RAYTOWN'S LEADING NEWS SOURCE
Raytown
Board of Aldermen Meeting – July 11, 2017
Janice
Masters told the Board she wanted the ordinance amended or revised. She said the the city’s animal control unit told her they can only
perform welfare checks on animals. According to Animal Control personnel, they
do not have the authority to remove abused or neglected animals. Based on that information, Mrs. Mastes believes the city should amend or revise the ordinance to
protect animals.
The
Board passed a resolution approving the appointment of Josh Morales to the
Board of Zoning Adjustment.
The
Board passed a resolution approving the appointment of Thomas Murray to the
Board of Zoning Adjustment.
The
Board passed a resolution approving the reappointment of Dee Ann Stock to the
Planning & Zoning Commission.
The Board passed a resolution approving the
reappointment of George Mitchell to the Raytown Park Board.
The
Board passed a resolution approving the appointment of Jeanette Guenther to the
Raytown Park Board.
The
Board passed a resolution approving the appointment of Kimberly Montsdeoca to
the Raytown Park Board.
The
Board heard the first and second readings, and then passed of an ordinance
establishing a procedure to disclose potential conflicts of interest and
substantial interests for certain municipal officials. In 1991, the Missouri General Assembly
adopted an ethics and personal financial disclosure law, which applied to all
municipalities with an annual operating budget in excess of $1 million. Under the law, municipalities were allowed to
adopt their own simplified personal financial disclosure requirements by
ordinance (commonly known as “short form” reporting).
The financial disclosure reporting requirements apply to each elected official, the City Administrator (as the Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Purchasing Officer), the Director of Finance (as the Chief Financial Officer), the City Clerk, the full-time General Counsel, the Park Board, and the Parks and Recreation Director. Each political subdivision desiring to use the “short form” is required to readopt the ordinance authorizing “short form” reporting every two years. However, in order to avoid the significant consequences of the failure to readopt the ordinance the recommended best practice is to adopt the ordinance annually.
The financial disclosure reporting requirements apply to each elected official, the City Administrator (as the Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Purchasing Officer), the Director of Finance (as the Chief Financial Officer), the City Clerk, the full-time General Counsel, the Park Board, and the Parks and Recreation Director. Each political subdivision desiring to use the “short form” is required to readopt the ordinance authorizing “short form” reporting every two years. However, in order to avoid the significant consequences of the failure to readopt the ordinance the recommended best practice is to adopt the ordinance annually.
The
Board passed an ordinance approving a contract with DEW Farms Services for
mowing and nuisance abatement services in an amount not to exceed $36,000. The City of Raytown accepted a bid from DEW
Farms, LLC to provide the City with services for nuisance abatement and mowing
related to the city’s code enforcement activities. Through the contract, DEW Farms, LLC provides
abatement of various property maintenance violations such as junk, trash, and
debris; brush and branch removal, and mowing of weeds and grass in excess of
eight inches in length.
To our
Readers:
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
Last
week we published links to the lawsuits between the City of Raytown and Raytown
Fire Protection District. This past week the Raytown Times reported on the
lawsuit. Bob Phillips of the Times also wrote a short piece condemning the city
for a lack of transparency over the lawsuit.
We find
Phillip’s commentary interesting because the Times did not publish the text of
the lawsuit.
Given
the limitations of the pulp print media, we can understand why the Editor of
the Times, Randy Battagler, did not publish a written copy of the lawsuits.
After all, they are rather lengthy and would have probably cost a lot of money
to produce.
What we
do not understand, particularly given Bob Phillip’s complaint about a lack of
transparency, is why did they not publish a link to the Raytown Report?
We
carried the entire text of the lawsuits one full week before they reported on
it.
Their
readers could have had the benefit of reading the entire text of the lawsuits
and been able to form their own opinions about the merits of the arguments
being made by the City and Fire District.
In the spirit
of transparency, we invite Mr. Phillips and Mr. Battagler to publish a link to
the Raytown Report to their readers can learn first-hand what the lawsuits are
all about.
We are re-running last week's story for those who may be new to our weekly newsblog report.
We are re-running last week's story for those who may be new to our weekly newsblog report.
Unrealistic Goals
and
Broken Promises . . .
. . . have the City Hall
and Raytown Fire Protection District facing off in two lawsuits.
The City claims the Fire
District has wronged them by holding back payments of certain revenue collected
in the 350 Live Development Project (a TIF program commonly recognized as that
area anchored by Walmart on 350 Highway).
The Fire District says
the City has not followed through on promises it made regarding the timeline of
the development and that they have fulfilled their end of the agreement.
