To leave a comment use this link
Greg Walters Files
for Ward 1 Alderman
Former Raytown Alderman Greg Walters made a surprise entry into
the Ward 1 race for Alderman last Tuesday. Many observers had expected him to
sit out this race. The turning point for Greg came when he started receiving
unsolicited calls to run for Alderman.
Walters last served on the Board 10 years ago. Prior to that
time, he served for 34 years on the Board.
A RECORD OF SERVICE:
- Greg was the only Board member to vote against the formation of the 350 Live TIF.*
- Sponsored legislation that made Raytown the first city in the metropolitan area to broadcast City Council meetings.
- Successfully sponsored legislation that effectively stopped panhandling on street corners in Raytown.
- Married to Marelise Walters - 40 years.
- Two children, Hayley and Ryan Walters, one grandchild.
- Twin grandchildren on the way.
- Eagle Scout.
- Lifetime resident of Raytown.
- Former member Jackson County Democratic Committee..
- Elected twice by Board to serve as Mayor Protem.
- Elected twice to the Raytown Charter Commission.
*At a committee meeting before the Board approved the TIF Walters
told Board members the TIF was a bad deal for Raytown. He said "if the
economy tanks or fuel prices increase, the TIF will fail".
Within six months the United States economy went into a tailspin over a home fueled by a home mortgage crisis. The recession lasted 12 years, ending in 2016. When the roll call was called on the final vote authorizing the 350 Live TIF Greg was the only one to vote “no”. The final vote was nine yes to one no.
Within six months the United States economy went into a tailspin over a home fueled by a home mortgage crisis. The recession lasted 12 years, ending in 2016. When the roll call was called on the final vote authorizing the 350 Live TIF Greg was the only one to vote “no”. The final vote was nine yes to one no.
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
LOOKING FORWARD
Raytown’s image has taken some pretty hard hits in the last four
years. In just four years the city has had four City Administrators and three Finance
Directors. Our neighborhood streets are literally falling apart, and there is an
urgent need to bring Raytown up to the proper standard for street lighting and
public safety.
One of the first things I learned when elected to the Board of
Aldermen at the age of 24 in 1980 was how to work with others towards common
goals. We need an era of stability to chart a new course for Raytown.
I hope to gain your vote of confidence to help in that effort.
The April 2nd Election is unique.
There are four seats on the Board in which an elected incumbent
is not running. Before the first vote is cast, we already know nearly one-half
of the Board will be replaced. It is an opportunity for new ideas and new leadership at City Hall.
HIGH ON MY LIST OF PRIORITIES .
. .
IMPROVED STREET REPAIR: It is
time to quit using a band aid approach of repairing neighborhood streets. Asphalt and concrete streets have an average life of 30 years. The light aggregate seal used by the city has a life of three to five years. It is time to change our street maintenance program back to the use of materials we know work.
INCREASED STREET LIGHTING: A good
street lighting program is an affordable way to fight crime
and improve public safety.
and improve public safety.
TRANSPARENCY AT CITY HALL: Board
decisions are public business. They should be discussed in public sessions, not
behind closed doors.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS: I hope
to use my 34 years of experience as an elected official to help keep the Board
focused on issues with a goal of achieving results.
In keeping with my belief that the best government is one with open
lines of communication I invite you to contact me if you have any questions
about my candidacy or campaign.
April 2nd is Election Day in Raytown. Please remember to vote.
April 2nd is Election Day in Raytown. Please remember to vote.
Greg Walters
816-517-6852
gregtwalters@sbcglobal.net
Paul’s Rant! BY PAUL LIVIUS
POLICE AT THE LIBRARY
The
blog portion of the Raytown Report had a quite a bit of discussion this week
about the uniformed Police officers at the Raytown Public Library. As a regular
patron of the library I can report this is nothing new. The Mid Continent
Public Library hires uniformed officers for public safety reasons at nearly all
of their library locations.
CAMERAS IN THE PARK
The Raytown
Parks and Recreation Department spent $26,877.44 on high-tech video cameras to
monitor Coleman Park at 59th and Lane Street. Park Board Director
Dave Turner reported to the Park Board that Police Chief Jim Lynch turned down
the use of a monitor for police dispatchers to view what was going on during
curfew hours at the park. Lynch told Turner he did not want to use the
monitors. Turner reported the impass to the Park Board at a meeting back in
November, 2018.
