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Residency
Requirement Explained
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
On
April 1st Raytown voters will decide whether or not to continue to
elect the City Marshall/Chief of Police, or, make the position appointive.
That
part of the decision process is simple.
Residency
is the second question to be decided. As of this writing, the Board had opted
to put the issue on the back burner until the voters make a decision on elected
vs. appointive.
WHAT IF
THE VOTERS CHOOSE
TO KEEP THE POSITION ELECTIVE?
TO KEEP THE POSITION ELECTIVE?
Some
have written to the Blog portion of the Raytown Report questioning how Raytown
can require the Chief of Police to live within city limits if the position
remains elective. The argument is since only two active duty officers live in
Raytown, what if neither wants the job?
On the
surface, the argument makes a good point. But it should be remembered a
candidate for City Marshall need not be a Raytown Police Officer. In fact, two
or Raytown’s City Marshalls were not sworn Raytown officers when they were
elected.
One was
Ron Leslie. Ron Leslie was a former Kansas City, Missouri police officer who
had retired from Kansas City. He ran against and defeated long time City
Marshall Marion Beeler in the early 1980’s.
The
other police officer elected City Marshall was Jim Lynch. Lynch was a former
Raytown Policeman who had changed career paths and hand gone to the work as an
investigator for a private insurance
company.
Though
he was not a sworn officer at the time of his election, he did possess all of
the qualifications for the job through his previous position as a uniformed
officer.
WHAT IF
THE VOTERS CHOOSE
TO MAKE POSITION APPOINTIVE?
TO MAKE POSITION APPOINTIVE?
No
doubt, there would be a larger pool to choose from for qualified candidates if
the position were made appointive. The solution is quite simply. An appointed
candidate could be hired with the provision that they must move to Raytown
within a given amount of time – say six months or a year.
Either
way the voters will have the final say on the appointive vs. elective position.
So mark your calendars . . . Election
day is April 2, 2019.
Paul’s
Rant BY PAUL LIVIUS
Some interesting Facebook arguments
spilled over onto our blog the past two weeks. This time the discussions were
about Mr. Tony Jacob and his campaign for Mayor. Some of the other candidate’s
supporters were claiming Mr. Jacob did not serve in the United States Navy during
the second Iraqi War (aka, Iraqi Freedom).
Not much to say here. We will let a copy
of Mr. Jacob’s discharge papers do the talking for him.
By the way, for those who missed them on
the discharge document, his list of decorations and medals, citations and campaign ribbons awarded
him during his tour
of duty can be found on the left side of the page, see number 13.
51 comments:
"Not much to say here. We will let a copy of Mr. Jacob’s discharge papers do the talking for him."
And there it is. Thank you Paul.
And thank you for your service, Tony.
First, the Chief was still a reserve officer when he was elected chief. Second, if it does goes appointed, you want to require the person to move to Raytown, unlike they have done with any other appointed department head? Yeah that seems fair.
Wow, Tony continues to impress is there anything he can't/hasn't done?
I see why everyone is so weirded out, Raytown isn't used to someone this overqualified running for a seat. I don't know any offical that started college at 16, went into the military, and has worked multiple jobs at a time growing up. This is something we could really benifit from, a smart hardworking person who chose to move here. He just keeps looking better.
I must admit I thought this kid was litterally insane and paranoid. That's what I read from other people on Facebook. But when he stopped by my door he was able to answer my questions (after we sidetracked and talked about several other things). My advice, don't listen to the people online, talk to him yourself for 5 minutes and you'll know he's the real deal, he's very well rounded. I apologized to him for judging him without meeting him, and he's won my support.
You know the sad thing about Mr. Jacobs having to produce his military papers, the person that has been ragging on it, do not live in Raytown, don't have the first inkling of the requirements to run for ANY elected position. If this was the case, look at the mayor and some of the aldermen. She needs to go look at the State requirements.
You know the voters are not as stupid as you think. We've been watching and reading. Although we know who created this woman,(with her nasty,vile self). Raytown voters are tired of being out in the press, viewed as racist bigots. Only a hand full of you need to move on or shut up.