The lawsuits have been
filed. The two sides are meeting to try to work out their differences before
they go to court.
Who is right? Who is
wrong? You be the judge. The two lawsuits, one by the City of Raytown against
the Fire District and the Fire District’s briefs can be reached by using the
following links.
Fire District - Ans & Counter Claim to City
Claim Filed 1-27-2017 .pdf
20.8 MB
City of Raytown v. RFPD - Claim Filed
1-27-2017.pdf
90 KB
To leave a comment use this link POST A COMMENT 
Comments
1) Manpower to assist with moving patients and lifting. I once had to be carried from a 2nd floor on a stretcher chair since there was no other way to get me out. I weighed 150 lbs + the weight of the chair so figure over 200 lbs to carry plus at that time I couldn't couldn't remain still!
2) Fire trucks are also staffed by EMTs and Paramedics! A firetruck may have a much faster response time than an ambulance depending on distance and other calls for service. There were times in Raytown when I called for EMS and the truck arrived several minutes before the ambulance! These few very well could make a difference in saving the patient.
Andy Whiteman
There is nothing criminal in the issue regarding the 2 lawsuits. I mean if holding up the taxpayers of much needed community projects and infrastructure repairs in lieu of getting one of the Firetrucks paid for isn't criminal, then nothing is.
A current organizational chart is available. The P.D. is not in violation!
It appears that Joe Creamer doesn't really care about the truth.
This is evident in all the articles he has published recently.
Oh, but that is not all. Check this out.
favoritism: shown by somebody in power to relatives and friends, especially in appointing them to good positions
Let's be honest about this. There are people in the Raytown PD who are related to each other. Do they show favoritism to each other. I really do not know. I do know that if folks related to each other were not working together, this discussion would not be taking place.
I don't know why you bother to tell those people anything. They have been told repeatedly that city hall has nothing to do with super splash, yet they keep going to city council meetings and asking the pool be reopened. They have been told on this blog numerous times that the mess on 59th Street is Clevenger's problem. They know what they know and the truth be damned!
Now why would the city file against the fire district when it does not seem as if they have ever sat down and tried to figure out a sane way to resolve this problem without a law suit. I would imagine that this is a result of the board with the ok of the Mayor. The taxpayers funds are being used by the fire district and the city of Raytown. Do the taxpayers have a big bulls eye on their backs? Now the board is trying to refinance debt and it can not happen as long as their is a lawsuit under way.
I would think that it could be resolved before the court date of both sides were really concerned about the outcome of a suit.
Please try and resolve.
I haven't been on 79th street and Elm and I am sure it is bad as you say, but look at ALL the streets in Raytown!! I have seen county and country roads in much better shape and they have less money to work with. Fall is fast approaching and we haven't heard one thing about any street ovelays coming from City Hall. Oh wait, I forgot we can't do any street overlays. Where is all the tax money going? Could it be to the Raytown Police Chair Warmers? Naaaa!
Sunday, July 23 Ragin Rats Car Show benefiting the Dream-factory 10a-3p on the Green in Downtown Raytown.
Come see lots of cool cars, various vendors, food trucks, and a DUNK TANK (rumor has it that some city officials have volunteered to participate in this event).
Come on downtown its a nice place to visit!
Raytown Rocks
Did you post this on Raytown Unleashed on Facebook? If not, you should. A lot of people will see it and maybe attend.
The Parks folks are busy busy these days!
Steve Meyers,
Alderman Ward 4
The best example is the miss management of the TIF project.
.... positive attention to cover up the corruption and failures.
how soon are we the next city to go broke.
Streets a mess
Broken promises (public safety sales tax, transportation sales tax)
We won't even touch on the articles regarding the WalMart TIF
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/as-cities-go-broke-pensions-are-slashed/
Read the article, it could happen here if things keep going from bad to worst.
Now, before you throw Enron in my face, remember the Enron pension plan invested heavily in the Enron stock. When the company failed and the stock became worthless, so did the pension funds. You people need to research your subject before you start throwing statements around. It makes you look like the idiots you really are.
You need to ask the administrator to remove your post.
You are the one needing some education:
Talk to teamsters and ask what has happened to them.
They are sadly not alone.
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2017/02/pension_may_be_in_jeopardy_for_ex-jersey_city_cop.html
Why because just like Creamer claims there is no harm, no fowl and no proof just BS
Signups for the Raytown Citizen's Police Academy are now open!! Woo Hoo!!
Info about how to sign up is posted on their Facebook page. This is a FREE program. Signups are limited.
Get educated about the PD and have fun at the same time.
11:13 was bring up the ugly truths about our city.
I didn't read any thing about a complaint that someone didn't sign their name.