EXTENDED HOURS TO PICK
UP
BRUSH VOUCHER REMOVAL VOUCHERS
The Public Works
Department at Raytown City Hall will remain open until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
evening (February 19, 2019) at Raytown City Hall for those wishing to obtain
Storm Debris Clean-up Coupon Vouchers for clean up storm debris from January’s
winter storms. The Vouchers can be used at area recycling centers to dispose of
tree limbs from the storm.
Proof of residency
(drivers license or utility bill) is required to received the Vouchers. The
vouchers have a combined value of $50 and are limited to two per residence.
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
Old Rock Island Line
to become
to become
Rock Island Trail
Look
for a major development of the Rock Island Trail to be completed in Raytown in
late 2019 or early 2020.
The old
Rock Island Rail Line runs diagonally across Raytown. It enters Raytown at 73rd
and Woodson Road. From there it runs along the south side of Wildwood Lakes. It
continues north through Downtown Raytown and runs parallel to Raytown’s city
limits along Raytown Trafficway.
From Raytown
it continues north along Blue Ridge Cutoff to its destination, the Harry S
Truman Sports Complex, home of the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs.
The
Rock Island Trail has been designed as a walking and bicycle trail. It is
unique to the area because it will connect to the Katy Trail. The Katy Trail is
a nationally known bicycle that follows the Missouri River to St. Louis.
Locations
along biking and hiking have created significant economic growth for communities
they pass through.
Bret
Hugh, Executive Director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation
said, “Raytown is planned to be the Western Terminus of the Katy Trail.”
The impact to the Raytown area will be significant.
Mr.
Hugh also said, “Over 500,000 bicyclists and hikers use the Katy Trail annually
on rides across Missouri”.
With those kind of numbers passing through Raytown, nearby, such as Crane Brewery, would undoubtedly benefit from the influx of
bicyclists and pedestrian traffic along the trail. Not to mention the opportunity for new businesses to open up shop in Raytown.
The
Rock Island Rail Line was built in the Raytown and Lee’s Summit area in the
late 1800’s. Planners intend to use existing railroad overpasses to bypass areas
of high traffic volume where practical.
Another
benefit for those using the trail to access events at the Truman Sports Complex
is that they will not be subject to the ever-increasing cost of parking at
Royals and Chiefs games should the decide to ride their bicycles or walk the
trail to game played at the stadium.
Completion
of the trail is expected in late 2019 or early 2020.
31 comments:
I've heard that parts of the Rock Island Trail has been complete. Where can I find it? All I've ever seen is Lee's Summit. Does any one have an address so I can go see it?
The new trail is in doubt. It is tied up in the courts.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article225557540.html?fbclid=IwAR2CzL7rrxQWk9-aP4XiQ9lporHZDC_nF0of8V0qFMPHQbcNOKceL3kr0SI
I have heard the mayor is scared to debate Tony Jacob what I want to know is why or better what truth does the mayor not want us to know.
I heard the mayor is speaking at Las Chili's Thursday night.
I think this will be a good time to asking him why in four years he has done nothing to better our city.
Look at his snow comments and that the police will ticket you for messing up public works cleanup efforts. He forgets that we all heard his buddy make it clear the police are not issuing tickets as they are too short handed.
The Rock Island Trail is not tied up in Court. There is a dispute over money that may or may not be due property owners along part of the Rock Island Trail. The trail is not yet completed. It is expected to be complete in late 2019 or early 2020. Hope to see you their when it is done. I look forward to riding my bike on it when go to see the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
There is a wealth of information about the Rock Island Trail on the Jackson County, Missouri website. Happy trails to you my friend!
The mayor needs to be asked many questions if he speaks there. But he won't answer questions, he never does.
Ask him why he won't debate.
Ask him why a jury said under him the city didn't comply with records request. What has been said as a need for the audit.
Ask him why he served with a sexual predator and never turned him in.
Ask him why he wants to keep raising taxes.
Ask him what he's done in 4 years.
Oh, and ask him why his site says he funded the TIF refinance, but those bonds haven't been purchased.
What about the comments he posted that we deserve bad roads because the taxes didn't pass?
As the city faces a state audit for mismanagment, we find out they fought to hide public records for 2 years resulting in a 40 thousand dollar judgement.
VIPS was taken off the agenda after it became public the AG was investigating them and the relationship with the city, and those "grants" haven't come up since.
The mayor is on his own pension board decided how much he and the Chief, who is also on the Board, get paid and how much the city has to put into the fund.
There are many questions and many concerning issues. That's probably why he doesn't want to debate. He probably knows that every story is one of 5 where the other 4 didn't get published. He knows the emails payoffs and Facebook post demeaning the city would come out. He worked with his friend who is hosting the only canidate forum he will go to so they would ban recording.
He helped start nexus, who wanted to do interviews with all the canidatites, and then promptly dropped that idea in favor of his independence friend doing an obviously bias question form.