Great article again this week. I too agree the chief should be appointed by the mayor and approved by the board. I think there needs to be no waiver in the moving requirement within a year, for all of the city administrators they've always waived the requirement.
As for Mr. Jacob, that looks like an impressive list medals and such, thank you for your service.
It does make me wonder why Susan who proclaims she knows nothing about the military would call this a vacation, and why the mayor would back challanges to his service that this says was honorable. I am a little upset, but I guess in small town politics when you can't win on policy you must smear personality. I just don't understand attacking a veteran.
I'll be happy when this election is over. Already there is too much mudslinging, plus I am not sure how much more daily fluff and chest beating I can take from Mcdonough on Facebook. I get daily updates on what's celebrated on what day as well as realtime real estate stats in Raytown. None of which he is directly responsible for.
However, I can think of a few resume "builders" during his tenure that are noteworthy: Splitting the board, deficit spending since entering office, decimating the PD budget with subsequent public hysteria, no street overlay, turnover of multiple department heads, multiple lawsuits against the city.
And the cherry on top? Not one, not two, but three failed tax initiatives.
Will there be an option on the ballot in April to have no mayor for four years?
What has happened to the VIPS? All of sudden they have gone silent.
I thought it was pretty low when Mike stole a quote and didn't give credit to homeboy industries. Plagiarizing is pretty bad, especially when you do it to try and make yourself look smart.
But then when he didn't live by that creed, he didn't stand with the demonized, he didn't stand for truth, and he didn't stand for justice... that said all we need to know.
I was ashamed after the taxes when he said we deserve failing infrastructure, and then when he blamed those of us that signed for an audit and did so innocently wanting to know why all of a sudden we were out of money when the previous year we had no problems.
I don't know who I'm voting for but I know I'm not voting for him.
Am I the only one that doesn't understand what the big deal was and why he needed to post this at all? I don't think we've ever required anyone to post their resume, retirement papers, or degrees. I myself took people at their word and cared more about their plan and if they could accomplish it realistically .
Maybe it's just me.
Resumes that are vague get tossed in the trash in the corporate world.
They had a cash fundraiser right with the mayor's campaign fundraiser... Interesting how there's no report how much VIPS raised.
Because Mayor Mike wants to win this election at any cost he hS to win and prove that he is the man.
Make it sound as though Tony maybe was being less than honest and just to make a small reference
it might came people to question his record. No man should have to post his DD214 to prove that he is an honest person.
I understand from a few drivers that has used the new section of paved 59th street, (since the barricades seemed to be somewhat removed, the road isn't much better than the "roller coaster" we had when the water main broke. I been told it has humps and bumps in the new asphalt. It is a poor job of resurfacing. The contractor should make it right. Has the city inspector drove over the new lay? The city went cheap and got a cheap job. The contractor is well passed the finish date ( I know weather had a hand in it.
Great comment (below). I can imagine that it must be difficult to run for re-election after 4 years of negligible to no palpable accomplishments. I'd be furtively grabbing at everything that might keep me in office: positive feel-good quotes, citing exogenous circumstances that weren't even remotely related to my term in office and taking credit for projects that I didn't have much (if anything) to do with that would have succeeded anyway...all while having steadily contributed to the increasing malaise in City Hall as the City continues to decline. Hopefully the citizens will WAKE UP, pay attention, analyze our situation and not passively re-elect the same problem people into office.
DO YOUR RESEARCH.
"I thought it was pretty low when Mike stole a quote and didn't give credit to homeboy industries. Plagiarizing is pretty bad, especially when you do it to try and make yourself look smart.
But then when he didn't live by that creed, he didn't stand with the demonized, he didn't stand for truth, and he didn't stand for justice... that said all we need to know.
I was ashamed after the taxes when he said we deserve failing infrastructure, and then when he blamed those of us that signed for an audit and did so innocently wanting to know why all of a sudden we were out of money when the previous year we had no problems.
