RAYTOWN'S LEADING NEWS SOURCE
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this link POST A COMMENTEDITOR'S NOTE: The author of the Truth Watch column has asked for another week to put the finishing touches on his story. Watch this space next week for Part 2 of "Property Management" by Truth Watch.
BALLOT
QUESTIONS SET TWO AND ONE HALF YEARS BEFORE TAX EXPIRES
In
an unexpected move Mayor David Bower has allowed a proposed ordinance setting
the date for two sales tax elections on April 8, 2014.
The
two sales tax questions are a renewal of a one-half cent sales tax for
Transportation and a 3/8 cent sales tax for Capital Improvements.
The
move by Bower comes as a surprise because the sales taxes do not expire until
November of 2016. That places the question before the voters over two years
before the taxes expire.
No
explanation was given in the agenda packet distributed by City Hall as to why
the question was being submitted to the voters so early.
One
group that is not too pleased with placing the sales tax questions on the
ballot on April 8th are proponents of the formation of a Charter
Commission.
“This
will only muddy the waters and confuse voters,” said Sandy Hartwell, a former
member of the Raytown Board of Aldermen who plans to run for the Charter
Commission.
Hartwell
pointed out that the city will be holding municipal elections in April of 2015,
more than one and one-half years before the two sales taxes expire.
“It
would make more sense, and save the city money, to hold the tax question
elections in 2015,” said Hartwell. “It makes one wonder if the Mayor and some
of the Board of Aldermen are purposely trying to undermine the Charter
process.”
She
may have a point.
Sources
inside of City Hall tell the Raytown Report that more than half of the Board of
Aldermen plan to file for seats on the Raytown Charter Commission. Some of
those possible candidates have made it clear they do not support any
significant changes in the way Raytown is governed.
The
bill placing the ballot question on the April 8, 2014 ballot will
receive its first reading on Tuesday night’s agenda (August 6th).
The second reading is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20th – at which time
the Board of Aldermen is expected to vote on the question.
Board
Should Reject Ultra-Early Ballot Questions BY GREG WALTERS
The two sales taxes were originally approved by Raytown voters in November of 2006. The taxes are set to expire November of 2016. That is over two and one half years after an April 2014 election. City elections are already scheduled for April of 2015.
Former Ward 4 Raytown Alderman Sandy Hartwell explained it best.
She
told the Raytown Report, “Since the 2015 ballot has more ballot items (the School
and Fire Districts are also scheduled to hold elections at that time), the city’s
share per ballot item is a fraction of the cost compared to 2014 election.”
According
to City Clerk Teresa Henry, the Jackson County Election Board has advised the
City of Raytown to hold the Charter Election on April 8, 2014. State Statutes
are very clear of the timeline required to hold a Charter Election once
petitions have been received from the public.
However,
the City’s hands are not tied to holding the sales tax elections to any
particular ballot. The city would save more money if they held the tax
elections in November of 2014 during national mid-term elections or April, 2015
during regular local elections.
In
other words, from an economic point of view, and they are always bemoaning that
they have no money at city hall, it makes absolutely no sense to hold the sales
tax renewal elections when the Charter question goes before the people.
The
Board of Aldermen should reject the ultra-early ballot dates for renewal of the
two sales taxes for a number of reasons.
- It costs the city more money to hold the election at that time.
- The Charter question should be allowed to stand or fall on its own merits.
- Placing the sales tax questions on the ballot at the same time as the Charter question may hurt both renewal of the taxes and the Charter question chances of approval.
PAUL’S RANT
Quit
Playing Games With Important Issues BY PAUL LIVIUS
Fresh
off a humiliating defeat by the public Raytown’s Mayor and Board of Aldermen appear
to be poised to spit in the face of the public again.
Really!
Do
these guys and gals have a political death wish or what?
It
is no secret that some members of the Board are less than pleased with efforts
by the public to form a Charter Commission to find better ways to govern
Raytown.
But
their hands are tied on that issue. State law requires them to hold a Charter
Election because the public legally petitioned the City to form a Charter
Commission.
