Bits and Pieces . . .

Items to watch for in the coming weeks:

• Taxes, taxes, everyone wants to tax us! Some Board of Alderman members were surprised to learn the city does not require elected officials and citizens appointed to serve on public boards like the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustment, Park Board, etc. to have their taxes paid in full to hold office. Missouri State Law requires that all taxes and fees be paid in full before anyone can file to be on the ballot in an election. However, there is not any statute covering those who do not keep current with their taxes once elected or appointed in Raytown.

In our view, elected and appointed officials should be held to a higher standard than the public. Part of leadership is to lead by example. All elected and appointed officials should be required to keep their taxes paid on a timely basis.

• Look for the Ethics and Code of Conduct issue to re-surface. The document was approved last November. However, upon review, the City Attorney has found errors in the document that needed correcting. The Mayor has appointed a new committee to review those changes and other suggestions that have been sent to the City Administrator by Board members. That makes sense. The Board should have the final say on legislation affecting their constituents. As one member of the Board of Aldermen said “If we are not needed to vote on legislation as part of representing our constituents, then we should all resign and allow city staff to run the City without any oversight.” Well said.

BY PAUL LIVIUS

The Paul Livius Report

Public Comments is held at the beginning every business session of the Board of Aldermen. Sometimes the best ideas come from private citizens who take the time to share ideas with their elected officials. A good example was played out at the last Board of Aldermen meeting.

Tony Jacob, who ran for Mayor in the last city election, and also successfully led the petition drive to Audit the City of Raytown had a very good idea.

During the Public Comments segment, Mr. Jacob pointed out the Parks Department was spending $15,000 on nighttime security at city parks. He said this assists the Police Department which gives the city more police coverage at night.

Mr. Jacob suggested that the City may want to help with some of the lighting and camera cost being spent by the Park Department.

Tony is an active supporter of the Raytown Parks Improvement Committee. He attended all of the meetings and was helpful in explain the intricacies of outdoor lighting and security in outdoor venues like our City Parks. The nighttime patrols have been such a success that curfew violations are one crime statistic that has gone down since the program was started in 2019.

Every Picture Tells a Story

The amended Ethics Resolution was unanimously approved by the Board of Aldermen on November 19, 2019. We have written a number of times the meeting was a train wreck. We have also been contacted by members of the public asking what was meant by that statement.

In this case, the best way to show what was meant is for anyone interested to review the meeting in which the final resolution was hammered out. So, for those who are interested, use the following link to view the Board of Aldermen Meeting held on November 19, 2019. Go to Item 8, part 2 of 2, minute 25, to see the fireworks

Use this link . . . NOVEMBER 19, 2019

One final note: You may have noticed two new links on the right hand column of the Raytown Report. Raytown Scoop and Real Raytown are two locally owned and operated Facebook pages. Check them out by clicking on the picture.

Missouri Supreme Court

Denies Raytown Appeal

The Missouri Supreme Court has taken final action regarding Sunshine Violations by the City of Raytown. In its final decision the Court denied Certiorari (in English it means the lower court ruling has been upheld). The amount of additional fees has not been released.

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