I don't know who I'm voting for but I know I'm not voting for him."
February 4, 2019 at 7:52 PM
Why should they report how much was raised?
You would find a way to criticize that too.
"Raytown COC, along with Raytown city government, needs a massive overhaul. Change is long overdue. The wife of one of the longtime clique takes home a paycheck for it. Don't mind them. They're just going through the motions."
That's not all. Reviewed the Raytown Chamber of Commerce website. Apparently another family member is an admin as well. Nothing personally against these individuals, but apparently it's all in the family. Par for the course, overall.
Well, we wonder if mike will take credit for that massive accomplishment. Since its the only road work done in a year and was finished way after schedule. The city paid instead of the water dept. There were so many problems, and it's close to city hall so there's no excuse.
When you don't have a record of your own you HAVE to question the opponents. Look at the service the Mayor has, they are all boards the mayor ceremonially sits on. The awards are awards given to anyone. I mean if you work somewhere for 40 years and never get a community service award that's an issue.
If you are a first responder and only get 1 life saving award. What were you doing the other 39 years and 355 days?
I have to admit it's hard to believe some of Tonys claims, but after talking to people that have sat down with him or have had him come to the door with binders and then watching his videos... he's like a fire hydrant of knowledge.
Our advice, slow down, way down. Not everyone has the same knowledge as you and it's easy to get lost when listening to someone who starts at 30,000 feet already. Also, not everyone (not most) are as well rounded, so when you jump between subjects it's hard to wrap our head around all the different topics.
Raytown politics could easily be made into a political drama and turned into an award-winning play. It has been amazing to watch and see the turn of events that has taken place in the last few elections. We have enjoyed having our donut shop here. We have enjoyed the people and families we have served here. What has been shocking is the rumors and the lies that get created to do character assassinations on individuals that they have simple disagreements with. If you have conflicting opinions with some of these people they will do whatever it takes in their power to stone you to death with their lies. Raytown voters deserve a public debate between Tony Jacob and Mike McDonough. It is time to dispel all the lies that are being spread.
The Mayor has been on Facebook saying he has not been the one questioning Mr. Jacobs service to our country or making other inappropriate comments.
However, the Mayor forgets as a former police offer the old rule of guilt by association. He still hangs with those that try to make Raytown and our citizens look bad, which just makes the Mayor part of the problem.
You have got to be kidding me! What is left at 59th Street is completed? I honestly thought they were waiting until warmer weather arrived to put the final top on. The sidewalks still need to be replaced. If what you say is true, and the street is done, I would have to agree with anyone critical of it. I hope they are wrong. I know the Mayor and most of his staff read this page. Maybe one of them will step and tell what is going on.
When teemam quit mid term it was resigning when lynch does it after an audit is announced its retirement.
Let me post a quote from the mayor's page where in the comments he says they are his own words...
"Stand with the demonized so the demonizing will stop! Stand with those whose dignity is attacked so their dignity is returned. Stand for what is right and just and not with those who knowingly practice deceit and character assassination to further their sick cause. Stand, so we can return their dignity and honor thus returning those same things to ourselves as well.
Remember, “thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor”."
Then I see this video,
https://youtu.be/zk--XN4ozr8 almost at the end the last minute or so.
Guilt by association arguments are not Biblical. We are told not to judge a person by the sins of the father.
Even if you don’t believe in the Bible, common sense and an ethical center will get you to the understanding that such arguments are patently unfair.
I'm going to leave this here... 79.210. Mayor — communications to board. — The mayor shall, from time to time, communicate to the board of aldermen such measures as may, in his opinion, tend to the improvement of the finances, the police, health, security, ornament, comfort and general prosperity of the city.
They addressed the 59th street construction at Tuesday's BOA meeting.
Watch the meeting replay.
Alderman Meyers and the Mayor still think the tax vote was about citizens not wanting good roads.
My vote was cast because I do want good roads and a good police department, but the mayor has squandered that money for years and offered no assurance he wouldn't continue. They kept changing what the use would be for. Why do they keep blaming the voters for the coty being out of money and running through millions of dollars in reserves, when we were saving money before this mayor?
