RAYTOWN'S LEADING NEWS SOURCE
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| BY GREG WALTERS |
a Long Time to Heal”
“The scars from the battle over the budget crisis at City Hall will
take a long time to heal”. This is not my observation. It was the observation
shared with me by a friend of Mary Jane VanBuskirk’s while we talked over
recent events at City Hall.
It is hard not agree with the observation. Consider the following story:
Mary Jane Van Buskirk is the wife of Ward 4 Alderman Bill Van Buskirk.
She is outspoken, informed and certainly not afraid to share her opinion. All
of those are qualities that I find endearing in politicians. And, make no mistake
about it. Mary Jane is a politician. She served a number of terms on the
Jackson County Republican Committee. Four years ago she ran for Alderman and
lost in a very close race against Steve
Meyers.
Each year the Raytown Police Department holds a benefit golf tournament
to raise funds for two local charities. The Raytown Emergency Assistance Program (REAP) and the Raytown Police Benefit Fund.
Even though there is a contentious budget being hammered out at city
hall – life goes on. And so did this year’s Benefit Golf Tournament.
As in many previous years, her husband, Ward 4 Alderman Bill VanBuskirk,
made a donation to the cause and set aside time to play in the tournament.
According to Alderman Van Buskirk, Police Chief Jim Lynch contacted him and said him he would not be welcome at the tournament and said he was returning his check.
For reasons that are not clear. Mayor Michael McDonough mailed Bill’s
check back to him.
Mary Jane personally returned the check back to the Mayor asking him to
at accept the check as a donation to REAP.
This time the check was accepted.
There is a back story to this string of events.
Alderman Bill VanBuskirk is a former sworn officer of the Raytown
Police Department who served as a Reserve Officer in the late 1970’s and early
1980’s.
With that background it should come to know surprise that he has a
record of being very supportive of the Raytown Police Department.
But he is also a realist. His comments at public meetings have always
been fact based and on target. If you go back and listen to recent meetings you
will find that while sympathetic to police needs, he is also aware of the
fiscal reality the city is very close to bankruptcy. They have been working
hard to reduce a 2.5 million dollar deficit to bring the city’s budget into the
black.
The returning of his donation to REAP by Jim Lynch and Mike McDonough
is mean spirited and vindictive.
Van Buskirk has a duty as an Alderman to take a stand in what is best
for Raytown. He knows the times will be tough going ahead. He also knows that if
the city does not change its free-spending ways Raytown’s future will be
hopeless. Even worse than the darkest scare tactics being used by those who
would ignore the reality of city’s predicament.
It will take leaders like VanBuskirk to weather this storm. For all of Raytown's sake, let’s hope the other members hold the line in this year’s budget
proceedings.
The scars from what is going on at City Hall will take a long time to
heal.
Reserve Funds and
Contingency Funds Explained
After attending two budget hearings and listening to what the public
has had to say it is very clear there are many who are confused over two funds
in the city’s budget.
One of those funds is the city’s reserve. The city is required by
law to hold 17% of its funds in reserve. This reserve is a fund that can be
spent for emergency situations of epic proportions such as ice storms,
flooding, tornado or high velocity wind damage that go beyond the traditional
expectation of those who write the budget.
Typically, the Reserve Fund can and has been tapped in the past for
such situations. Usually these events can be described as natural disasters.
The city also sets up a Contingency Fund. The money from the
contingency fund is for unbudgeted items that are known to need attention, but
are not budgeted because they may or may not yet be designed, built or
concluded during the fiscal year.
The following examples are projects that may be paid for by the
Contingency Fund. The city is aware of the need. The decision to build is
tempered with the availability of funds.
A sink hole recently developed at The Assembly of God Church located on
350 High Way. The sinkhole was caused by storm water runoff from city property.
The city was liable for the damage done to the church property. The repair to
the property cost the city $85,000.00.
The 83rd Street Bridge west of Raytown Road is in very poor
shape. The city has applied for, and received a grant to help in rebuilding the
bridge. But even with the grant the cost to the city will easily run into six
figures. If the bridge deteriorates to the point of needing repairs before it is rebuilt, the Contingency Fund will be where they go for the funds.
Take a drive on 59th Street (west of Raytown Road to Blue
Ridge Cutoff. You will notice signs facing the east and west bound lanes
warning motorists to slow down. The reason the city had the signs placed there
is because the street is failing.
