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Parks Improvement
Committee Report BY PAUL LIVIUS
An impressive group of Raytown leaders
met last Thursday evening for the first meeting of the Raytown Parks
Improvement Committee (PIC).
“It was refreshing to see such a good
turnout at our first meeting, “said Alderman Greg Walters. At its last meeting
the Raytown Board of Aldermen appointed Walters to head up a special committee
to look into ways to improve Raytown Parks.
Those in attendance included:
- Aldermen Greg Walters, Jim Aziere, Mary Jane and Bill Van Buskirk
- Park Board President Chris Rathbone, and Park Board member Loretha Hayden
- Raytown Fire Chief Matt Mace, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Hunley and Fire Marshall Taylor Seedorf.
- Captain Michelle Rogers of the Raytown Police Department.
- Seven private citizens: Mindy McDaniel, Deloris Dewey, Jane Loulos, Tony Jacob, and Phyllis and Sam Goforth
The hot topic of the evening was curfew
violations and ways to more successfully enforce the city’s curfew at city
parks.
Park Director Dave Turner had previously
shared with Alderman Walters plans to improve lighting in the parks with solar
powered LED lights and possibly the use of private security personnel to work
with police to enforce curfew violations.
Committee member Deloris Dewey shared with
the Board a transcript of a recent National Public Radio (NPR) Broadcast of an electronic
deterrent being used in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to keep teenager and young adults from breaking park curfews. The devices use ultra high frequency broadcasts, which can only be
heard by pre-teens and teenagers to dissuade curfew violations. According to
the story, by time most adults reach their early twenties the spectrum of our
hearing diminishes.
The Committee was intrigued by the idea
but saw the price tag ($5,000 per device) made the option a non-starter.
Fire Chief Matt Mace told the Committee the
Fire Department rarely uses Lane Street (which passes through Colman Park) as
an emergency pathway to neighborhoods north of 59th Street.
Mace said, “We use 63rd Street,
which has four lanes (59th Street is only two lanes wide). It gives
us a better response time for Fire and Ambulance calls.”
Park Board President Chris Rathbone said
Raytown Parks will be providing WIFI access to park visitors.
Raytown Fire
Marshall Taylor Seedorf said the WIFI signal could be used to identify people
within the park. Anyone breaking a law can be tracked using the WIFI signature
they sign up with to use the free service.
Alderman Greg Walters suggested what he
called an inexpensive and proven deterrent to keep cars out of the park after
curfew. “Most of the people who break the curfew in Raytown parks come in via
their car,” said Walters. “If they cannot bring their vehicle into the park,
they will not enter.”
Walters pointed out that the tragic
murder of June 15th at Colman Park happened at 12:30 a.m. – one and
one-half hours after curfew.
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| TRAFFIC BARRICADE AT STARLIGHT THEATER |
Another topic was a growing
use by homeless people at the park. Some come in by foot, many come in (after
curfew) in their cars and sleep in the parking lot.
“The use of gates and attractive obstacles protecting the perimeter of Colman Park , such as those used at Starlight Theater or the Truman Sports Complex would go a long way in enforcing the curfew at city parks,” said Walters.
“The use of gates and attractive obstacles protecting the perimeter of Colman Park , such as those used at Starlight Theater or the Truman Sports Complex would go a long way in enforcing the curfew at city parks,” said Walters.
 |
| AND ROYALS STADIUM |
The next meeting of the Parks Improvement Committee (PIC) would be held on Thursday, August 1, 2019, at the Raytown Fire
Headquarters (Station No. 1). The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 in the
evening.
Comments
As for the ultrahigh sirens, didn't they place high decibel sirens at some parks? Maybe not next to houses but they are there.
Andy Whiteman who is not a robot
I applaud those who attended the meeting last Thursday. At least they are trying to do something to fix the problem.
You should re-read the article. The frequency broadcasts are done in Philadelphia. Not Raytown. Could it be your sensitive hearing can pick up the noise half a continent away? According to the article the Committee decided not pursue using the technology. So just what exactly is your complaint?
