Crime and Police
Activity Overview
On May
4th , at approx. 6:30 am, officers were called to a gas station in the 8100
block of Westridge Rd regarding a carjacking. The victim reported that a
subject approached him in the parking lot and took his motorcycle at gunpoint.
Later in the day, officers located the suspects with the help of an outside
agency. The victim’s motorcycle was recovered, several subjects were arrested,
and the suspects have been charged by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
- On May 6th, at approx. 11:30 pm, a citizen notified Dispatch about a car traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of 350 Hwy. Multiple officers immediately moved in to try and intervene to stop the vehicle and prevent an accident with other cars. As it passed one officer, he recognized the driver as an elderly woman with dementia he had helped the week before. After a time, officers were safely able to stop the driver. She was very confused and did not understand the gravity of the situation. They called a family member who responded to pick up the driver. No one was injured and no other vehicles were involved.
- On May 8th, at approx. 9:15 pm, officers were called to the 8900 block of 83rd Terrace on the sound of shots fired. They located three shell casings in the street but did not find anyone injured or any property damage. Three subjects, one of whom was a juvenile, were arrested at the scene with the help of witnesses. The gun was recovered, and officers determined that it had been reported stolen in Kansas City last month. The next morning, a vehicle in the area was damaged with a BB gun. The owner believes that the juvenile party damaged the car in retaliation after he was released to a family member the night before. The investigation into both incidents is on-going.
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| BY GREG WALTERS |
Meeting on May 19th
This
week’s Board of Aldermen meeting was expected to be held at City Hall. Mayor
McDonough sent an email to the Board last week in which he wrote there was only
one item on the agenda. He took into consideration the amount of time it takes
to set city hall up to comply with social distancing regulations and decided to
hold this week’s meeting via ZOOM.
That one
item on the agenda has drawn quite a bit of attention from Board members and
members of the public.
It has
to do with the approval of a conditional use permit for the operation of an “event
space” at 6614-A Blue Ridge Cutoff.
The location is directly west of (Raytown Parks and Recreation) which owns the Rice Tremonti Home. Some nearby occupants and homeowners have expressed concerns over the lack of adequate parking space and the effect of a late night venue on nearby residential neighborhoods and businesses.
On May 12th, one of the applicants, Lateasha Randle, sent the city an email asking for the item to be tabled. Raytown's Planning and Zoning Coordinator, Chris Gilbert, has suggested a July 21st date for the next meeting.
The tabling and setting of a date certain for continuance is an item only the Board of Aldermen can decide upon.
The location is directly west of (Raytown Parks and Recreation) which owns the Rice Tremonti Home. Some nearby occupants and homeowners have expressed concerns over the lack of adequate parking space and the effect of a late night venue on nearby residential neighborhoods and businesses.
On May 12th, one of the applicants, Lateasha Randle, sent the city an email asking for the item to be tabled. Raytown's Planning and Zoning Coordinator, Chris Gilbert, has suggested a July 21st date for the next meeting.
The tabling and setting of a date certain for continuance is an item only the Board of Aldermen can decide upon.
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| PARK HEADQUARTERS LOCATED AT 59TH AND lANE |
Park
Department Saves Over
$30,000 in Renovation
Raytown Parks and
Recreation has just completed renovations to its Park Headquarters located at
59th and Lane Streets. The renovation included a complete
replacement of the siding the building, along with replacement of windows.
Raytown parks (sport
activities) have been closed under rules set by Jackson County, Missouri.
(walking trails and strolling through parks are exempted). Park Board Director
Dave Turner seized the opportunity to make needed improvements at the Park
Headquarters. He called together his regular crews and worked out a plan to
make the needed repairs and upgrades to Park Headquarters.
The finished product
speaks volumes of the quality of work that was done. There is no doubt, the Raytown
Park Department is gifted with some very versatile and talented individuals.
Most of the work was done during the recently expired “stay at home” order.
Turner told the Raytown
Report the project had been projected to cost up to $42,000 in costs. Hardware
and parts came to approximately $9,000 of that total. The rest was absorbed
through the use of park employees – who are already paid for in the budget –
saving the Park Department close to $30,000.
20 comments:
I think you mean the MAY (not June) meeting has been moved to Zoom?
"....an “event space” at 6614-A Blue Ridge Cutoff."
Not the time, not the place. Health concerns. Existing venues are sufficient up against current demand and will be for quite some time. Would eventually end up being just another abandoned space, for all the usual reasons. Predictably, the property owner, management company and surrounding homeowners will come up on the losing end, more than likely. Especially if/when applicants have a significant, long-term and recent history of evictions and tax liens. Do your due diligence. Just no. NO.
I heard the mayors old friend Mike Sharp is running for Jackson County sheriff again. He has a lot of signs up just waiting for a sign to appear in the mayor's yard, #birdsofafeatherflocktogether!!!!
Is there nothing in the city to discuss? why only put one item on the agenda and reschedule it? why have the meeting at all then.
I just cant believe that all the city's problems have been handled at this point. Especially since meeting regularly last until 11pm. Is there a last call earlier than usual this week?
This is exactly why I voted a solid YES on the parks tax, and a firm NO on all of the 3 massive taxes that would have increased the city's take 5 times. The parks have used their money wisely, they've kept a safety net fund instead of overextending themselves, and they've listened to the public. It is completely different down the street at city hall. I know running for a state seat is time consuming, but I haven't been able to get a hold of my alderman for over a month now. I guess I'll just have to wait until door knocking begins to speak to them.