Where are the questions about transparency or accountability? Where are the questions about the city violating state law time and time again? That doesn't fit his narrative.
Maybe ask the mayor if elected if he will keep giving proclamations to his coffee group and those who work on his campaigns, or if he will care about more than just what benefits him.
February 18, 2019 at 11:00 PM
Looks to me like the trail may be in trouble too. I hope it gets resolved as the trail would be great for the Raytown economy.
The headline on the article:
Is Rock Island trail in jeopardy? Federal ruling puts Jackson County on defensive.
From the article:
If the board revokes the county’s status as a common carrier, he said, his clients’ cases in both federal and Jackson County Circuit Court would be strengthened.
“If it is revoked,” Stewart said in an email, “the whole house of cards comes tumbling down, and Jackson County is trespassing and will be forced to tear up even what they have already constructed.”
Imagine that the city loses a court case. They were holding records and the judge didn't order fines for over a year when the city refused multiple request for the same information.
The reason the city gave? "We screwed up and if we give it to you we'll get sued and lose"
Isn't that what clay county and the state auditor are going to court about? The county says if they turn over public records their wrong doing will be exposed and they'll be sued. Same thing here in Raytown apparently.
The Las Chilis candidates deal is a waste of time. Same old tired retreads small group of people who think they are shakers and movers.
February 19, 2019 at 6:43 AM
Provide evidence of the statement. Don't keep repeating something over and over without evidence. Show us!
It's a shame you don't have a donate button! I'd definitely
donate to this superb blog! I suppose for now i'll settle for
bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google
account. I look forward to brand new updates
and will share this website with my Facebook group.
Chat soon!
I'm tired of everything being the saviour of Raytown..The taxes, the trials, the fire district, the PSST tax, Wal-Mart, the TIF refinance.
Each time it's billed as this is the solution to all our problems.
"I heard the mayor is speaking at Las Chili's Thursday night. I think this will be a good time to asking him why in four years he has done nothing to better our city."
We've already heard quite enough from the Great Orator,thank you.
Instead, let's get down to brass tacks. In lieu of a debate, he's got some 'splainin' to do.
- ATTEND.
- ORGANIZE beforehand. Demand that he answer multiple, unique, substantive questions.
- Since he's asking to be re-elected, ask him to substantiate at least FIVE of his SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS which are DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE to him. Require detailed responses.
- Devise at least FIVE "WHAT IF" scenarios and question him in detail regarding what his proposed plan of action would be. Get creative!
- Since he's our elected employee and his responses are in the public interest, capture his every response on video. Use max resolution, please.
- Cross-post the videos on multiple social network platforms plus send to every media outlet.
- Review and critique his achievements and responses across multiple social media p!atforms.
Any worthy incumbent would not object to a review of his previous performance in office and a recitation of his plans for the City, nor would they disallow the documentation of their responses.
Alderman Van buskirk must be up for election, he had to comment on every item. The only time it wasn't a waste was when he showed the lie the mayor told that it took 40 years to build the savings. In fact tonight we found out they had millions in savings and weren't repairing anything until they were forced to.
I'm a deffinate no now on any parks tax. New OR renewal. They got 300,000 dollars added to the reserve this year alone and couldn't even mow the parks.
You all act as if some type of crime has been committed by city officials! Give me a break. There is not a lot of extra money in this city. You won’t raise taxes. City services have suffered because of this stubbornness to not raise taxes. Roads are horrible, no longer have EMS under city control. We will see if they actually stay in Raytown for all calls or actually get sent all over kcmo thanks to the great deal the fd entered into with kcmo. PD was severely slashed, affecting manpower. And you all still won’t raise taxes. The recession in 2008 started the process of killing this city. Look how long the car wash at 350 and Raytown rd is taking. That’s ridiculous. No big chain will want to build In the city. You all get what you deserve!
"Any worthy incumbent would not object to a review of his previous performance in office and a recitation of his plans for the City, nor would they disallow the documentation of their responses."
Would love to hear his answers. None of that overused "Promises made promises kept" hokum, either. The phrase is neither clever nor accurate, IOHO.
Another exciting board meeting filled with drama. I'm tired of this. It just goes to show how bad the coty is being ran. A top 40 snow storm in 160 years happens every 4 years on average. Now if it was too 10 we could talk. The planning and budgeting is atrocious.
Just saw a link on Facebook to a Star article about the city not following the sunshine law.
When i was asked to sign for the audit, i didnt kniw enough about it so i didnt. I talked to my alderman and they said the city was open, the news had a city person say they are transperent but the audit people kept insiting they werent. I believed them.
Now we find out the past 2 years they've been fighting for open government and the city has been saying they are, a judge ruled they haven't. And not just once but at least 4 different request.
With 40 000 in legal fees it's no small wonder more of these cases don't happen, I don't have 40 grand to get records and that's what the city banks on.
