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| BY GREG WALTERS |
Step Closer to Reality
Tony Jacob has been pushing for a state audit of the City of Raytown
for quite some time.
On November 6th, his plans took one giant step
forward.
Jacob and about a dozen volunteers braved a blustery day outside of
Raytown polling locations asking people to sign petitions asking for a state audit of the City of Raytown.
According to Jacob, the volunteers put in over 100 hours on election day gathering more
than 1800 signatures.
“I am extremely proud of the
volunteers who came forward to help us reach the number of signatures needed to
officially ask the State Auditor’s Department to audit the City of Raytown,”
said Jacob.
“Many of the people who signed the petition told us they wanted to
increase transparency and efficiency at City Hall,” continued Jacob.
A number of the signers apparently agree with what Jacob was saying. The
following posts, taken from a local social media page, show the interest in a
state audit is high in Raytown.
Paul’s Rant! BY PAUL LIVIUS
As with most political events, there is a back story to the success petitioners
met at the polls on November 6th.
Those asking for signatures were generally met with interest by people
waiting in line to cast their votes in the mid-term elections.
The day was not without excitement.
Tony Jacob was working the polls at Connection Point Baptist Church on
350 Highway.
He told us, “I was asking people to sign the petition as they waited in
line to vote. Along comes Mayor Michael McDonough who accosted me in a very
rude manner. I was surprised at the
number of voters who witnessed the Mayor’s comments, and went out of their way to
sign the petition after they had voted.”
The political lines seem to be dividing along the same lines as the tax
elections last August.
Brian Morris, former treasurer of the committee that spearheaded
McDonough’s three tax increases, also gave Jacob grief for his petition
gathering effort.
It is also interesting to note
participation by other public figures in Raytown in the petition gathering.
Former Aldermen Joe Creamer and Greg Walters are both known to have gathered
signatures.
According to former Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters, the last audit was conducted in the 1980’s.
“That audit did uncover corruption in the operation at
city hall,” said Walters, “particularly in the handling of traffic fine money”. (Walters served on the Board during the last
audit)
Former candidate for Ward 4 Alderman Sandy Hartwell was also seen
working the polls.
According to social media posts, one well known Raytown politician posted (in response to
criticism), “Your mistaken that those who collected signatures at the polls
were “cronies”. In reality, our petition group was made up of people who were
not best friends. We represented distinctly different factions and some
independents who came together for a common cause to help their town.”
To learn more about the audit process . . .
Comments
Excellent work, Mr Jacobs. And Greg, as always.
tsandingwithtony
http://www.auditraytown.com
That being said the main reason I signed was because it will find efficiencies and stop mismanagment. Let's be honest the Ray town cops aren't going to arrest one of their own no matter what evidence.
You can't fix stupid and greed and city hall is ran by those who won't resolve to move to our town and only come here to pretend to care what's best for Raytown while they take our tax dollars home to their nice neighborhoods in the suburbs.
HEY City Managers! You don't want to live in Raytown??? then don't pretend to care about Raytown for a paycheck and to fatten your resume and be gone in 3-5 years and not accomplish a damn thing. We've seen too much of that already. Loughry, Sharma, and the list grows longer.
aldermen were saying that the city needed to have a audit to uncover all the corruption that had
taken place in the prior administrations?
Why have they now changed there minds?
Unfortunately you called it. Especially with the "nincompoops" thing.
Nincompoops, you're on notice. Be advised of the following:
1.This city WILL hereupon be audited by a call of the citizenry with each and every future nincompoop eruption.
2. Time to abate ALL nincompoops at election time.
"Nincompoops".
Yep. You nailed it.
We'd gladly GIVE them the 2K. They'd be an extraordinary upgrade from the embarrassments we're currently compelled to endure.
Disagree. Even so much as a history of unpaid taxes should disqualify for office.
Taxes are a basic obligation that must be tended to.
That being said, I signed the petition and fully support an audit, a responsible move considering the number of years that have passed since the last one, the current financial condition of the City, as well as the involvement of several officeholders that have or had no business being in office to begin with.
We need new and/or highly qualified candidates across the board,
Can't say that we've ever been intimidated by Mikey.
My dissatisfaction resides on how Alderman Ryan Myers was treated during his discussion item. I commend his efforts for thinking outside the box to improve our infrastructure. Greg, I had a hard time seeing his slide presentation and he presented it very quickly. Can you get us a copy? Mark Moore couldn't be more off base about bonds. What a know it all. And Steve needs to learn how to control his temper. I believe he called Ryan unprofessional, while the whole time he was the one yelling and being unprofessional. Personally, I think GO bonds are worth looking into because the Aldermen cannot mess with the money and it's nearly impossible for the city to default since it's paid 100% from the taxpayer. Mr. Myers, keep up the good work. You have my family's support at the ballot box.
It is very impotent to have this audit. if the state does or does not find find anything hopefully we as resident of this city will see some mayor changes in personnel where it is needed.
Pretty sure there's plenty of mid-management wastefulness at play there.
I worked for the Raytown School District and I can tell you there is PLENTY of wastefulness in the district in management!!! It is the teachers that are getting screwed!!
Ryan Myers and every Alderman on the dais knows that the tasks and duties of the City Collector have been outsourced and automated. The County handles collection of taxes. The County keeps records on who is delinquent. Ryan Myers owes the Collector an apology, his statements implied that she has not being doing her job. Alderman Mims called for better behavior, well there you go.. Start now Ryan.......
Andy Whiteman
We'd rather work with a tabla rasa versus the perennially manipulative, uneducated and wholly unqualified.
#timeforthestoogestogo
Alderman Moore was correct to point out that the economy will turn sour again. Just to give everbody perspective, the interest on the national debt is almost 1 trillion dollars per year. The country is in trouble and City leaders would be wise to consider that another recession is around the corner.