Reports
of the homeless spending the night at the Coleman have been documented by neighbors
living around the park. Lynch announced his resignation/retirement after
the last Board of Aldermen meeting. Whoever takes the helm at the Police
Department should re-visit this issue. Hopefully with a better outcome for
Raytown.
WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY? At the last meeting of
the Raytown Board of Aldermen the City Attorney held a lengthy tutorial for Board
members on the Sunshine Law in Missouri and how it affects closed meetings of
the Board. The so-called “work session” was held after the Board adjourned
their regular meeting last Tuesday night. The Mayor announced there would be a
ten minute break and then the work session would be held.
Since
it was a public meeting, some people in the audience hung out to hear what was
going down. However, the video feed of the session was turned off during the
discussion. A shame, since the subject was on public sessions of the Board of
Aldermen. Go figure!
TAXES. TAXES. EVERYONE WANTS TO TAX US!
Look
for the following tax questions to come before the voters on the April ballot.
The Raytown School District will be asking
for an extension of a $50 million bond issue. Current bonds will expire in the
near future. That usually means the property tax will be lowered. Unless . . .
voters approve the renewal of the bonds.
How
much will you be saving if the bond issue is not approved? Good question. We
will try to find out.
The Raytown Fire District will be asking for
a 30 cent levy increase on the April ballot as well. The money will be used to
fund the ambulance service. Raytown voters approved a half cent Public Safety
Sales Tax to fund the ambulance and police services a number of years ago. The promise at
that time was that it would take care of the public safety financial needs for years to come. What went wrong?
The Raytown Park Board has been lobbying
the City Council to approve a quarter cent sales tax for the August election. There
have been some testy meetings between representatives of the Park Board and the
Board of Aldermen. The Park Board wants to capture all of the sales tax for its
use. The current tax is split between Park Board needs and Storm Water repair
needs throughout the city. The Board of Aldermen has the final say on when and
if the Park Board will hold the tax increase election.
 |
| BY RICHARD TUSH |
Better way for Raytown
MO State Statute 79.050 allows the
Board of Aldermen to put before the voters the right to decide if they want an
elected or appointed chief of police.
"The board of aldermen may provide
by ordinance, after the approval of a majority of the voters voting at an
election at which the issue is submitted, for the appointment of a collector
and for the appointment of a chief of police, who shall perform all duties
required of the marshal by law, and any other police officers found by the
Board of Aldermen to be necessary for the good government of the city."
With the current city marshal making
it clear he will not be seeking re-election, now is the right time to put t
this issue before the voters.
The wording should be set so that
the day after the expiration of the current term of office for the City Marshal
or should the current elected City Marshal
for any reason be unable to complete the current term of office that the Board
of Aldermen is authorized by a simple majority vote of the people to appoint a
police chief as allowed within MO State Statue 79.050.
As per the Jackson County Elections
Board, the Board of Aldermen have until Jan 22nd to certify any ballot language
for the April 2nd election, which still gives them enough time to move Raytown
in positive direction.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Tush's article was received early last week,.We held back publication until this weekend. The city could act on placing the item on the ballot, but time is short. He told us City ordinance requires the Chief of Police to live within city limits. An interim Chief of Police could be appointed until the City Council has time to sort out if they wish to make the position appointive.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Tush's article was received early last week,.We held back publication until this weekend. The city could act on placing the item on the ballot, but time is short. He told us City ordinance requires the Chief of Police to live within city limits. An interim Chief of Police could be appointed until the City Council has time to sort out if they wish to make the position appointive.
 |
| BY PAUL LIVIUS |
The Paul Livius Report
Raytown
Board of Aldermen Meeting – January 15, 2019
City
Clerk, Teresa Henry, swore in new police officers Robert Fox, Rees Nelson,
Jeffrey Peterman, and Samantha Stoner.
The Finance Committee requested a Study Session be scheduled at the
January 15th meeting for the purposes of considering the Parks and Recreation
Board’s recommendation of ballot language for the renewal and increase of the
Parks/Storm Water Sales Tax. The Parks
and Recreation Board representatives told the Board:
1. The City of Raymore 1997
Ordinance approving ballot language for a Parks/Storm Water Sales Tax with
specific percentages for each use;
2. The City of Raytown 2010 Ordinance approving ballot language for the
renewal of the Parks/Storm Water Sales Tax;
3. RBA authorizing a split of the City of Raytown’s 2010 Parks/Storm
Water Sales Tax;
4. The City of Raytown 2016 Resolution approving a 75%/25% split of the
Parks/Storm Water Sales Tax approved by the voters in 2010. and
5. The City of Raytown 2003 Ordinance approving the ballot language for
the creation of a Parks Sales Tax. Dave Turner, Park Board Director, appeared
before the Board for a study session. He
told the Board the Parks department realizes $277,000 from the sales tax, after
the Storm Water and TIF payments were deducted.
