Control Ordinance BY PAUL LIVIUS
Members of the
Raytown Board of Aldermen heard testimony from two Public Speakers at its
last Board of Aldermen meeting. The topic discussed was the tethering of pets
by homeowners on private property. Current ordinances allow for tethering of
pets by owners, provided the owners are monitoring the dog.
Dissatisfaction
was also expressed due to what is viewed as the non-enforcement of
animal control ordinances. One speaker told of her 90 year old husband being attacked
by a neighbor’s dog.
Ward 2 Alderman
Jim Aziere brought the topic during the last meeting as a discussion item.
In his comments he said the city’s Animal Control Ordinance needs to be
updated and simplified so that Code Enforcement personnel can more effectively
enforce it.
Ward 1 Alderman
Greg Walters said City Prosecutor Ross Nigro believes our current
ordinance on tethering is unenforceable.
Walters said, “I
consider tethering to be cruel.
Walters continued, “Dogs, in particular, are very territorial. Tethering often leads to aggressive behavior and dangerous situations should an animal break loose of its tether.”
Walters continued, “Dogs, in particular, are very territorial. Tethering often leads to aggressive behavior and dangerous situations should an animal break loose of its tether.”
Ward 4 Alderman
Bill Van Buskirk is Chairman of the City’s Municipal Committee. He
has called for a meeting this coming Tuesday evening (December 3,
2019) at 8:00 p.m. or immediately following the Board’s regular meeting at
Raytown City Hall.
The Municipal
Committee meeting is open to the public.
GREG WALTERS |
Tuesday Night's Agenda
Raytown Board of Aldermen
TOW TRUCK
SERVICE: The Police Department has asked that the city procure a contract with
a Towing Management Service, when vehicles are in need of being towed after an
accident on public streets. The contract forbids the use of tow truck operator
who is not operating within the Towing Management Service.
The fee structure for towing of vehicles is
not included in the ordinance. The oversight will be addressed before the
bill is voted on.
KCATA CONTRACT:
The Board will vote whether or not to continue the contract with the Kansas
City Area Transportation Authority bus service in Raytown. The contract price
is $60,237 for fiscal year 2019/2020. The bus service agreement fulfills a
requirement of the TIF agreement with Walmart on 350 Highway. The agreement
requires the city maintain public transportation while Walmart is operating in
Raytown.
This particular bill does include a “Financial
Impact Statement” with it. The fee schedule is: $1.50 for one way fares, or, a
$50 monthly pass for riders using the service. Reduced fares for youth and senior
citizens and people with disabilities is set at 75 cents per one way fare.
RENTAL
REGULATIONS: Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers has sponsored this bill. The bill
requires rental property owners to submit to an inspection of rental property
at least once every two years. The bill also requires an inspection every time
a new tenant takes up residence of a rental property.
The fiscal impact of this bill (there will
be a fee for the inspection process) has not yet been spelled out by Myers in
the ordinance.
MONUMENT SIGN:
The City Administrator has requested the proposed expenditure of $40,000 for an
electronic billboard be carried over until the January 7, 2020 meeting of the
Board of Aldermen. This is the second time the City Administrator has asked for
an extension.
Sources at City Hall say the Mayor, though
not named as a sponsor on the bill, is the “push” behind its approval. There is
opposition to this expenditure on the Board. Some members have questioned why it
is being kept on the agenda when passage of the bill is in doubt.
The Raytown Report will be following this
story as it develops.
NEW BUSINESS:
There are three items under new business.
A contract for renewal of Lauber Municipal
Law, LLC for legal services. Lauber Law provides services through the city’s
acting City Attorney, Jennifer Baird. The basic fee is set at $160 per hour.
Also under consideration the renewal of a contract with Trout Beeman and Co. PC to perform the city's annual audit at price not exceed $38,000.
A renewal of a contract with Tyler Technologies to maintain the city's computer software at an amount not to exceed $95,610.00.
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