So
the powers that be at City Hall have shifted gears. If they have to hold an
election to form something they do not want, they will find other ways to defeat
the measure at the polls.
The
first salvo was fired last week when the City’s unofficial mouthpiece, the
Raytown Times, was loaded with editorials bemoaning the Charter effort.
You
can see the gears slowly turning in their heads.
Throw
some tax increases onto the ballot at the same time. That ought to bring out
some no votes.
The
BOA knows very well they do not “have to” do this.
On
the other hand, maybe they are trying to commit political suicide.
Combining
Ambulance Service with Fire Department
GOOD IDEA? . . . BAD IDEA?
A
lot of the conversation on this blog and other news sources has been focused on
the merits of a Charter vs. Fourth Class City government.
Which
is interesting because that discussion has already been settled. Next April the
voters in Raytown will decide whether or not to form a Charter Commission. End
of story.
The
real story taking place at Raytown City Hall is a debate on the merits of
combining the city ambulance service with the Raytown Fire District.
The
plan has pros and cons – and City Hall seems to be actively trying to keep a damper
on public debate of the issue. Last Tuesday Ward 3 Alderman Charlotte Melson
convened a meeting to discuss the matter. As Chairwoman, she tried her best to
stifle open debate from members of the Fire District. Why is not known. But it
was very clear from reports of the meeting that her attempts were unsuccessful.
At
one point a frustrated Fire Department representative complained that the
Melson was trying to make the City and Fire Department pass notes to each other
like school children.
It
is hard tell which way the Board is leaning. Even the Mayor, who is usually in
the forefront of such issues seems to have backed away from taking an official
stand.
Here
are the two predominant arguments we have been able to gleam from conversations
with Aldermen and Fire Department representatives at the meeting.
It is also true that there is concern because of
an agreement between the Raytown Fire Department and the Kansas City Fire
Department over what is called “Automatic Aid”.
All
emergency services practice what is called “mutual aid”. It a set of guidelines
by which one department can call on another in an emergency situation for help.
Conversely,
“automatic aid” has to do with a recent change of dispatching services to the
Raytown Fire Department. Calls used to be received and dispatched through the
Raytown Police Department. Under the new agreement, calls are dispatched
through the Kansas City Fire Department.
Opponents
to the merger claim that Raytown is making more calls to Kansas City than
Kansas City to Raytown. Such calls are said to have slowed down response times in
Raytown – which has traditionally been very quick within the city. The
“automatic aid” agreement (it is alleged) has cut into Raytown’s response time.
The
merger has other complications as well. If completed, the Fire Department will
be in charge of the day to day operation of all emergency ambulance services.
However, the city will still hold the license and handle all billing
procedures.
It
is an interesting debate that makes the outcome difficult to determine. A firm
date for the next meeting between Fire Department officials and Raytown City
officials has yet to be set.
We will post the time and place once it is made public.
We will post the time and place once it is made public.
FIT BOTTOMED GIRLS
Book Review: Train Your Brain to Get Thin (and a
Giveaway!) BY JENN
Are you using your brain’s
full power to get healthy?
If you’ve been reading FBG
for awhile, then you probably already know that self-love is an essential part of getting healthy and
losing weight. Like, the most important thing EVA. And while that can sound a
little hippity-dippity and very Stuart Smalley, it’s the truth. We know it
from experience, and according to the new book Train Your Brain to Get
Thin: Prime Your Gray Cells for Weight Loss, Wellness, and Exercise,
the science backs it up. In fact, this whole book is about how you can use your
thoughts to retrain your brain so that you make healthier decisions, and
therefore lose any extra weight you’ve been carrying. READ
MORE
EDITOR’S
NOTE: Read the story to
the end to learn how to enter the contest for a free copy of the book.
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Comments
I mean the elected officials last June / July demonstrated we had a surplus of money flowing in when they were able to give our city administrator a $30,000 raise. Keep I mind with the matching taxes the city has to pay that was much more than the amount we are aware of.