Increasing the sales tax ¼ cent will increase the Parks revenue, after
storm water and TIF, to $827,500. The extra revenue will allow the Parks
department to upgrade the restrooms at Coleman, and Kenagy parks, replace the
playground equipment at Colman, Southwood, and Krister parks, repair the tennis
courts at Kenagy and Minor-Smith parks.
There are also plans to repurpose Super Splash, add a dog park, and a
Spray ground.
The Board passed a resolution authorizing the continuation of an
agreement with Infinity Building Service for Parks and Recreation Department mowing
in an amount not to exceed $26,000.The 2018 mowing contract for Raytown Parks
was awarded to Infinity Building Service, LLC. midyear due to the poor
performance of the previous vendor. The Infinity contract was $25,000.00 per
year for up to three years, with no increase in year 2 or year 3 of the bid.
This contract is the cheaper bid from this date going forward, as compared to
previous bidders, whose bid increased each additional year of the contract.
Infinity Building Service, LLC, is the current contractor for Public Works, and
has been awarded the Raytown Parks Department’s mowing contract over the
previous budget years 2012-2017. Staff recommends continuing the contract into
the 2019 budget year, as it is the lowest bid going forward, and they are a
known vendor with appropriate equipment for mowing the Park grounds. Raytown
Parks has budgeted $26,000 for mowing and is requesting approval to spend up to
that amount, which has been approved in the City of Raytown 2018-19 Budget.
The Board passed a resolution approving the expenditure of funds with RED
Equipment and Industrial Equipment for the purchase of parts and repairs
related to the maintenance and operation of city-owned equipment in an amount
not to exceed $16,040.The City of Raytown Unit 252 had a rear pump motor
failure (piston came apart). The sewer pump vehicle was sent to Red Equipment for
an estimate. The estimate was $16,040.00 with a four-week lead time on parts.
The value of the truck and the fact that it is not scheduled for replacement
for another three years, it would be in our best interest to replace the motor,
allowing for additional years of service. We recently replaced the rear pump
which was around $9,000.00 dollars. A replacement truck will be around
$150,000.00. The estimated current value of an operating vehicle would be
$60,000.00. Purchasing policy requires staff to seek additional purchasing
authority for any vendor in excess of $15,000.00 single or cumulative purchases
within a fiscal year.
27 comments:
I recently received a blog directed towards me suggesting that we require writers to the Raytown Report Blog to identify themselves. Apparently there has been a good amount of traffic on a local Facebook page with comments attacking the blog because, in their view, posts written to the blog are negative.
It was suggested that I require people to sign their posts to keep such comments down.
I do not participate on the Face Book pages in Raytown. Though there are people who send me snapshots of some comments.
Paul and I are aware that such a format does allow for the ugly side of politics to surface. We make a real effort to remove comments that are, untrue, vulgar and for lack of a better term -- below the belt.
You would be surprised at how many comments are deleted and not published each week.
There is a problem with requiring a signature. The software we use (blogspot) masks the name of who is sending in a blog. We can require a name, but it would not take long for anyone to figure out a fictitious could be used. Since our blog portion of the page is open to anyone who visits the Raytown Report it would be difficult at best to screen comments in that manner.
It is interesting to note that I am aware of false accusations and other bad behavior on Face Book pages. And I can understand the difficulty the administrators have in policing such comments. But as it stands now, we will keep the page open to comments from the public.
From our point of view, the Raytown Report is actually two publications. There is the weekly edition we publish. We stand by our stories and have a very good record as to accuracy and honesty in the topics found there.
The blog portion (which we refer to as our "back page") is the readers area to comment. I hope the Facebook readers are aware of the difference between what we write and what comes in on the blog.
We are aware that political opportunists will try to take advantage of the blog portion of the Raytown Report. in response we promise to intensify our review process of comments received. Of course another solution would be for readers not to visit the back page of the Raytown Report.