I think the way to enforce curfew would be to install gates and LOCK them at the curfew time. Years ago I noticed Loose Park has gates and a curfew posted. I always assumed that the gates were locked at that time. Maybe I am wrong.
Andy Whiteman
1) they open/close the park at the appointed time and a crime scene has to wait until all the parks are opened/closed
or
2) the officers stay at the crime scene until they are finished and the parks aren't opened or closed at the correct time.
Take your pick, Andy. Which one do you want?
July 16, 2019 at 3:33 PM
I don't want Raytown police officers closing/opening parks gates.
That is the job of a parks employee.
That would be a GOOD thing. I yearn for those days. Standards, morals, family values....
Instead, we have this abhorrent longtime clique running the show and getting little to nothing accomplished. It's all yuck yuck and party time for these heroes.
They were city employees for so long that they probably figure that they're due.
It's all our faults, though. Had someone cared enough to recruit and vote in qualified candidates, these people wouldn't have had a prayer.
Tremendously reassured that we have several aldermen that are in there kicking ××× and taking names, however.
They hired a city administrator for half of what they are doing the chief for...
Pfft. Au contraire. Not ONLY will Randy receive a fair shake, he has our full support. He's beyond qualified and is simply a nice guy.
When the last "administrator" self-abated, we were really happy that Randy stepped in and hope that he will accept the position if it's offered to him.
If you approach everything with competence and a good heart, expect our unqualified support.
And those that are generally inept, giggle, muck about, back stab, and further run this city into the ground? "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes”, as they say. We're onto you.
If that constitutes "troll-age", so be it.
I wouldn't get a contract from any of these services!
The real question is why did the city agree to this company and how much kick back money is the city getting off every contract.
Andy Whiteman
What didn't the Board first offer the job to the Interim Chief and if he declined it, THEN spend $30,000 on a head hunter. This is the same head hunter that brought in one of the worst city administrator this city has ever seen (lasted less than a year, and was fired.) The headhunter admits that he has never hired a Police Chief, yet they hire him to conduct a search? Please request a copy of the RFP and how it was posted for bid and which companies replied. I would like to see that.
This taxpaying citizen of Raytown is sick and tired of this BS from the Mayor and Board, but yeah, keep raising taxes please.
THESE ARE NOT FROM THE CITY!
After checking the reviews it does look like something this company would do, to take a letter.
This is a whole new leaf. Not to say there isn't someone better, but you couldn't be much worse than what we had.
And that's nothing new for this interim. He's always been out and about.
Isn't calling someone a "troll" the same as being a "troll"? I see a lot of that activity on Facebook but very little here. I think the owners of the blog do a goood job keeping bad commnents off this page. One thing is for certain. The foul language found on other sites is not allowed here. I really appreciate that.
"I tried to go to the mayor's meeting on crime tonight and the doors were locked was it canceled?"
No the meeting was held. It started at 6 pm. I think the doors may have automatically locked.
The plan is for future meetings to be held at city hall. I hope you can attend. The next meeting date will be determined soon.
Also regarding the letters everyone has been getting about the water/sewer line insurance-this was discussed at a BOA meeting. The city may not have actually sent the letters but this company got the OK from the city to send them out. I've heard that getting a rider on your homeowner's insurance is more cost effective.
Andy Whiteman
Well after the meeting began, if anyone cared enough to show up on time they would be been let in. There wasn't anyone locked out or refused. Some older people were waiting in the parkinglot, but I think they were just picking up someone.
How many door are there are city hall from where you an enter and leave the building?
BTW - the "Older couple" in the parking lot that night were Mary Jane and Bill Van Buskirk, aldermen from ward 4. Not sure why they were in the parking lot and not at the meeting, but oh, well.
We don't know if the shooting was DV related, home invasion, or drug deal gone bad.
Let's wait for some more facts to come out. The only good thing is they have arrested someone.