The extremely heavy rainfall this past summer and three water main
breaks, has undermined the sub-surface of the road surface. The result is an
uneven road surface that is deteriorating at rapid pace. What used to be a soft
rolling feel under your wheels as you drive the failed roadway is now a
markedly bumpy ride with asphalt surface starting to break apart.
We asked Neal Clevenger of the Raytown Water Company how much it would
cost to repair and/or replace the roadway properly. Clevenger owns the Raytown
Water Company.
The Raytown Water Company’s insurance provider is in negotiations with the
city to determine the cost and responsibility of repairing the street. The water
company has some responsibility due to the water main breaks. However, satellite
images of the road show it was deteriorating before the water mains broke.
The cost of rebuilding a street the size of 59th (which is a
four lane structure with sidewalks) over an area longer than a football field
will be expensive. If repair work is needed on the surface until a permanent solution is found, the Contingency Fund is probably where the money will come from.
City Hall is well aware of the mainteance problems. They do not have to be
addressed today. But if the bridge becomes unsafe for traffic, if 59th
Street collapses, the problem will have to be addressed. These are not natural
disasters. They are maintenance items. It is why Contingency Funds are created.
Some would say that in a natural disaster the city can depend upon FEMA
to come to the rescue. Maybe, if you are lucky. Last Spring high winds ripped
through Raytown downing many trees and power lines. FEMA did not ride to the
rescue.
Luck is for children and those who like to shoot dice. Realistic people
plan ahead. Raytowner’s should count themselves lucky to have a Board of
Aldermen who are doing just that.
Paul’s Rant BY PAUL LIVIUS
Some thoughts as I watch this year’s budget finally coming together.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE GOOD . . . BUT . . .
Watching the last City Council meeting was painful. The Board took a
lot slings and arrows. The Mayor had declared Board members were not respond to
comments from the public.
Which is a mistake . . . because if was very clear that many who spoke
are totally confused and unaware of all the facts. Board members could have
turned the meeting into an educational event for the public. The Mayor’s ruling
allowed some hysterical comments to go unchallenged actually increased the amount
of misinformation and confusion.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE FOR RAYTOWNERS . . .
One speaker has made his presence known at the last two public hearings
on the city budget. He usually starts his comments by praising the police. But
that is short-lived. Soon after, he begins to attack the governing body. He
calls them liars and impugns their integrity.
Then he went home to Lee’s Summit.
Public comments are a good thing. It allows the air to be cleared.
But allowing outsiders to muddy the water and not allowing communication
between the Board and the public serves no purpose. Effective communication is
a two way street.
The practice of not allowing discussion between the public and its
elected officials began under former Mayor David Bower. Mayor McDonough is
making a mistake by copying Bower’s lead.
The Board and Mayor should sit down and come up with some rules that
allow discourse between elected officials and the public. Perhaps moving public
comments to work sessions would be a simple solution. That way the Board could
concentrate on the nuts and bolts of city business during their business
sessions. Raytowners should be allowed to address the Board.
If there are professional spokesmen who wish to address the Board, they
should go to the City Hall to set an appointment as a lobbyist to address the
Board.
City and Fire District Settle Law Suits
The Raytown Fire Protection District and the City of Raytown are
reported to have settled the law suit between the two governing bodies over the
collection of sales tax and property tax payments made to fund what is commonly
known as the Walmart TIF on 350 Highway.
The City had sued the Fire District because the District was
with-holding payments to the TIF Fund. The Fire District counter-sued the city
for trying to enforce a tax obligation the District claimed it has already met.
Details of the settlement are not yet public. As soon as they are
released we will report them on this page.
The
Paul Livius Report
Raytown Board of Aldermen Meeting
Raytown Board of Aldermen Meeting
October 2, 2017
Chief Lynch said the proceeds of the Annual Golf
Tournament netted $10,563 to benefit REAP.
Mayor McDonough said October is National Breast
Cancer Awareness month. Tony Jacob
thanked Tom Cole for answering all the questions on the City’s Facebook
page. The Aldermen have repeatedly said
if the residents need anything, just call.