Our weekly stories are fact based and an honest effort to inform the public about what is going on in Raytown. We urge them to keep up with the news in Raytown by checking out what we have to say each week.
Thank you. It’s gotten way too ugly.
From that page where thousands are members, but only the identical small core group repeatedly post messages, mayoral candidate McDonough:
"I have always listened to everyone as thats how ideas for "fixes" are born."
Employing this line of reasoning, we have a decision to make. A mayor to elect. I do expect to witness a debate between both candidates.
The incumbent needs to verifiably demonstrate +specifically+ how the City has moved forward during his administration, as well as submit to an examination of his competency to deal with numerous issues related to the very survival of this City.
The challenger needs to substantiate in detail a number of claims that he has made about City administration and outline what he can do to fix the mess we're in.
I expect a mayoral debate.
If one party is reticent to do this, my vote goes to the challenger.
***Monday, January 21, 2019***
NEWS ALERT. . . A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE RAYTOWN BOARD OF ALDERMEN HAS BEEN CALLED FOR THIS AFTERNOON AT 4:00 P.M. AT RAYTOWN CITY HALL. THE MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
REGULAR AGENDA
NEW BUSINESS
DISCUSSION ITEM
1. Discussion and possible action regarding interim Chief of Police position.
CLOSED SESSION
Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen may conduct a closed session, pursuant to the following statutory provisions:
610.021(3) Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of particular employees by a public governmental body when personal information relating to the performance or merit of an individual employee is discussed or recorded; and/or
610.021(13) Individually identifiable personnel records, performance ratings or records pertaining to employees or applicants for employment.
I have openly invited him to debate at a time and place convienet to him for the past month.
I did it again tonight at the meeting, he refused to acknowledge my existence.
I believe this is an example of how he is dismissive and can not stand up to challange.
"Maybe the Mayor considers Tony to be an annoying gnat and not worthy of notice."
There are probably people that consider the "Mayor" to be an "annoying gnat", or any other applicable subspecies.
This is all about parity - regardless of our feelings about either candidate, perhaps a debate would be provide an opportunity for someone to either shine...or to be revealed.
Good luck Tony, we do need a change. I agree that the mayor is scared to debate maybe if he has
several cops from the union in the audience he will feel stronger.
I imagine that the league of women voters or what ever org. will schedule a debate,sure hope so.
Public libraries around the metro have police officers there for a sense of security. It’s nothing unique to Raytown.
I commend Lynch for staying with his troops during the worst part of the budget cut aftermath. He could have bailed like so many other officers did, but didn’t. In my book, that says a lot.
"I commend Lynch for staying with his troops during the worst part of the budget cut aftermath. He could have bailed..."
Lynch BAILED.
When he asked for our vote, he was aware that it was a 4 year term.
He CHOSE to not keep that commitment.
Lynch BAILED.
So you’re bashing officers who made the conscious decision to take of their future since this city is so screwed up? And kept any officers from being laid off? Wow. Thankful I don’t with you.
Ready to move
I called 3 others and then checked with the main office. This is not their policy, nice try.
Of course he stayed they left and interestingly he got a pay raise at the same time... weird.
The most interesting thing about Jim Lynch resigning his position as Chief of Police is that he does not say why he is doing so in mid-term. I am sure he has a reason, not so sure he has to share it with the public. But even his most ardent supporters should realize there must be more to this tale than is being told.
I see the city council and mayor went into their predictable secret meeting mode in the wake of Lynch's announcement. Got to hand it to those guys and gals on city council. The are very predictable.
I agree with Richard Tush's observation. This is a very good time to make a much needed change from elective to appointive. The last four years have been nothing but turmoil at city hall. It does not look like there is any end in sight between the Mayor and what looks like the majority of the council.
Hope the voters see this problem and vote loud and clear to move away from the dysfunction that has become Raytown city government.
"I agree with Richard Tush's observation. This is a very good time to make a much needed change from elective to appointive...to move away from the dysfunction that has become Raytown city government."
We also overwhelmingly agree. Not meant as a personal attack, but we need a few Aldermen upgrades and to definite!y replace that mayor. Let's start fresh with new, collaborative people that are completely unrelated to the clique that we've carelessly elected into office over the last decade. We need attorneys and business owners. A strong city council and city manager would do a much better job in oversight of the police department! This would also free up the new marshal to spend more time doing what they're trained to do - help his or her rank and file to protect the city and its citizens.
