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Charter Meetings to be Broadcast on Raytown Government 7
What is seen as
a small victory for the Raytown Charter Commission came to light this week when
it was announced the City of Raytown will re-broadcast meetings of the Raytown
Charter Commission.
At the Charter
Commission’s first meeting a majority of the Commissioners approved the
recording and re-broadcasting of the meetings on the City’s Government Channel
7.
Only one
Commissioner, Charlotte Melson, voted against the motion to approve the
re-broadcasting. Melson is also a member of Raytown Board of Aldermen. City
Hall re-broadcasts all meetings of the Board of Aldermen.
According to a
memo from City Clerk Teresa Henry “The
charter meetings are rebroadcast immediately after the rebroadcast BOA meetings,
which are aired . . . .”
- Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 in the evening
- Tuesday and Thursday at 10am in the morning
Down Memory Lane . . .
Raytown Government Channel is available on the
Comcast Channel 7. U-Verse and Google do not provide the service.
When the
original contract for cable television was awarded in Raytown (then) Alderman
Garth Bare and Greg Walters convinced the Board of Aldermen to make the
creation of the government channel as a part of the conditions for rewarding
the license.
The City could
re-negotiate its licensing with U-Verse and Google. Part of the agreement in
effect with Google is free connection with municipal owned facilities. It is
conceivable that the service could be expanded. By doing so Raytown would join a
growing list of area cities that offer coverage of local government on multiple
networks.
The Paul Livius Report
 |
| BY PAUL LIVIUS |
Raytown Board of Aldermen Meeting – May 6, 2014
Mayor Bower
made the following proclamations:
Recognizing
May 2014 as Bike Month
RecognizingMay
18-24, 2014 as Emergency Medical Services Week
RecognizingMay
18-24, 2014 as Public Works Week
RecognizingMay
16, 2014 as Raytown Night at the Royals
RecognizingMay
2014 as Older Americans Month
Thanking
Alderman Bill Van Buskirk as 2013-2014 Mayor Pro Tem
The City
Clerk administrated the Oath of Office to Officers Freeland and Pack.
The Board
passed a resolution approving the appointment of Alyse Stoll, Linda Swinney, Mary Jane van
Buskirk, Kristina Peters,and Elizabeth Clayton to the Council on Aging.
City Clerk Teresa Henry asked for a motion and vote to accept the April
8, 2014 General MunicipalElection results as certified by the Jackson County
Election Board for continuing to imposean existing sales tax of 1/2 cent for
Transportation purposes for a term of tenyears, for continuing to impose an
existing sales tax of 3/8 cent forCapital Improvements for a term of ten years
and shall a Commission be chosen toframe a Charter along with Charter
Commissioners. The Jackson County
Election Board certified the results and approvaland acceptance of their
certification is a formality.
The Board appointed Steve Mock to the position of acting president for a
term of one year.
The Board passed a resolution establishing the rates for
employee medical and dental insurance.
The City has received the rate increases from Midwest Public Risk (MPR).
The City currently offers three types of coverage: Employee,
Tier 2, and Family. Eachplan type has three options: HMO, Cigna Open Access 750
(PPO B) and Choice Fund
1500. The Choice Fund 1500, a high-deductible plan with
associated Health Savings
Account (HSA), was added last year and proved quite popular.
The average increasefor each coverage type is 5%, with the HMO increasing 5.3%,
PPO (B) increasing 6.9%and Choice Fund 1500 increasing 3.0%.
Due to rising premiums and decreasing enrollment, MPR eliminated
the Cigna Open
Access 500 (PPO A) plan that was offered in previous years.
We anticipate employeescurrently enrolled in PPO A will change to either PPO B
or the Choice Fund 1500.
Attached are four proposals to fund health insurance from
July 2014 to June 2015. The
City currently pays 94.5% of the HMO plan. Any employee
choosing this coverage who
utilizes a more expensive option would pay the difference.
The City currently pays
about 70% of the HMO plan for both Tier 2 and Family
coverage. Any employeechoosing this coverage who utilizes a more expensive
option would pay the difference.
All four proposals would fall within current budgetary
amounts.
Option 1 is to retain City participation at the same rate
structure and then share the
increase in premiums proportionately. The City would see an
increase of approximately
$1,930.54 for 24 payrolls. This is the recommended option
from management. Thisoption would fall within current budgetary amounts.