He said only a few aldermen actually respond to the residents. Catherine Hoffman said she was shocked
by the last minute attempt to take over the police department. It appears the Board has a vendetta against
the police department. When her business
was robbed it was the police department, not the Board of Aldermen that helped
her. Patty Harms said when the Board
talked about the TIF originally it was originally revealed that if revenues
fell short, the city would be on the hook for large payments. Matthew Plumber said when he wanted to
move, he could have gone anywhere. He
chose Raytown. He understands the fiscal
crisis the Board faces. He urged the
Board to stand strong and balance the budget.
James Bradford said the
financial problems have not been addressed by past Boards. The police department may lose officers and
that’s unfortunate, but a balanced budget is the priority. Phyllis Goforth asked the Board to attend the police academy. Chad
McCoy said he is the floor manager at Walmart. He wanted to clear up some
misconceptions. He said Walmart collects
$1.7 million in sales tax and pays around $430,000 in property tax. Walmart pays for all off-duty police
officers. They employee over 300 people,
many of whom are Raytown residents. He
said last year, Walmart contributed over $11,000 to local non-profit
organizations. Jarrod Rogers said he
is a Raytown police officer. He just
wanted the Board to see the face of who they are affecting. Rick Inglima, with the FOP, said the
aldermen are liars if they say they support the police department. He thinks the Board wants to run the
department. Dr. Thomas Murray said
we need more police officers and the Board needs to increase taxes or whatever
in order to keep the police officers. Deanna
Rhodes said there is a lot of crime in Raytown and the Board should not cut
the police budget. Michael Bassett
said he is a retired police officer.
People outside Raytown think this is a bad place to live. That’s because they don’t know Raytown. The budget cuts will kill new money coming
in. Derek Rice said we have a budget
to balance, but the Board is not listening to people who elected you. Brady
Wilmoth said the budget cuts will adversely affect the police
department. Sam Dawson understands the Board is trying to fix the problems that
fell in their lap. However, he is
against cutting the police budget. Angel Mathis said other agencies are
approaching Raytown police officers because they think the officers are losing
their jobs. Jeanette Gentry said the ordinances is smoke and mirrors. The aldermen should be the solution, not the
problem. Frank McDevitt is president of the Raytown Police Officers
Association. He said the officers who are
here want to be here. He can work for
Johnson County for $13,000 more each year.
Mayor McDonough said people have asked him why the
budget problems are all of a sudden a surprise.
He said before that, he made the statement that the city was solid and there
were no financial problems. That
information came from someone who used to work for the city.
Obviously that information was wrong. He said certain aldermen have asked if he was
going to wear a badge or be the mayor.
He said he is the mayor. He was
elected by the people of Raytown. His
first duty is to protect the people. He
said Alderman Moore had the ordinance put on the agenda and failed to inform
the mayor or the city administrator. The
Chief of Police is elected and should be allowed to run the department.
The Board passed a resolution amending the Budget to
reallocate various expenditures between designated funds. Throughout the year
staff has been monitoring the budget monthly. The following are the transfers
staff believes need to occur to adjust for the activity that has occurred
throughout the year.
2016-2017
Year End Budget Adjustments
TIF Fund 210
Expense:
Professional
Services 210-00-00-100-52250
$60,000
Fund Balance:
Unrestricted
Fund Balance 210-00-00-100-39999
$60,000
Capital Improvement 402
Revenue:
Ditzler
CID Loan 402-00-00-100-43707 $70,000
Interest
402-00-00-100-46101 $ 2,500
Investment
Income 402-00-00-100-46102 $ 2,100
Expense:
Professional
Services 402-00-00-100-52250 $
4,000
The Board tabled until October 10 a resolution approving
the budget .To view the budget, click on CITY BUDGET
Alderman Bonnaye Mims said she didn’t ask the staff to
reorganize the police department. That
is Chief Lynch’s job. She wanted them to
do it. She didn’t say anything about
cutting jobs. That came from Chief Lynch
to his people. She asked they not touch
the police officers because the department is top heavy. The first thing Chief Lynch did was to start
cutting line officers. Several aldermen
gave examples of cost savings items to balance the budget.
An interesting read . . .
The following story was linked to the blog portion of the Raytown
Report. The story was published in Reuters.
It is a story with some similarities between what is unfolding in
Raytown and what is happening in San Bernadino, California. Some similarities, but
not many . . . to begin with Sacramento is much larger than Raytown and technically
not a suburb.
It does explain something that shows the horrors of a municipality that
is being forced down the road to bankruptcy.