Did the mayor really say we have bad parks? First he says we deserve bad roads and now bad parks?
We agree the parks (and city) have fallen to disrepair during your term, but never expected you to admit it.
Are we better off than we were 4 years ago? NO!
Anonymous said = When Teemam quit mid term it was resigning when lynch does it after an audit is announced its retirement.
The difference should be obvious. Teeman is 40-ish and Lynch is in his late 60's. When a 40 year old quits, its a resignation. When a 60 year old quits its a retirement. duh!
Congratulations Jim Lynch on your retirement! We wish you great health, happiness and stellar golf scores. Thank you for completing nearly one half of your commitment to the voters. Salut!
I checked on the city's website. They do not have the meeting posted yet. While there I looked at some of the other links on the page. Most interesting is the one listing the candidates. The list starts with Ward 1 and goes down to Ward 5. Then it has the Mayor's race and then the City collecor's race.
I wonder why it is done out of order. Ballots always start with the largest races at the top and then go down to the smaller races. Those are then followed by tax questions, etc.
Then it dawned on me. It was a either a simple mistake. Doubtful, because when the city clerk started posting the races on her home page the mayor's race was at top. Or, it is being done to try to take the focus away from the Mayor's race. Very subtle and at the same time sad. All it really does is point out the insecurity of a campaign that cannot control its base and wishes the election would go away.
One other thought. For someone to retire from the work force they first have to resign their commissions and commitments. For instance, when former President Richard Nixon resigned his position as President he then retired from politics.
Good wishes to Mr. Lynch in his retirement.
Not to question your biblical literacy ... but... the sins of the father are passed to the second and third and fourth generations.
Exodus 34:6-7
Or even exodus 20:5
There's more if you want to meet one Sunday
Months of delays... who starts a massive project in winter? Doesn't asphalt need to be kept warm when applied?
Perhaps the city administrator and public works director are overwhelmed (rightfully so) in the massive vacancies. At that same meeting they also announced no one want to be our finance director, we will have to pay extra for that.
They also announced even though the mayor got some diversity award (cost?) There is an "issue" that requires legal counsel. They also announced the mayor is negotiating with his donors... conflict of interest? Nope just another Tuesday in Raytown
Question... does Raytown have a human relations commission? And what is their job? I couldn't find anything about it on the city site and I heard from pubkic comments it was on there, but not active since 2015. I think they took it down completely now.
Wait one second... did the mayor not take off his shoes to count the votes? He tried to ram the triple parks tax through even when all the aldermen and the city Attourney tried to correct his math he kept arguing with them. What a shame to have a mayor that can't count and keeps wanting to triple our taxes. Forst to the state limit on property tax and now next to the state limit on parks tax. Money hungry.
Is an appointed police chief a good idea or not? I live in a city with an appointed police chief who was recently suspended by the City Manager for writing a letter to the City Commission critical of city leadership.
That situation makes me wonder will an appointed police chief enforce any violation of the law involving those who who appointed him because he could be fired?
Andy Whiteman
I’m happy for Chief Lynch. Hope he has a great retirement, he certainly has earned it.
Here we go again. Susan and crew are bashing Tony again. Her admin Brian is stirring it up again.
Must admit that we're quite disenchanted with our mayoral prospects. The incumbent hasn't accomplished much of anything. (So much more could be asserted, but we'll be kind.) No one we know can stomach another 4 years of that individual. The challenger, who obviously has an extraordinary intellectual advantage over the incumbent (IOO) needs to CAN IT with the continuous, pointless dialog with that same tired, group of doom loop Facebook provocateurs and their agendized minutia.
Let's stand on those issues and your solutions, challenger. Stop mucking about and dueling with that online palmful. You're muddling your own message.
Problem <-> solution. Position paper. Desseminate. Use bullet points, cartographs, puppets, whatever. This will get you where you need to be.
Well it's clear what the next four years would look like.