Option 2 is to reduce the City contribution by 2.0% and then
share the increase in
premiums proportionately. The City would see an increase of
approximately $1,330.88
for 24 payrolls. This option would fall within current
budgetary amounts.
Option 3 is for the employee to pick up 100% of the increase
in premiums. The City
would see no increase in premiums. This option would fall
within current budgetaryamounts. For
more information on the rates, please go to Health/Dental Schedule,
starting on page 45.
The Board passed a resolution amending
the budget related toCharter commission expenses. TeresaHenry told the Board
that on April 8, 2014, the majority of the electors voted affirmative to the
question of “Shall acommission be chosen to frame a Charter?” In accordance
with the Missouri Constitution, Article VI,Local Government, Section 19, “All
necessary expense of the Commission shall be paid by thecity”; therefore, it is
necessary to amend the fiscal year 2013-2014 budget to include expensesincurred
by the Charter Commission. She said she
was asking the Board to approve a resolution allocating $10,000 for Charter
Commission expenses. Alderman Ertz made
the motion to accept the resolution, saying it was a necessary expense.
Alderman Creamer said the amount is ok, but he wanted to amend the resolution. He said with the last Charter Commission, one
individual ran up a large sum of money in attorney fees. He wanted the Charter Commission to be
required to come back and report their financial expenditures to the Board and
he wanted only one person be the “go-to” person for contacting the attorney. Alderman Ertz said he liked the idea but
didn’t accept the amendment. He didn’t
think it is the Board’s job to say how the Charter Commission is run. Alderman Creamer said they had one individual
who ran up $35,000 in legal bills. The
Mayor said they couldn’t re-hash what happened several years ago. He said the motion maker (Mr. Ertz) did not
accept the amendment. He asked if there
was a second to Mr. Creamer’s amendment.
When there was none, the Mayor declared the amendment dead. Alderman Jason Greene said he agreed with
Alderman Creamer that there should be oversight of Charter Commission
expenses. He pointed out State Statutes
concerning independent committees and commissions are that they will have to
decide their own procedures in their by-laws.
Alderman Creamer said at the first Charter Commission meeting, there was
a lot of talk about televising the meetings, creating a website, and other ways
to spend taxpayer money.
The Board passed a resolution approving
the purchase of a Polaris Ranger from Freedom Cycles and related equipment from
American Equipment Company. Andy Noll
told the Board the Public Works staff has identified that a utility vehicle,
also known as a UTV,such as a Polaris Ranger would allow more efficient
operations. The UTV will help PublicWorks be more efficient and effective in
the following activities:
1. Bicycle and Pedestrian trail maintenance and snow removal.
2. Downtown area snow removal.
3. Weed spraying along major arterials.
4. Sanitary sewer maintenance along creeks and other rough terrain
areas.
Public Works staff has researched the requirements and has received bids
for a UTV and
necessary equipment to accomplish the listed activities. Public Works
solicited and receivedbids for the UTV prior to requesting concurrence from the
Sales Tax Oversight Committee thatthe expense met the intent of the sales tax.
The low bid at the time was from Polaris, Incutilizing a cooperative contract.
Since the Sales Tax Oversight Committee meeting anadditional quote was received
from Freedom Cycles, Inc and the quote was less expensive thanany of the
previous quotes and included an extended warranty. The cost of the UTV
utilizingthe Polaris, Inc cooperative contract was $19,671.00 and the cost
utilizing the Freedom Cycles,Inc quote is $19,238.26.
The Board then moved into closed session.
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
Unsung Heroes
Michael Downing
is an unsung hero.
Downing has taken on the burden of filming Board of
Aldermen meetings and meetings of the Raytown Charter Commission. Mr. Downing does not charge for his services to the city.
TO VIEW HIS WORK USE THIS LINK: CHARTER VIDEO
Lisa Emerson,
Secretary of the Charter Commission, has created a Charter website full of
information about the Commission. Official minutes can be found on the site as
well as the names, emails and phone numbers* of Charter Commission members. She
is a true public servant.
TO VIEW THE SITE USE THIS LINK: CHARTER LINK
Paul Livius,
who is responsible for the written report of the BOA meetings is another
example of the spirit of volunteerism in Raytown. .Like Mr. Downing and Ms. Emerson, Paul is not
compensated for his public service.