We also have to ask why we need these special taxes when we have so much money that fund the best pension plan anywhere for our police department.
I am sure the Wal-Mart on 350 Highway is bring in so much sales tax we are within a few years of having those bonds paid off.
Now that is a truly proud moment!
Join the police and many others at Kenagy Park this Tuesday night.
Get there early and enjoy a free hot dog will supplies last!
That is Mayor Bower's 30 year gift to the city of Raytown. Nearly 20% of our sales tax dollars never to make it to city hall.
Call city hall and ask them for a breakdown of where the sales tax money from walmart goes. You will get your eyes oopened.
City Hall wants no part of a Charter. They will pull every
dirty trick they can to sabotage or get it voted down before
it can get started. You can’t really blame them. They
don’t want the citizens of Raytown to be in their way.
Bower putting a tax increase on the same ballot shows
they don’t want it. It could take the empire out of City
Hall’s hands.
I just hope the people will remember the past tax increases,
first the safety tax, this money, we were told, would all
go toward new equipment and hire more officers. None
of the money would go into the general fund to be spent
any way the city wanted to spend it. Guess what in made it’s
way into the general fund. Then we had the “Street overlay tax”
I really don’t have to explain this one, just drive on our streets!
My point is this, they know people don’t want any more taxing
and they are banking that the few people that do vote will
vote a sweeping “NO” on everything in the ballot.
Those of us that think Raytown needs a Charter need to inform
the people on what is going to happen and why it is happing.
If the people want a Charter they will need to know to NOT
vote for any aldermen that are against it in the first place.
The people need to ask the people running for the charter
Commission what their stand is on it and keep records as to
what they say. Because in the end they are there only to sabotage
the project.
What on earth is this? Do you have to join a debating squad to get the police to respond to a complaint in this town. This is so twisted and messed up. I hope Jim Lynch reads this so he can have a talk with his dispatchers.
No wonder people in Raytown are upset with the RPD.
When you call to ask for help you should not have to debate a dispatcher on whether or not she will place the call for help.
Doesn't really matter. I don't get back home from work to Raytown until about 6:30. Can anyone explain to me why they start these events so earlyin the day? It would seem to make more sense to wait until it cools down a little in the evenign and everyone can attend.
Don't understand the "positive" comment.
I think the Raytown Report is a blessing for Raytown. It is the only source we have for honest news of city hall.
Keep up the good works guys.
As far as the merger goes, I can tell you as a provider and a citizen I could not care less who shows up as long as they do when I need them to. The fire department has fine personnel and I have seen them give as good or better care than some of the emts. I watched the video and it seems the city and fire agree it will save a lot of money and that is always a good thing. We have all asked the emts and fire about it and it seems the only reason they can come up with against it is "they dont want it". Oh sure the emts all raise various concerns that are vague at best, but I have yet to hear a real reason against.
I guess what I am saying is if it is the same as we are already getting and even a 1.00 cheaper, then I am for it. If the only reason you are against it is for personal reasons, I say too bad for you and I wish you success in moving on. Paula J. LPN
That's where it's all stemming from, isn't it?
The police would do themselves a big favor with their battered image if they would take that approach.
Instead you get dispatchers setting down conditions for the p.d. to even show up!
Bet they don't tell that to the good folks at Walmart.
Come on Pollyanna. Don't you think there is room for some improvement in Raytown?
I really don't think we need all those department heads to start with.
Next we all know half of the police department all have desk jobs that could be done by less expensive non-commission personnel. With the pension plan being a costly mess this too would be a great place to cut.
Come on David Bower you are the one that ran and said it is time to run the city like a business and any profitable business is going to cut the waste and the first place they all start is those employees that are dead wood.
During that time, I called Raytown PD while home alone one evening after hearing something unusual in my back yard. They came right away and checked it out to my satisfaction.
If you really care about protection, form a Neighborhood Watch. Knowing your neighbors and watching out for each other is a huge improvement over relying on the local Barney Fife wanna-be members of the local citizen's group.