Here's a question. President Truman famously had a sign that said "the buck stops here".
Ask yourself are you better off and is Raytiwn better off than we were 4 years ago?
If not, where does the buck stop?
I agree with the comment about Mr. Lynch resigning. It does not make sense. He still has two years left on his term of office. He is literally walking away from over $220,000 in salary and benefits. I haven't seen anyone do this since Mike Sharp and Mike Sanders quit their high paying jobs in Jackson County. We all know how that ended.
I think this vote on appointing a chief is only for the remainder of the current term. Still has to be elected unless a charter is passed.
Good point, perhaps he got the a letter from the same people. It has been brought to light the Attorney General has an open invesigation on the police department. And his friends corperation that was caught with city property has thrice been found violating corporate statutes by the secretary of state and is now also currently under investigation by the attorney general's office.
But I'm sure that has nothing to do with it. There's nothing to see here.
As for the huge pay, alderman Greene hit the nail on the head, he's way overpaid.
And don't get me started on the mayor stacking the police pension board with officers and former officers. That's worse than the fox watching the hen house. They vote and the city has to write a check.
Perhaps the city should file chapter 9 and zero out the pensions and the failing TIF.
Mayor Mike is the Best thing that happened for the City since I moved here 30 years ago. He should get a raise for all his hard work and hours that he puts in. Keep up the good work Mayor. Haters will always be hating.
You want to talk about overpaid??? Look what they pay someone who has no experience in managing city government to be the City Administrator. My gawd you would think that he had 20-years experience for what the city pays him. Enjoy your home and neighborhood up North, Mr. City Administrator with no experience. You can't do any worst than the previous City Administrators that's for sure...
False. The Mayor will appoint someone within the department, probably Hudspeth, and things will continue as normal, good ol boy system intact.
The Board voted to place on the ballot in April to move the Chief to appointed. If the voters say yes the new mayor will appoint a new chief with the consent of the Board. If the people say no Hudspeth is out and a resident has to be appointed. There's only 2 choices and neither want the job so it would be fun to see.
Just because they locked him into a 4 year contract and waived all requirements while still providing him 20 percent more than communities of a similar size doesn't mean anything is wrong. There's nothing to see here.
Good thing I copied this because I tried to post on nexus and it isn't showing up, maybe it just needs approval...
I read the article and saw it was way differnt than what I was told the audit was, so I went to the state auditors site to see who was correct. You'll probably delete this, but this article is far off base.
First the auditors page and the letter she wrote to the city both triple the percent of signatures you said. You say 6 percent and they say more than 15.
You say the auditors only look at financial information and not polices, but her site says, "Fieldwork
The fieldwork phase of the audit process is when the auditors are gathering information, studying records and analyzing a variety of documents. Some examples of items that will be reviewed include: minutes of meetings, written policies and procedures, and financial records. Auditors may also interview various personnel and test selected transactions." It should be noted financial records are last, and the site makes specific note they will not duplicate any work done by annual audits.
You assert petition gathers violated laws by soliciting signatures at a poll. Turns out that's not a crime and on the same day in other cities the same thing happened (including independence), this was dispelled by the Jackson county election board months ago.
Also, NO, ZERO accounts were verified of people being harrassed at a poll or threatened. This was started by Susan on unleashed. Susan from independence who was the leader of the pro tax group and is currently the mayor's spokesperson. The same Susan who is at this "paper" and routinely blocks people she disagrees with on Facebook.
And lastly let's look at occams razor shall we.
The governor is under investigation and he resigns, Nixon was under investigation and he resigned, and lynch resigns under investigation. The first two were proven to be miscreants, the jury is still out on the their. But the razor says the most simplest explination for turning down 250k days after an investigation is announced is the most likely explination.
Part 2 next
There are certain issues, like personnel, that must be in a closed session, whether you agree with that or not. The employees have rights too.
Lynch hung in there because he thought he could, bully, intimate and threaten the BOA with cutting his officers. I guess ya forgot about the letter sent to him "Not to cut patrol" and he did it anyway. He thought by using these tactics on the board they would continue to fund a dysfunctional dept. 56 officers, 20 on the street and a 8million budget. what's wrong with this picture?
Become "dysfunctional" in Raytown government? it's been that away for several decades, the good ol boys; "do as our told", get the picture.
1.23 6:52am
Post a Comment