Comments
Bill VanBuskirk donates money to two charities, the Raytown Emergency Assistance Program (REAP) and the Raytown Police Benefit Association.
Vanbuskirk is subsequently contacted by "The Chief", who advises Vanbuskirk that he isn't welcome at the tournament, and that he would be returning his donation.
Then "His Honor the Mayor" actually RETURNED THE DONATION to Bill VanBuskirk.
Does "The Chief" or "His Honor the Mayor" exercise any providence over REAP which would enable them to turn down cash money on their behalf?
"Mean spirited? "Vindictive"? Potentially worse than that! Both of these entities need to be impeached as soon as possible, IOHO.
Logic tells me that if the OT is going to patrol officers, they probably are not enough close to retirement for it to play a part in their retirement formula. But I wonder.
“Crime is down nationally”
“We keeping spending more money on police, but crime has not gone down..”
“Most crimes in Raytown are petty crimes.”
“We can’t be fearful.”
Meanwhile, the Raytown crime map shows the truth about the crime situation.
Ok, one more time. We are a fourth class city because the residents believed the lies of the Ward 1 alderman, the Ward 2 alderman, the Ward 4 alderman, and his wife. Because of that, we CANNOT impeach or recall elected officials. We have to have a charter to do that. How many times do you have to be told? Or, perhaps, you're one of those people who went to the city council meeting last week and admitted they hadn't been paying attention, really didn't know what was going on, but wanted to tell the aldermen how to do their jobs?
Mr. Mayor. We are waiting for your solution.
The writing says the check was returned so that would mean the money stayed in the bank
Or am I missing something
Impeachment?? What a goofy statement.
This sounds like a problem between two individuals
Sounds like check returned to charity so no loss there
REAP got a check for over 10,000 dollars
Hmmmm and someone’s butt hurt so we need to get excited
Disappointing yes. Surprising NO!
The Mayor?? Asks a General Fund revenue question that seemed to stun everyone in the house. Except him!!
The Mayor has no solution just runs his mouth and trashes the council for doing their job. Jason Greene and council member questions on spending cuts will do more to find money for the Police department officers than anything the mayor has done.
NO LEADERSHIP!
The city administrator answered his question so understood it
I was watching
Were you on the same channel?
Hi 10:51
A secret? No they're not!
Go to www.communitycrimemap.com and put in your address. (Lexis Nexis) I get emails from them every day.
You can also sign up here and get the police incident reports email to you every day. www.piorpd.wordpress.com
You are welcome! Ciao, baby!
Yep. Concern here too should also be if these individuals are indeed overtly engaging in something this petty (as minor as it may be in the scheme of things) are they capable of covertly impacting others that they don't agree with?
(Gee, ya think?)
Yeah, we know. Happens all the time. It's politics.
The behavior of every person in City Hall needs to be more carefully scrutinized, documented, publicly addressed and acted upon from here on out.
We can all choose to demand nothing but the best.
Unfortunately, in our opinion, some of them have already quite clearly demonstrated that they lack the aptitude, experience and impulse control to capably fulfill what they've signed up for.
We have to pay more attention. Something good has to eventually come out of this mess.
Codes enforcement can keep yellow tagging and fining the house. If the homeowner does not pay, they can place a lien. The city is not in the business of house painting, pool draining and fill in. Maybe the property can be condemned but you gotta have ducks in a row to do it. Let’s treat city employees better. They are doing the best they can with what they have.
the mayor has no vote in the matter
only city Aldermen do
and you speak for the rest of us voters when you dictate who is losing what battle when it comes to our representatives ?
shame on you
Oh and I hope what little influence he does have he can help our police
We need them now more than ever
The only people spreading the lies and misinformation about crime in Raytown are Chief Lynch who wants to keep his power and prestige, and the upper brass who stand to lose their jobs or have their pay cut drastically.
It is very important when using the crime map to select "all events" and make sure every event is checked. The default setting does not show everything. You can set it back a year or more if you like.
Pay attention to the blue house tags and the blue building tags. These are robberies. Pay attention to the red fist tags, the red explosion tags. These are episodes of violence. Pay attention to the purple R tags. That one is easy to guess. I have been using this program for over a year, and I can tell you that Lees Summit does not have nearly as many burglaries or episodes of violence. But, don't take my word for it, go check for yourself.
