
If the department heads are really trying to save the city money why than has the city administrator not recommended that the Board of Alderman that they need to act now to combine the city collector position with the city marshal, which is allowed under state law and save the city $1,200 a year or $4,800 over the four year term.
I see a lot of complainants on the blog this week about how the city handled the deal with the Lee Summit dealership, but I have not heard any praise for the attention that Pat Ertz brought to this issue at the board meeting.
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.
I know if I was getting ready to run for mayor I would be down talking to Mark Smith about being a major support of my campaign as I am one who believes we should always look to save money, but as the person explained thing earlier today we must look at the full impact and see if there real is any savings.
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…
Have you ever thought of this that maybe Bob Sites picks up and then deliveres the auto after the work is done . OMG now no city employee has to take off time from his job. I think they(BOA) made the right dedcision
The issue here is the high handed ways the city council is treated by its bureaucrats. You saw this when the Park Board Director told Alderman Melson "there is no plan B". You saw it again when Pat Ertz was effectively dismissed by the City Administrator because staff had not designated the time for Mr. Ertz's discussion on using local vendors. Melson and Ertz deserve to be praised for standing up. But the sad truth is they were smacked right back down. Their fellow Board members and the Mayor sat by and watched. Show us effective leadership. What we have is at city hall is not leadership. It is the tail wagging the dog.
You really want us to believe Bob Sights is going to send someone out to Raytown to pick up a car and take it in for service.
Come on get real!!!
Lets have a Plan B:
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
Anon 5/25 @ 6:24 AM
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?
I believe the position about the city collector was brought up already and shot. If I remember correctly Alderman Van Buskirk brought it up
I had my volume turned all the way up and couldn't hear a word Jerry Nolte said.
Andy Whiteman
I have worked for the city for a fair amount of years and I have a degree in my field of work. I do not come close to $25/hr.
9:31PM, As I have previously stated, the city workers who actually do the work are underpaid.
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
Anon 5/25 9:31 PM
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
let me help you out. the out of towners are paid the most!
4:43PM, Consider how far they drive just to get here! Do they get per diem for getting to and from work? It sure isn't worth the time or expense of a low paid worker to drive any distance to get to work.
Andy Whiteman
It is the local businesses that collect sales tax and then remits it for the City of Raytown to use. I wonder how business owners feel after they write the check to the City just to read their competitors have been awarded a contract within a few hundred bucks. I wonder how many businesses grow tired of it, and then move their company elsewhere?
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.
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