Perhaps you
know someone who has stepped up in a unique way to demonstrate the true meaning
of public service. Send your information to gregtwalters@sbcglobal.net and we will make certain they received the
recognition they deserve.
 |
| BY JENN |
The Best Book Ever?
We Think So!
Okay, so we might be a bit biased since — you know — Erin and I wrote it and all, but still. We’re really proud of The Fit Bottomed Girls Anti-Diet. And it comes out, TODAY! Meaning that you can buy it wherever books are sold (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powell’s Books, Books-a-Million, Google, iBookstore and Indiebound).
Join the
co-author of The Fit Bottomed Girls Anti-Diet and co-founder of
FitBottomedGirls.com for a 90-minute interactive event and book signing at
Athleta on the Plaza that'll give you fun ways to live the Anti-Diet life. Come
dressed for activity and with a yoga mat as "FBG Jenn" will lead the
group through a short 10-minute workout, plus other 10-minute fixes that'll
help you to be healthier, happier, more comfortable in your own skin and have
you ditching the diet drama once and for all! Rainy Day Books will be on hand
selling books, too.
**Come dressed
for light activity, please bring a yoga mat.
RSVP REQUIRED -
PLEASE CALL ATHLETA STORE AT 816.753.7557 TO RSVP FOR THIS EVENT
31 comments:
A reminder to Raytowners who are interested in their city's future.
The Raytown Charter Commission meeting has been re-scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Raytown City Hall.
A guest speaker will be on hand from the Missouri Municipal League to answer questions about the drafting of a Charter.
hmmm... I heard that guest speaker cost the city $100.
Hmmm, I heard it was more like $150. Little matter. You want your Charter people to be informed don't you?
Look at it this way. If it is $100 that is less than 1/2% of what was given the city administrator a couple of years back at one time.
Kind of makes you wanta go hmmmmm!
So what if there is a $100.00 fee it will be well worth it for the guidance.
Glad to see the city doesn't care about National Police Week, which is this week, by the way. What a bunch of jerks, but typical.
I had a gentleman come into my shop yesterday and
ask me a question I wasn’t quite sure how to answer.
He has been looking at vacant buildings because he
wants to open a small business in Raytown.
His question to me was “Why do people think I am
crazy to want to open a business in Raytown?”
The only thing I could come up with was, Raytown
is not small business friendly. They have no written
codes you, as a new business can go by and they
change the rules in mid-stream.
I also told him, go to City Hall, find out what you will
have to do, and figure how much you have to spend
to do it. Above all get what you have to do in writing!
I also told him if he does buy or rent a building, DO NOT
TELL, City Hall that you are going to change anything
on the inside! They will make you hire an architect.
That could cost you thousands.
I told him, if you have to change the services, electrical, gas and
water then you have no choice but, cosmetic changes
they don’t need to know.
I said, you also need to be aware they could make you,
plant trees, install curbs, make a water retention base
and jump through many hoops. Again GET IT IN WRITING!
I tried to watch the Charter meeting broadcast on two occasions BUT the audio portion was nonexistent. Not much point in watching if you can hear what is actually being discussed.
Amazing, the first real meeting of the commission and 4 members were already absent. I wonder if this is represents the real interest they have in being elected?
I thought the meeting was on Monday night. Maybe if they gave more timely notice of when the meetings are held they would have better attendance.
It's just the second meeting. I bet you are one of those guys who wants to see the Charter fail before it is even written.
Pat, your comments are right on the money. I know some business owners who used to be located in Raytown and moved them to other cities like Lee's Summit.
I asked some of them if they would re-open in Raytown. Each one told me know. I asked why. They said it was because the city treated small business owners poorly. They felt they were being picked on by the city over codes that were never fully explained to them. The biggest problem was that you never felt you were done. If you had made changes to meet the codes it would not be long before a new list of violations was brought to your attention.
The number of small owners I know is not many. But they all told the same story. There must be some truth to it.
7:21 If business owners are having trouble due to city codes, it's because the city council has adopted international codes and dumped national codes. There was never any excuse for this. The use of international codes should be overturned.
Wow what interest the city has in the charter one citizen present besides 3 alderman. Where is all the interest Greg???
The absent count was not nine, there were 9 members in attendance. 4 members were not there. Please get it straight. The meeting was announced in time it had been changed from Monday to Tuesday and there was plenty of notice for people to notice in advance. The amount paid for the state rep. was 100.00 not 150.00 as someone said. Please get the facts straight. All you that criticize could have been at the meeting yourselves. Get a life.