Mayor has little influence hahaha, well if he has no power like you say maybe he shouldnt run his mouth to folks online or out of town and actually come up with solutions. Yes he has no vote but according to your logic maybe the position should be eliminated, save money for the PD. Not a leader time for him to step aside!
When will the City of Raytown file for bankruptcy?
Go to the sex offender website and look how many are in Raytown.
Then add that to the crime stats which are worse.
Then if you overlay the drug crimes and overdoses which you wont be able to find out but if you ask around you can find out.
This city like every city has the same problems.
-A Raytown Small Business Owner.
Others have mentioned before, the mayor doesn't get a vote in the budget. I'm not sure what we expect him to do if the aldermen are excluding him from the conversation...which is what appears to be happening based on the email posted in last week's agenda showing clearly that Tom Cole and the mayor were excluded from the email - and let's expand on that a little. I'm not sure how tech savvy all of you are, but with most email programs you can create an email "group". That's means if there is a group of individuals you email regularly, you can send the email to the group instead of wasting time by entering each email address separately. Raytown has a group called "governing body". That means either the sender intentionally took the time to list each person out separately (why?) or they expanded the group, which you can do, and intentionally removed those two names (again, why?). Either way, the perception is that it's intentional. Personally, I don't care who likes who or who favors which department....I want to see them ALL working TOGETHER. We now have an entire blog post regarding a slight from the Chief, but still no mention of an alderman intentionally excluding our city administrator and our mayor from important government communication? If we're going to drag out the dirty laundry, let's drag it all out.
As for the RPD golf tournament, I've sent out a few emails requesting information because I prefer to hear both sides of the story instead of just reading a clearly slanted blog post that didn't attempt to include any response or explanation from the other side. If I could hazard a guess, I'd say the police playing in the tournament didn't want to play with an aldermen that publicly spoke out against them. In the current climate, that doesn't surprise me. I would like to know more about the check, though.
Good old "Rick" is not selling any magical cure all, but he has been doing a wonderful job of selling fear, crime and lawlessness throughout Raytown.
The issue with all of "Rick's" clams is they just don't add up, but a little digging proves "Rick" has not been good at math for some time.
If we were to believe "Rick" we would accept the fact that we need at least 5 officers for every squire mile. This comes from the fact "Rick" says if we cut our officers crime will be ramped in Raytown.
Raytown has around 55 commissioned (sworn) officers per our own city marshal James "Jim" Lynch and we are only 10 SQ, which clearly equals 5.5 officers per SQ mile.
Have any of you heard "Rick" indicate that Lee Summit where he was last know to hold the rank of sergeant has crime and lawlessness throughout Lee Summit?
He should be because his home town and police force he serves only has around 142 commissioned (sworn) officers, but has 65 sq miles.
This means only 2 officers for sq mile and would indicate by "Rick's" explanation of less officers that crime in Lee Summit is out of control and any day the Governor will be force to call up the National Guard and declare Martial law.
This best be important to James "Jim" Lynch followers who have indicated at public meetings and on this blog that they are moving to Lee Summit to be safer, which thanks to "Rick" we know cannot be the case.
This is not the only time "Rick" has had issues with numbers as public information indicates several credit card companies have had to proceed to involve the courts to help him understand you cannot spend more than you owe.
What was that! "You cannot spend more than you owe", which is what this whole debate is actually about and is being direct by the State of Missouri. Something both James "Jim" Lynch and Richard "Rick" Inglima never talk about.
According to the paper in Richmond, MO "Rick" has been there too spreading stores without any facts to support them just like his games he in Raytown.
If by now you are not convinced that "Rick" is no more than a lying bully on the play ground you might find it interesting that he sued his employer the City of Lee Summit a few years ago for claiming that they aged discriminated against him. In the end, a jury decided against him and he was force to pay the court cost for his little lie and lack of proof.
Do we see a pattern with "Rick's" behavior?
Those citizens of Raytown who find "Rick's" behavior and lies unbecoming of an officer might be interested in the following form the Lee Summit Police website:
"While I consider the way I choose to conduct my private affairs a personal freedom, I accept the responsibilities for my actions, as well as inaction, while on duty or off duty, when those actions bring disrepute to the public image of the Lee’s Summit Police Department, my fellow officers, and my profession."
