DON’T PUSH THE RED BUTTON!

Imagine you’re casually strolling through the neighborhood when you come across a little red button with a sign above it reading “Push to add drama.” Would you be able to resist? Likely not, and neither could passers-by in Belgium, where an ad agency planted a surprise.

DON'T PUSH THE RED BUTTON

. . . BREAKING NEWS . . .

Board of Aldermen Reject Appointive Judge Position

At Tueday night's meeting the Raytown Board of Aldermen rejected a bill to change the position of Municipal Judge from an elective to an appointive position. 

A motion by Ward 5 Aldermen Michael Lightfoot to table the bill indefinitely was unanimously approved by the Board.

Many saw the move to make the change as a move by Mayor David Bower to oust Municipal Judge Traci Fann from office. 

By voting to table the motion the Board collectively gave recognition to over twenty speakers, most of them Raytown residents and attorneys who work in Raytown, who came forward to speak against the proposed change. In fact, some members of the Board who had previously endorsed the change spoke against the change at Tuesday night's meeting. Others kept quiet and voted without comment.

In the two meetings in which the ordinance was discussed publicly, not one private citizen came before the Board in support of the change. 

Since the bill was tabled indefinitely it may not be brought before the Board of Aldermen in its same form for the next calendar year.

Raytown Firefighters Rescue Woman from Fire

Raytown Firefighters responded to a fire at 6828 Vermont Street early Sunday morning.

Firefighters David Andrews and Darren Summers saved the life of the homeowner, Lisa Smallwood.

For more information on this breaking story go to . . . READ MORE

Observations BY GREG WALTERS

If I live to be 100 years old I do not think I will ever understand how some politicians are able to convince other politicians to fall on their own swords.

Case in point is the current debate over making the position of Municipal Judge in Raytown appointive. As the law stands now, the voters choose the municipal judge every four years in a general election. Just as is done in the neighboring communities of Grandview and Lee’s Summit.

At its last meeting over one half of the members of the Raytown Board of Aldermen, led by Mayor David Bower, told of all the support they had from private citizens saying they wanted the position made appointive.

They said this in the face of 12 guest speakers who spoke against the change. They said it despite the fact that not one private citizen stepped forward to support the change.

A poll run on this website shows the idea of changing the position to appointive was trounced 78% to 22%.

Personally speaking, I have yet to have one person run up to me and say, “I want you to take my vote away!”

Next Tuesday, October 2, 2012, the Board is scheduled to have its second reading of the bill changing the Judge’s position from Elective to Appointive. The public meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at Raytown City Hall. Interested citizens can address the issue before the meeting during Public Comments.

Professionalism? BY PAUL LIVIUS

Aldermen Christine White and Joe Creamer spoke eloquently about the high degree of professionalism at Raytown City Hall because of the appointments they have made. Other members of the Board joined in the chorus praising the “professionalism” at City Hall.

Oh my goodness! I have not heard this amount of gushing about the professionalism since former City Administrator Curt Wenson was in charge.

Quick, someone call the Guinness Book of World Records and notify them. A new high water mark for professionalism in city government has been reached in Raytown!

All joking aside. the argument put forth by White, Creamer and a few of the others was that their expertise at hiring employees at City Hall was one of the main reasons we should give up our vote on the Municipal Judge.

I watched the meeting (twice!) and can tell you that the really strong arguments came from across the room. It was the private citizens who addressed the Board that made the most sense.

Their message was very clear. You can be elected and be an asset to a community. Judge Fann is proof of that. It was also very clearly stated that both the public and members of the bar, including a County Legislator, took time from their busy schedules to come and tell the Board as much.
 

Incidentally, a number of speakers asked the Board that IF they made the position appointive to at least require the Judge to live in Raytown. Sounds like good advice. I wondered if any on the Board heard. Judging by the recent decision to NOT require City Administrator to keep his word and move to Raytown it is doubtful the Board would take the advice.

Mayor and Municipal Judge Spar in Budget Work Session 

Mayor David Bower has repeatedly commented that the effort to make the Municipal Judge position an appointive position is not a personal issue between him and Judge Fann.

After hearing reports from Board members of the Mayor’s conduct at a recent budget hearing it is hard to believe him.

During the hearing over the Municipal Court’s budget the Mayor loudly questioned portions of the budget concerning the Municipal Court.
  

Fann replied the portion of the budget (it had to do with salaries) was not under her control but under the control of the Finance Director. She also pointed out that each Finance Director has his own way of reporting and writing budgets. The city recently hired a new Finance Director.

Fann’s statement about the different methods employed by different Finance Director was backed up by Alderman Jim Aziere who reminded the Mayor that each Finance Director does have their own peculiar way of putting together a budget.
 

From what we have been told the Mayor did not look too happy about the exchange between Fann and Aziere.

The Mayor dropped the subject.

Fit Bottomed Girls

PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE MONKEY ON MY BACK! BY KRISTEN

When I find something I like, I want it all the time. Tell me that it’s only available for a limited time? You can pretty much double that desire. Which might explain why I’m struggling with PSLA, also known as Pumpkin Spice Latte Addiction. Here in Florida, the weather is just beginning to cool down (meaning our highs... Continue reading

OF PUBLIC INTEREST . . .

Our Lady of Lourdes will host a Craft and Business Fair Friday, October 5^th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 6^th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

$100 Cash Raffle, Vendor Gift Giveaways, Jewelry, Candles, Crocheted and Knitted hats and scarves, afghans, crafts, dance wear, bath and body, handmade pens and board games, survival bracelets, purses and much more.

Drinks and baked goods will be available for purchase all day long with sandwiches and chips available for lunch between 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.

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