One canidatate says spend wisely, the other says triple all taxes.
A question to think about:
When it comes to appointing a Police Chief, would you not want to open the pool by allowing other qualified people to apply for the position? Or put someone in this position for "business as usual"?
The loud, bullying and intimating tactics don't work anymore Stevie. You know yourself, after you went to the Parks people and tried to strike a bargain with them for asking for a 3/8 cent tax,again to the people with them sitting on $900,000. If you can't fix and maintain the parks we already have, why try adding other projects that we can't afford (Dog Park and spray pool). We the voters are not stupid and are tired of TAXES. I like what that lady said, "the people elected us to make sound decisions." People get mad at her, but she's been telling us the truth all along, stood up to the Unleash group of attacks; now everything she told us is in our face. I've learned to like her, because she don't mix her words. Stand up and do your jobs, quit using the band aid approach to everything by raising taxes. Stop spending money for us the voters to tell you we're tired of hearing MORE TAXES.
Did mayor Mike really say he wanted to triple the Parks tax? He failed at 3 taxes one of which was tripling our property tax. I guess that 3x is simple math.
What I don't understand is when the board though 1/4 wasn't good but a lot of them seemed to think 3/8 was. The parks didn't originally want more, bit I also heard Steve Meyers and Jason Greene went there. Maybe they convinced them to go for gold.
Just watched the meeting and while on the website found the Human Relations Committee link on the sidebar. When I clicked it I found Tony was right, they had two meetings. Both were in 2015. That was 3 city administrators ago (same mayor) they haven't accomplished any of the goals they set out (including sidewalks). I guess they have been shut down. I also noticed the mayor must watch Tonys videos, he quoted his tax idea. Seems he doesn't have a thought of his own. First stealing from a Facebook video and now his opponent.
There will be Raytown candidate forum (mayor and aldermen) on March 26 at Raytown Christian Church starting at 6 pm.
I hope it will be packed.
Here is the problem making it appointed in a 4th class city. They can't supersede state law and make them live in the city when state law says you can't make them live in the city. That is why Mahesh couldn't be forced to live in the city and they won't be able to force Damon either. Only way that can be enforced is if a charter is passed.
You are so wrong about the residency requirement. If someone is hired with an understanding that they will take up residence in a city it is an agreement between the those hiring and the person hired. Up unitl about 1995 ALL Raytown city officials lived within the city of Raytown. Then the board and mayor started making exceptions to the rule. Now we have a city in which NONE of the appointed department heads live in the city. They have no stake in the community and sadly, it shows.
Mahesh Sharma broke his word many times over with the city council. A weak mayor and an incredibly gullible city council bought into allowing him to stay despite many promises to move to Raytown.
Remember this about all department heads. They serve at the pleasure of the Board of Aldermen. In case of tie the Mayor makes a difference as well. They can be replaced at any time the majority of the Board decides they should go.
Why do you think Sharma left town? Ask one of the BOA that was there when it happened. Four of them still have a seat on the Board. They can tell you why sharma left.
You can talk about the weak mayor and gullible city council in regards to Mahesh Sharma, but don't make it sound like it is Mike McDonough's fault. Sure, Sharma left during McDonough's administration, but he lied repeatedly to Sue Frank and David Bower. The reason Sharma left was he got a bad annual review. He wasn't doing what his contract call for. The current Mayor and BOA stood up to him and told him he had to do his job. Because they expected him to actually work, he quit instead.
Then why did mark leave, and why did Tom leave who the Board lauded for good service (and are white). Why did Breanna leave and everyone before her and why don't we have a finance director with any experience to do with finance?
And then we have the legal leaving after the audit is turned in but coming back for extra money for "special council". We have aldermen who have no idea what legal os working on and all the issues that keep popping up. One has kept saying everytime they go to fix something other things pop up.
"Then why did mark leave, and why did Tom leave who the Board lauded for good service (and are white)."
What does race have to do with your commentary? Race baiting doesn't bode well for anyone. Is there any doubt whatsoever who is behind these comments? Just cut it out.
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