"I vow to be fully truthful and honest in my dealings with others. I deplore lies and half truths that mislead or do not fully inform those who must depend upon my honesty. I will obey the very laws that am sworn to uphold."
Based on those pieces form the "sworn law enforcement code of ethics", Lee Summit needs many of us to contact them and file a complaint about this officer's behavior and lack of respect for our Board of Alderman.
Maybe those Alderman that read this blog will want to contract Richmond, MO Board too and spread the a little truth in Richard "Rick" Inglima's life.
Address for the complaint form:
http://cityofls.net/Police/Submenu/Contact-Us/Complaint-Against-a-Police-Employee/Police-Complaint-Form
Actually what you need to do is two things with the crime map.
Check every box from homicide to burglary. Then select a wider date range. Go back 1 year. Then you'll see a better picture. The map has a one month default setting.
I also, while I was there, selected all crimes for a period of one year. No matter how I look at the map, no matter what parameters I choose, it shows Raytown has crime (which everyone knows and no one is denying), but our crime rate is way, way lower than Independence or Lee’s Summit. So, I guess I don’t know what you are trying to tell us.
Seems he needs to cleanup his own act before coming to Raytown and telling us how to run our city.
The mayor does not generally get to vote on anything. The ONLY time the mayor gets to vote is if there is a tie. The BOA recently made some changes to the percentage a resolution needs to pass in order to become an ordinance. That effectively assured no tie votes. The mayor is just a moderator at the meetings - at least he should be.
Raytown Burglaries from October 10th 2016 to Now =156
Lees Summit Burglaries from October 10th 2016 to Now = 63
Lees Summit Population is 100,000
Square miles 65
Raytown population is 29,000
Square miles are 9
Use the data grind tab and you will get a nice list of reports and dates, and a count. Way better than looking at flags on a map.
Thank you for staying strong.
I hope he resigns before he new budget takes effect or the Board of Alderman find a way to remove him from office.
The department will never be clean as long as he is part of it!
There was no other choice. That’s not staying strong. What we have yet to hear is a plan for turning the situation around.
Somehow all the money we have been spending on law enforcement did not deter armed robberies this week at two Blue Ridge Blvd businesses: CVS Drugstore and Dollar General
More cops on the street and fewer resting on their laurels in the office.
Crime is a supply and demand problem. The criminals provide the crime, and the citizens demand protection. Nothing that the board has done so far as restored my confidence in the City. The vote they took yesterday is one that had to be done. But what I see is a fractured board and a fractured town and a whole lot of politicking and hamming for the camera. I saw lots of blame with Alderman blaming the Police Department. You can not make bricks without straw, but that's what the board of Alderman is asking. Don't expect crime to go down in Raytown, if I was a betting person I would say we are in for some difficult times.
From everything we have seen the don't understand the laws and our very rude little kids.
The police have been trying intimidation games since the budget process started. That is morally and ethically wrong as well as illegal.
It is great they had the courage not to cave into the destructive behavior of Jim Lynch and Sue Frank.
Those upset about the out coming and wanting to protest need to protest the correct folks starting with Sue Frank for the worst TIF in MO history and than the Jim Lynch in the police department that was allowed to spend money like a sailor on leave.
One word for both of them "Criminal"
Seems pretty simple
Chief Jim Lynch really cares for.
Jason Greene offered some very business sound recommendations that would have saved positions within the police department, but once again those words fell upon deft ears.
Jim Lynch's actions over the past couple of month explain the true reason why Raytown has had a revolving door at the police department.
Who would want to start their carrier as a police officer and watch his behavior and not quickly decide based on the training at the academy that this guy who by some deal with the devil in not only my boss, but got himself elected to city marshal.
Stand strong and united Board of Alderman!
The rest the city foolishly have been using to pay the interest.
Do you want to explain or do you always talk in code?
Would you help all of us understand if we should be giving money to REAP or is there something they are doing like miss management of money that we shouldn't be giving them money.
Once again the mayor and police chief create more problems and questions!
Put on your big kid pants and let us talk about the real world.
I know folks that have not received a raise in several years it is just how the world works. I know others that did good to get 1% and these are all for National well known corporate office jobs.
Now look at all the folks who are only making minimum wage.
The other thing to think of is the number of folks that no longer get a pension. Many are doing good to work for a company that will match 3% - 6% in a 401K.
The thing you should ask is where were these same employees now and for the past 15 plus years complaining about the out of control spending within the department.