We were just trying to put out the word on the possible merger. No other newspaper or blog has even mentioned the story. After discussing the events of the last meeting with Aldermen and Fire officials who were present and listening to their take on the merger we published the story you read.
Editorially, we have not taken a position on the merger. To us, it is a work in process. We hope the BOA, Mayor Fire District, Firemen and Paramedics come up with a solution that both cuts costs and improvements service in Raytown.
From our discussion with the above mentioned folks -- they still have a way to go to make that happen.
"No other newspaper or blog has even mentioned the story."
I saw a video of the whole meeting on a local blog.
The major complaint I hear from people is about the dispatchers. There seems to be a tendency to be argumentative with people who are calling for assistance.
It is not a dispatcher's job to debate or lecture when called upon for assistance.
They should remember that the folks calling are trying to do the right thing. They are not trying to solve the problem themselves. They are not calling on the people in authority for help.
Fall short on that end of the service and you run a real chance of people giving up on help from the police and trying to solve the problems themselves.
That is a recipe for disaster.
people on this site seem to rag on the Police, Fire
and EMT units of Raytown. We have a great Police Dept.
that is shorthanded and tied down by City Hall. Raytown
has some of the best Firemen and women along with
the EMT’s in the area. But it seems that almost every
time things are going bad in this town people take it
out on these services.
Every problem this town has is a direct result of City Hall.
Any town USA elects everyday people like you and I,
and they proceed to tell professional people how and
what they should do and how they should do their jobs.
Police, Firemen and EMT’s are trained professionals
how in the Hell can some person with no training tell
these people how they should
run their departments and do their jobs?
If you have a complaint for any of these services, I suggest
you talk the department heads of each and keep our so called
elected representatives out of it. You will get better results and find
that these are some pretty helpful and knowledgeable
professional people. I have talked to many or our service
professionals and I can tell you every one of them could
make more money somewhere else but they like our town
they have chosen Raytown to work, protect and try to
better. I would like to see any one of our elected officials
do even half the things these people have to deal with
every day. Another thing, not a single one of these people that put
their lives on the line, supply emergency medical help or
protect our property received a thirty thousand dollar a
year raise!
I’ll get off my soapbox now.
What are you talking about?
Let’s keep in mind the following the police department is ran by an individual that is elected. He is also certified as a law enforcement officer who under the state statue couldn't hold the office let allow run for it.
Therefore why would he not be qualified for managing the day to day function of the police department?
With this in mind should he then not be held accountable for the dispatchers and their attitudes towards those that call them requesting services?
Have you attended a fire board meeting and / or spoken with members of the fire board? These are elected officials, but you might be surprised to learn that one is actually a retired fire fighter. I would think this would give him the back ground and experience to understand the day to day needs in maintaining a successful fire department. By the way the fire department is under the Raytown Fire District, which is not operated by the mess we find leading city hall. They are however as is the school district and any other taxing entity the release on property taxes impacted by bad decisions like the Wal-Mart on 350 Highway.
That leaves the only department that you mention being EMS. While I am sure we all question what elected individual at city hall has the insight in managing EMS based on their back ground, we all must thank them for promoting this last time within.
I mean if the guy that was promoted to running the day to day operations was not qualified to do so why was he working for us in the first place. Should are government employees be the best we can find and with that being the case be the type of people who are qualified to move up within the department they are in after all Bower and many of the Alderman remind us of the Professionals we have so we should expect nothing less.
As for speaking with the department heads might I wish you the best of luck as we have yet to have any department head in the last six years that has been over codes and done anything? Drive down any street and the number of violations is on a growing increase while enforcement is near none existence or should I say only appears enforced when someone starts screaming about an issue in their neighborhood and even those cases are questionable if you get out and start talking with the neighbors. Yes, the very same people who have spoken with the department head for code and got a response we are either working on it or the issue was taken care of only for the neighbor to look out there window and still see the mess.
The one thing we can agree on is we have problems at city hall and until the department heads pay is reduced to reflect their inability to manage the departments they run we will continue to have problems.