Nearly every violent crime is a known party. Almost every single one. The problem is that type of people (criminals) feel comfortable here. The mayor said one group of teens drove from kck to shoot someone here while he was visiting a friends house. I bet they choose here because they know they wouldn't get caught.
I think they need anger management if that's how they're going to act.
You have to live through the nightmare of that night to appreciate the danger it exposed. Innocent people being gunned down in a public park is just wrong. We should take steps to do all we can to restore safety in our parks system.
Unless you think they are falsifying reports, perhaps these auditors should hear from you.
Also he was 30 minutes late to the meeting.
Folks----pay attention to the time that meetings start.
It is RUDE to come in and make a lot of racket to draw attention to yourself.
July 21, 2019 at 7:31 AM
YESSSSSSSSSS!!!! Thank you!!
Also, she did NOT make a big racket when she came in to say LOOK AT ME.
Just apologize to each other, swallow your pride, and start helping all in the city not just your little cliques on both sides.
wait multiple people weren't there on time? maybe it was a bad start time. One must also wonder why there's only a problem with just one of those people coming in late when others did the same. Perhaps there's special rules for that one lone citizen. seems fair.
"Im also worried that there werent any community members on the community board."
July 21, 2019 at 7:20 PM
There are two citizens on the Mayor's committee.
July 22, 2019 at 7:24 AM
Yes.
Some of the folks NOT on the committee were sitting at the table where the committee was sitting. The table was set up in a square shape.
All of the committee members were introduced at the beginning. If you had been on time for the meeting you would have witnessed this.
Tonight again siren after siren. When will it stop?
July 21, 2019 at 11:34 PM
Folks have medical emergencies, fires, and car accidents. Every siren is not crime related.
"If you had been on time for the meeting you would have witnessed this."
Sorry.
My comment makes it appear I am bashing July 22, 2019 at 7:24 AM which I am not!
I should have said if "one" had been on time for the meeting.
That's what's wrong with this town, they only care about themselves.
"That's what's wrong with this town, they only care about themselves."
I don't get that feeling at all from that post.
No, we do care about others. There is a ton of community involvement in Raytown.
I guess their loyalty to Raytown extends only as far as a paycheck.
The mayor gave everyone that came a chance to speak, of someone wanted to be heard they only had to show up. The community clearly didn't want to be heard and they have nothing to complain about.
She was told in March she was under investigation on March and resigned the next day.
Lynch was told about the audit and resigned 3 days later.
I wonder of there is anything else in common.
It's his fault the board and the former police chief screamed at each other and went outside at the budget meetings.
It's his fault an alderman pointed out officers were committing time clock fraud.
It's his fault the aldermen and parks went at each other for 3 months straight at every meeting.
It's his fault the mayor and aldermen were arguing last meeting.
He's been a busy little beaver I guess.
I also find it ridiculous that none of the city's leaders have tried to step in when this happens. They all sit on the sidelines. When the mayor was yelling at aldermen last meeting no one corrected him for being unprofessional. When Tony called Jason a liar (truthful or not) no one said to stop. When Jason wanted to fight Tony no one told him to calm down.
Everybody wants to be a leader, but no one wants to lead. Instead of just talking about reducing violence or mending relationships and how everybody needs to work together, how about someone actually try. Instead we're on the news every night last week. Multiple murders, elected officials stealing, fights at public meetings, the police not responding.
No matter how much good someone wants to do we are only as strong as our weakest link. We have 100 churches and none of them have tried to do anything more than words. At this point the bars have a better track records of bringing people together. What a shame.
The city is so dysfunctional
Some folks say they want to help the city, but their actions make me wonder.
Motives need to be examined.
We are not on the same page and until the city is united no progress will be made.
"We have 100 churches and none of them have tried to do anything more than words."
A Raytown church hosts games for kids in one of the parks once a week I think.
Two pastors were at the crime prevention meeting.
What should the churches be doing to help?