That is right neither them nor you made a stink in the public that this day was coming therefore making city employees and individuals like you part of the problem.
It could be because it is an elected position nothing can be done about the great mistake. A mistake by the BOA last year.
Simple fix to this whole Sue Frank mess and that is stop paying the bonds and go defunct.
Part 2 is get state to look at the school district for violation of hancock as well as Bower's wife getting a nice promotion and number of folks school board had on TIF commission and it paints an ugly picture for the school district.
This is ignorant on so many levels.
Many flat refuse and unless the person needing the report talks about going to the news or higher law enforcement agency the cops just drive off and do nothing.
Does that sound professional or more like over paid lazy ungrateful individuals?
She, the city collector, has also been very out spoken about the police cuts.
How every never heard her say not only cut her pay, but under the law for a forth class city to have the board of alderman make it a duty of the city marshal.
Now if Jim is the great guy he is too and wants to find every penny why has he not asked the board to make this changes, which is allowed by the state.
By the way I found money for at least one non-commissioned officer.
It comes from the finance department.
Don't forget that department was to been cut with the city no longer taking tax payments, but that has not happened.
Why not let the worst performer in that department go and keep one of those non-police officer jobs in the police department and if we are not going to do that go back to taking tax payments.
I call Tom Cole out on this one!
I bet he is well accepted at the FOP for the fine idea.
By the way talked to someone who taught Administration of Justice for over 20 years before retiring and before that was a retired KCMO police officer.
He made it very clear that if you want to prove there is a need for funding you make sure the officers are taking reports.
If you are trying to hide how much crime you really have in the hope of attracting business and home owners you stop taking reports.
When asked what Lynch was trying to prove or hide he just laughed and said you seem to understand how busy Jim is so I think you understand why reports didn't get taken in Raytown.
I took that to agree with Jim is lazy, doesn't like extra work and didn't want his officers to work any harder than him.
AG has power to investigate and take legal/criminal action!
I must guess you are talking about 11:19 as it is only place I noticed anything said about cuts to finance department.
It says "cuts", so not sure where you got the department was going away.
Do you know something we don't?
I too recall conversations with a couple of the Alderman and they said the cost for taking tax payments was to much and the city was stopping taking the payments and individuals would be cut in the department.
From recent conversations with folks that work at city hall this has not happened.
Doesn't this mean 11:19 is correct and that you wrong and trying to put words into comments by 11:19.
I know city hall hates to provide any type of support for anything they do as we have seen with the police department.
I would like to see the city pick a single street and do the full cost review of the following:
1.) milling and asphalt
2.) gravel and oil along with corresponding expense for storm water clean out because the city doesn't come back with street sweeper and cleanup the mess
3.) grave; and oil along with using one of the roller for putting down asphalt to get better adherence and street sweeper cleaning up the mess
I would also like to know how much reserve the city keeps for law suits related to the gravel and oil that we wouldn't have to be concerned with if we used asphalt.
This is comically. The City has a 2 million dollar budget for public works. And 100 million dollar backlog of projects. We have a bridge on 83 St. that is in terrible shape and probably won't pass a safety inspection within 5 years time. We face the possibility of more crime, the possibility of depreciating tax base that comes with that. And the only thing that is holding the roads together for everybody is oil and gravel. I have said this once, I'll say it again.... The seal treatment gets better over time and with use. It is a solution to keep what we have maintained at a basic level and nothing more. If you want better streets then you'll have to agree to a tax increase. Otherwise, you get what you pay for.
Smithville Fire Protection District goes.
Smithville must be another 4th class community like us. Kinda stinks doesn't it?
Please tell us you are not defending Moore’s actions? He throws a fit on the dais because he was angry that his amendment was pulled the previous week?
As for increase taxes you don't always get what you are promised, which is a violation of the law, but in Raytown laws don't matter.
We are already paying for Public Safety tax and never got a thing promised.
What about the transportation tax
Just last year we learned not all the park tax is going to parks.
The lies and shell games need to end
Someone needs to go to jail and before any new taxes are passed we need a good 5 years to see that we can live within our means.