Now I will get off my soapbox.
I think for the most part we have good people working in police, fire and EMS departments.
However, we all know that no business is without a few bad apples, but do we know if any bad apples in Raytown are being moved on.
If not anyone that knows about these bad apples are part of the problem.
Again not saying we have any now, but I can tell you we did have a few years ago and the PD not sure what happen to the guy, just glad he is not part of our department anymore. He never wanted to listen to anyone and always thought those who had the police called out were actually the bad guys. Good one as I don't know many bad guys that call the cops.
I don't know who in town has not heard the issues with the past director, and I am sure based on what has been said we are best he was moved on.
The point is yes most are doing a good job, but you can never say that they all are.
Apparently it is losing money hand over fist. Guess those professionals they hired in to turn it into a profit making machine dropped the ball.
I don't know whether this BOA is just plain unlucky or plainly naive.
Some folks I know built a pool specifically so they would not have to go to Super Splash to go swimming.
The place has problems but as long as the park board and BOA continue to act like there are not problems look for it to continue to be a black hole sucking away tax dollars from things like street repair and police protection.
I've never been there and it's so poorly publicized, I never knew where it was until last weekend when traveling as a passenger, I saw an off-street sign for it. I guess it was its' entrance. Is this place supposed to be a secret?
A new neighbor mentioned she'd taken her toddler there once but that the $9.00 admission was too expensive for them to go very often. My jaw dropped when she talked of the price --- that's absurdly high and is probably a good part of why it is operating a such a loss.
the point note, I will try again to get my point
across. I meant the Board of Aldermen. And
yes we have three new aldermen one of which
has already gone to the dark side.
I just think if a person has a problem, instead of going
before the BOA they should try the department heads
(if they can be found…codes etc.)
they should know their department better than the rest.
I know our Police Chief is an elected official but, I think
a person should at least try to talk to the department
head first.
We all know who really has or wants to have total
control over this town and all the people in it, along with
everything that goes on within.
Let’s face it, with our genius’s giving one person a huge raise
in pay and none of the rest of the department heads or
any other city employee receiving a big raise. There has to be
some feelings of why try. I’m just happy most if not all
other employees do try to help us.
Before anybody suggests tar and feathering me, NO
I didn’t think everybody should have gotten a thirty thousand
dollar a year raise.
I didn’t and don’t think it should have been done at all.
There were several groups represented, but the thing that stood out was the sign about the parks department, but no one was at the event an there was not any handouts on the table assigned to them.
After reading the posting about the Board of Alderman meeting and the issue with Super Splash and piece several weeks ago from Jim Delong it is clear our once wonderful park system is head down hill fast.
Maybe it is just me, but if our current Park Director continues to take our parks in this direction it is time he is moved on and can spend more time at his home North of the river.
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/american-dream-moving-suburbs-could-leave-home-values-130105534.html
Andy Whiteman
Shame, shame, shame. I am sickened by all of you.
Thank you for the clearification
Detroit MI was the prototype for what Bower/ICLEI/MARC/HUD/DOT/EPA/Chamber of Commerce/APA/Agenda21/United Nations are doing to us and countless other cities across America.
Appeal to vanity calling vile programs 'Smart' Growth, etc. Form NGO's (MARC, Sierra Club, etc.) and enlist existing NGO's (Chamber of Commerce, etc) to lobby and infiltrate gov't from the Federal down to the local level. Stage false flag about climate change, hold pre-staged consensus meetings and tell cities (falsely) what they said they want then tell them what they need (at staggering expense during America's worst economy since the 1929 depression). Have NGOs back up these stupid plans that have been PROVEN not to work. Have Mayor(s) implant city gov't with his own economic development and planning/zoning 'czars' and councilmen. Change zoning, change codes from national to international(UN). Get Federal grants to start construction WITHOUT any city vote on any of it. Select developers behind closed doors and give them huge tax and codes incentives. Erode the tax base - Destroy property values - then, Raise utility prices, Raise taxes, Require homeowners and businesses to adhere to new building codes at a cost they can't possibly afford so that you can fine them out of their property. Declare their properties blighted & take them by eminent domain (called a land-grab) at far below their true worth. Move the new homeless into your new cramped 'sustainable' projects with high rents, strip them of their freedoms and make them work for you in return for an unsustainable pittance of a wage.