We find out now from at least 3 publications the city has engaged in a purposeful violation of state open records laws.
I'm sure the mayor and his independence admirer will try to spin this, but the judge was clear after months of even her being denied the city would pay fines and fees.
My next issue is how much the city's own fees are and how much it'll cost on appeal. We have deteriorating roads and no police. Yet this mayor and board burn money on protecting themselves and violating the law. I'm honestly ashamed we are always in the public for negative things. And the city always denys and gets shown to be a liar.
Vote them all out.
$42,000 in legal fees and fines sure sounds like more than minor issues.
Guess those folks in Independence and Kansas City who keep saying the audit is a waste of time and money are getting closer to eating crow.
Maybe the need to focus on their own cities and stop being the mayor's public relations team.
Well my brother across the state called me today. They even did a news story on Raytown and the sunshine violations. My wife wanted to move after we cut the police, and then after the multiple triple homicides this past summer . Now I'm wishing we would have. There is nothing positive going on. I see someone wanting change and trying to make things better and the city craps on them. Now I just wonder if I can even sell my house.
The mayor admitted his tif refi failed and left out that without a quick solution the city will be bankrupt from the balloon payment.
Instead of complaining there's nothing to do, why not try another avenue?
He said the city listened to Columbia financial and their lawyers. Now we find out the city Attourneys have given illegal advice and the city has lost lawsuits due to their advice.
We need a mayor and board that understand the issues or at least common sense. Remember in April.
Well the mayor and Susan are making their Facebook rounds. Time to defend the city. No one will make an offical statement just use tired old lines. "They only proved it once". Well actually in this case it was 4 times just this case.
And may I point out how much the fees are? That's why we don't see this more often.
"Its being appealed". Great more wasteful spending.
"The judge didn't understand the law" right because your sister does and that's why she's not a judge.
In just the past 2 months under him we've lost a lawsuit due to lack of transparency, fumbleded a major refinance, blown through our budgets, had the parks threaten outright mutany, had police harass his opponet, and have meetings where he can't count and tries to ram a tripled tax through.
This is just from the first of the year. That doesn't include him on Facebook bashing citizens for not tripling their taxes, or a lot of other complaints.
Was talking to a friend who has been a very successful attorney and we were talking about the Sunshine Law verdict. He was very surprised at the judges ruling that since there was identical precedent set in a similar case and thought that since there was imminent legal filings forthcoming with City of Raytown being named as future litigant, the information would then surface and be required during the discovery portion of that proceeding. He was highly respectful and familiar of the firm that was representing the City and thought they would have a strong appeal case.
Clearly he didn't know the facts of the case, and neither do you. The plaintiff was able to show that the same problems have continued to this day.
Remember the judge at first didn't think it was an issue. It wasn't until last November that it was considered and after seeing multiple emails and other documents concluded a pattern and practice.
Pattern and practice is lawyer for more than once and still going on. I've talked to several attorneys about this and other issues. They said to look at the request time and the case filling. Look at the depositions. The clerk said outright she rejected it because it was an attorney.
Now, let's talk about the fact that codes still hasn't resolved the hazard 2 years and one fatality later. Let's talk about how the current city attorney is talking about suing those attorney for malpractice. Or maybe we can talk about how not one lawyer has publically come out on the city's side but a couple have been supportive of the court.
Only In Raytown is someone not guilty after a court ruled them guilty. Will the mayor's supporters (who don't even live in Raytown) really try anything to help him win? It seems there's no convincing some people. They said they'd couldn't believe it because there was no judgement. Now there's a judgement and they still choose not to accept it.
Just watched the Board meeting. Public speaker said the police were harassing him, and lost camera footage of events. This needs to be investigated.
If it turns out he was lying he needs to withdraw.
But when it gets found out the police and mayor were stopping him and losing the files about it the mayor needs to withdraw. There should be none of this old school mentality of bullying.
"Alderman Van buskirk must be up for election, he had to comment on every item. The only time it wasn't a waste was when he showed the lie the mayor told.... "
Mr.VanBuskirk should be in charge. Period. He's a bottom line individual and he gets it DONE. Just witnessed this firsthand. If he has something to say, we intend to listen. We're very fortunate that he continues to choose to serve the City and citizens.
Why not do a story on the FD and the school bonds? On how they have so much left over cash they don't know what to do with it but are still asking for more?
I heard the bonds were being paid off so quickly they'll knock 7 years off early. How about they lower taxes instead of just being greedy always wanting more?
A couple of days ago I submitted an entry that for some reason was not printed.
I questioned the lawsuit against the fire dept. where the mayor lost 75,000.00 because he
just new the city would win. Now the city had to pay 42,000.00 and quite possible that
the city will be involved in a lawsuit due to the accident and the city will probably lose.
I will love to see the list of great things the mayor has done for the good of the taxpayers.
Post a Comment