3:38 pm
The $100 was paid to the Missouri Municipal League... not to a state rep. What they are is a group of lobbyists. The city pays dues to them so why did the taxpayers have to pay them to speak at our charter commission's meeting? Why does the city need hired guns like them anyway? We have elected officials in our legislature to represent us. Lobbying groups like this neutralize the voice of the voters and our elected officials in our state legislature. Bower keeps taking Aldermen to their meetings too. They have also been dragged into court by private citizens, fighting to protect their rights. You won't hear me singing any praises over them.
It is hard not to agree with the writer about the influence bureaucrats have on our local government. Raytown is a good expample. Not one of the appointed bureaucrats who run Raytown City Hall live here!
We do have two elected officials who run departments. The Municipal Judge and the Chief of Police.
I hear the Mayor wants to make both of them appointive too.
There's only been two meetings of this Charter Group. Let's give them a chance and see what they come up with. If they decide not to do anything they are wasting everyone's time. There is a lot to fix in Raytown. I hope they take their job seriously enough to come up with some good ideas for our town.
By state rep. I meant a representative of the state not an elected official. Actually he was retired from the state and spoke last night to help the charter commission.
To 3:36
It would appear that 12:06 is refering to the 4 people that were counted as present on May 12 th as the charter link showed
I know for a fact two of the four missing on the
charter board were sick. It was only the second
meeting. Please don’t read more into it than
there is.
Pat is right. I know that Mike McDonough, Greg Walters and Susan Dolan informed the Charter Commission members they would not be at the meeting.
Give them a break! The meeting was suppossed to have been held on Monday night but had to be moved because city hall was not available.
There are some out there who do not want a charter and will do ANYTHING to block it. Remember that when you read comments like nine people skipping the meeting.
I'm glad that Pat and others cleared the air over this!
Someone quoting the present and absent count of charter commisioners at meetings can in no way block the charter. If that were true then that part of the minutes would have to be omitted. Really now! Stop the fixation of they against us and let's get on with the charter commissioning so we can see what they come up with and vote on it in a year
Yeah, right. They are telling their little white lies because they want people to feel warm and fuzzy about changes for the better in Raytown.
It is a good thing that people stand up and set the record straight.
Apparently some are so grained in paranoid thought that the fixation on words like warm , fuzzy, and white lies become their mainstay.
To 6:57
What are you talking about??
"Paranoid in thought"?
Who talks like that??? I understand very well what the writer meant about white lies. They are pretty much a mainstain of some who write on this blog.
Is it paranoid to think that some candidates who ran for the charter commission were actually telling people to vote no on its formation. Is it paranoid to recognize that the mayor's unofficial mouthpiece, the Raytown Times, published editorials telling people to vote no on the charter?
Someone wrote the missouri municipal league guest speaker was costing $100. Someone else wrote it cost $150. Could it be one of them is wrong?
Make no mistake about it. There are those who do not want Raytown to have a charter. If they can't block it they will try to water it down to a document that is worthless in thought as it is in content.
Paranoid in thought! LOL
This is a new charter Commision ; they have just begun. Give them a chance. Enough already!
Everyone this is just the start of the meetings for the Charter, put down your verbal attacks on one another this in no way helps your cause . This is a New Charter; this is the 2014 charter commisioners they should not be judged by the past they are just beginning. Welcome to the present.
None of these comments make me feel warm and fuzzy especially the ones who go on complaining about everything wrong about it from the start and about all the bad people on it. They must want its efforts to fail for sure. I personally want a Charter and give the commisioners my backing and have faith they will produce a good carter that will pass a vote.
Old Watch Words: "Keep It Simple"
New Watch Words: "The New Charter"
Of course the Mayor would like to have the Municipal Judge and Chief of Police be appointed instead of elected.
The reason that's never a good idea is that unless they are elected, the people who fill those positions are subject to the undue influence of a City Mayor who has them do his bidding instead of what is right and legal. No Mayor, especially a tyrannical Mayor, should have that latitude.
Nope - can't let that happen. We need to maintain a system of checks and balances.
It seems to me that the charter commissioners should have taken public input and the input of their co-commissioners first, before meeting as a committee.
How else can they give due consideration to a matter?
It seems they've got the cart before the horse.
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