Raytown, welcome to Detroit! You're closer than you know and you're still narrowly focusing on the symptoms rather than the cause.
Withdraw Raytown from ICLEI and Agenda21.
Stay on point. This is Raytown, not the Mafia capital of the midwest. We have enough problems to deal with here at ground level rather than someone and somewhere else's "black helicopter" fantasies.
My guess is that they are doing so because they are afraid it will not pass adn want to bring the sales tax increases up again at a later time if that happens.
I agree that the BOA does not seem to be in step with any sort of plan for a Charter.
They act like they fear the idea.
Director of Public Works.
There are only 32 days to let our Legislators know we'd like them to override Gov. Nixon's veto of the bill which would lower taxes by the first time in over 100 years.
Please go to www.growmissouri.com and where you can read about how this issue and send a letter in support of it.
Stop watching those commercials on TV and reading the hype.
There is no surplus of money unless you are willing to start cutting programs.
From conversations with some state Reps MO is already looking at several hospitals closing in rural MO within the year if funding is not found.
What services do you use, your family or your friends that you would cut?
Public Education
Food Stamps
Foster Care
Road Repair and other infrastructure
What is next you are going to tell us because of some commercials or website that Raytown has a surplus of money.
The two that I noticed were not there was the city's Public Information Officer. You would think she would have been a this public event.
the other was the Park Board Director. I was there for the entire event adn did not see him.
A friend of mine reminded me that Mr. Boji lives in Riverside. That's a long way to drvie to go home.
He used to live in Harrisonville but moved to Riverside. You think he would have thought of moving to Raytown but he chose Riverside instead.
I am sure he has a good reason.
That way the police would be on hand and you would not have to listen to dispatchers make excuses for not sending them when people call for help.
Thanks for letting us all know about the lies about getting our money back from Jefferson City.
It seems those commercials on TV only tell the what they want us to hear, but reading through the full HB 253 and amendments we both know there truth and the actual tax increase that is coming to all of us.
The point is that those who work later than 6:00 p.m. are husltling hard to get to the meeting on time.
The park director may live only 15 minutes away (during rush hour must take longer!)but his office shuts down tight as a drum at 5:00 p.m. The Fight against Crime has been public knowledge for months.
He could have and should have planned his schedule to be in attendance. After all, it was hosted at one of the parks he is in charge of.
Call your State Rep and tell them not to override the Gov veto of HB 253
Creamer has missed or left early for alot of meetings. You bring the point up that he wasn't there or at the Night Out event because he has a job? Welcome to America pal, we all have jobs! If you are on the BOA you need to attempt to make these events, if you cant, maybe you shouldt be on the board.
I could hardly write this. I was hard to see through my tears after reading your post.
Your hypothesis about ailing parents and children of broken homes was just that and nothing more; you do have a great imagination.
It was 1 night out of 365. Most I know people plan ahead and make changes to accommodate in order to attend events that directly correlate to their professional lives.
Just curious. That was quite the surly little rant! Who are you talking to and what is your problem with freedom of speech?
Unlike yourself, I not telling anyone what to do. What I said was, “Please go to www.growmissouri.com and where you can read about how this issue and send a letter in support of it. “
The word “can” means 1. to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to: She can solve the problem easily, I'm sure. 2. to know how to: He can play chess, although he's not particularly good at it. to have the power or means to: A dictator can impose his will on the people. 4. to have the right or qualifications to: He can change whatever he wishes in the script.
Since you reference but do not quote with whom it was you enjoyed your 'converstations', it is my humble opinion that your statements are clearly hearsay and merit no regard. How odd that you call yourself 'Check More Sources' but don't reference them and that you cannot form complete sentences. My sympathies.