All this talk of AG investigation etc. if you have some kind of evidence that something illegal is going on then YOU should call or shut the hell up. You make about as much sense as Aziere ranting on Channel 41 about the city not clearing streets this winter and all the other BS he and others and their wives put out there to deflect the ineptness of themselves. Must be hot information still sitting in someone’s garage floor that is lacking for moving forward for an investigation or just some more hateful lies
Also, sorry but with the world the way it is we need more police not less.
He pulled it because the majority of citizens were against the amendment. He created a firestorm and got spanked.
He took the time to have research done to prove his point which was in the board packet and now he is being lynched by Lynch.
Lynch's games best end as there may be other "Raytown rocks" the AG is asked to look and questions if political favors were done for him.
Ouch!! Truth hurts
which explains why
so many people
prefer stupidity to
the truth
I don't think so. His behavior Tuesday was juvenile and petty. Nobody with a brain should see his conduct otherwise. I am sure the AG is not looking that hard at Raytown. I am sure he is fully aware that Raytown is the tin-foil hat wearing capital of Missouri.
A cursory peek at their budget was surprising.
Somehow, they have a budget for public safety around 8 million. That is for police and fire.
How do they do that?
One thing obviously they are NOT a class 4 city. So there is some direct control of the fire department budget. But that is so much less than we spend.
The city is Gladstone, Missouri. I think it is mostly residential like Raytown.
Maybe someone who understands the nuances of city financing can look over the Gladstone budget and set me straight. I just can not believe they handle things that much more efficiently than we do.
To many years the Alderman feared the mayor and look where that got Raytown.
Simple, Crime. North of the metro has far less crime than south of the river.
Gladstone has a higher median income per household.
Supply and demand. The criminals supply the crime, and the citizens demand protection. If you do not have a lot of crime you can get away with hiring less officers.
Stay strong and united
Don't let the hate from police officers keep you from leading our city forward!
Please finish the clean project you have been doing at city hall.
The following department heads need to go for not doing their job and/or lying to the public and the board of alderman:
EMS
Neighborhood services
Once you finish that cleaning you need to tell the city city clerk to either start typing up the minutes as she was hired to do or she too can move on down the street.
Reaching for tomorrow to make Raytown first!
United? They don’t appear United. Meltdown Moore does not look united. Loose lips Aziere does not appear united. Libertarian rootin tootin cowboy Teeman does not appear united. Mims the diversity warrior at the expense of public safety does not appear united. This board is a mess. They took the only option available. Not worthy of praise. Can this BOA lead the city further? Like admit there is a revenue problem? Dunno. And I’ll tell you something, the vast majority of the informed voters are hacked.
Hi 4:48
"Hate from police officers"? Wow! Were you high or drunk as you wrote that?
I have no idea what you are talking about. The only hate I have seen is from the posters on this blog to tell you the truth.
Will somebody PLEASE tell me WHY you all hate the police? I can't figure that one out and I am smarter than most of you are! HA!
Ciao, Baby!
It is an easy target for critics of Raytown schools!!
Mr. Teeman has a wonderful opportunity available to him to own his own company and also spend more time with his family.
Has nothing to do with politics
Guess you missed the crazy FOP officer and the information on this very blog about him.
What about the post on the attack Lynch did to Moore.
We are one step away from making the news like KCK or have you missed that one too.
Most important what plans did the cops put in place after killing that vet on 79th street a few years ago.
Shame how our cops did that vet!
J
"killing that vet on 79th street a few years ago."
What happened??
Raytown has two ambulances and it took 30 mins for one to arrive.
It has been posted on this very blog many times that half the time Raytown is only running one if no ambulances at all.
It is time Doug the head of EMS be giving his walking papers.
Don't forget the fire where Raytown EMS refused to let KCMO take a lady to the hospital has Raytown EMS wanted to wait on their second unit. Yes, the lady died.
Thank you Doug for mismanagement and putting lives at risk!
Low test scores... blame the schools.
High crime... blame the cops.
Play stupid games and you win stupid prizes.
Because from what I've read above...the police, EMS, neighborhood services and public works all need to be totally eliminated for doing such a bad job. However, the council members are above reproach despite their well broadcast behaviors.
What City are we aiming to be? How are we moving toward that goal? All I see here is speculation, accusations and angry circling of the wagons.
11:11 PM
Thank you! I agree totally.
We need to come together or we're doomed.
Ciao, baby!
We're doomed..
Cause no-one's coming together. Too much poison in the air. Wish it weren't so.
Self Interest Rules!
Ciao, baby!