I saw on facebook the Mayor was laughingly taking off a face mask to address the camera about how we should maintain safety protocols. However, in the next post he and several others on the city's page are shaking hands not wearing any bio PPE. As the old adage goes, "Do as I say, not as I do".
Was the parks Zoom meeting recorded? I read on another social media site they laid out the "recovery plan" when we can get back to using the equipment our taxes are helping fund. i would like more details, but it wasn't posted on the city's website like all the other zoom meetings have been.
I watched the last BOA meeting and was puzzled at the comments from one of the Aldermen. They advised an applicant that they might as well give up.
Who does that? Could this Alderman clarify their comments? What was behind their outburst? How were those remarks productive?
What were they implying?
I'm completely against the meeting hall. For PRACTICAL (and not any other potential "implied") reasons. Among a bevy of other deficits, a cursory evaluation of the number of available parking spaces up against the other tenants' current parking needs should have ruled out that location BEFORE they even signed the lease.
I think the Board is doing the right thing by letting the applicant know all of the changes they will have to make to the building to open their business. I added up the cost of sprinkler system, fire escape access, alarm system, fire wall and came up with close to $60,000. Then there is the problem of not enough parking. One of those who spoke said their was 5,000 sq.ft. of space. That would accommodate up to 300 people. If those 300 people came to the event with three to a car they would use 100 cars. That is 15 more cars than there are spaces for. Add the people parking from the Dirty Bird and you have recipe for fighting over parking spaces.
May thanks to those BOA members who letting the facts be known.
"They advised an applicant that they might as well give up...What were they implying?"
We think that it's all too clear what their "implication" is. Veiled accusations are tiresome and should be called out, IMHO.
Trust the process. The "rules" are in place a reason, harsh as they may appear to be.
The BOA said the meeting hall facility will have to have fire sprinklers, fire escapes, and other improvements. Where is the property owner in all this? Why isn't the BOA talking to the owner instead of the leaser? If I was going to lease a building, I wouldn't give my landlord $60,000 worth of improvements for free!
Did I hear one of the aldermen say Raytown was getting a marijuana dispensary? When will it open?
I have been told by a fellow resident that Mrs. Mims wrote a code of conduct for her fellow alderman. After watching the last zoom BOA meeting and the rant Mims went on, perhaps she needs to read what she wrote and start acting like the professional she clams to be. Maybe being an alderman is not her cup of tea.
Generally speaking, a couple of our aldermen and city officials have, overall, been consistently detrimental to the process due to their overdramatic, frequent outbursts and blatantly agendized, manipulative behavior. They've pretty much been a consistent source of stress and embarassment.
Contrast those entities with the tenured officeholders that approach the issues with respect for the citizens and their needs. They actually return phone calls. They politely listen. They consistently do what they think is best for the citizens and community.
It's not all that difficult to identify, isolate and replace the first group. Pay attention. One by one, the citizens need to act responsibly and rid the City of these individuals.
High standards. Community service. A few of your aldermen could teach a master class. We continue to thank those individuals for their efforts.
What was the Planning and Zoning Commission thinking when they approved this????????? SMH
"overdramatic, frequent outbursts". ....Aldermen.
It isn't confined to the one.
The educator has definitely gone into overdrive lately.
The gesticulation. The eye rolls. The immature pantomining.
They need to give themselves a time out, a detention, or a Saturday school.
Super unprofessional.
Is it just me, or did the ZOOM app accentuate the behaviors.
Sensory overload. So much to keep up with at once.
Those little squares. At times it was kind of like watching the beginning of a sinister Brady Bunch episode.
Or Teletubbies After Dark.
Here's to the return of the dais and more civilized behavior.
The Planning and Zoning did their job. The only thing that is to be considered is if the space meets the guidelines set forth by the City. We cannot control parking. The owner of the shopping center and the tenants are responsible for that and any problems that might arise.
Somebody has been telling you some tall tales. What is the Planning and Zoning's job? Is it to be a rubber stamp? Drove by the Dirty Bird this afternoon at 5:30. The parking lot was already half full. By 9:00 tonight it will be completely full. Guess any other venues will be parking over at the Rice Tremonti Home or at the Guenther Mills parking lot next door.
You are sooooooo wrong about the responsibility of the Planning and Zoning. They have the ability to study ALL of the impacts on the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed 5,000 sq. ft. gathering place.
I watched the meetings about the proposed meeting place. How did the square footage go from 1500 to 5000? Why does the city count parking spaces located in Kansas City in a lot most people are afraid to drive their car into? Why does the city turn a blind eye to an unlicensed use of the facility long before it is even considered by Planning and Zoning? If you want a real eye opener, go ask the current tenents at the little strip mall what they think of the application and its impact on local businesses and residential neighborhoods.
It may be easier for Planning and Zoning to run and hide. But that is not a very responsible way to look out for the people of Raytown.
Of course, it would be much easier to run and hide from their responsibility.\
As for the problems that "might arise". It will become a city problem, tying up our police department. Is that what you really want> The police have enough on their plate already. Let's not add more problems for them to handle.
"Why does the city turn a blind eye to an unlicensed use of the facility long before it is even considered by Planning and Zoning?"
That, plus the applicants should have been all too aware that they were in violation, if indeed this space was used for gatherings twice prior to business licensing. An early propensity to sidestep the rules is clearly indicative of the possibility of future issues, IMO.
Drove by the Dirty Bird again this afternoon (Friday). At 3:30 the parking lot was almost completely full! Where are you going to park cars when there is barely enough rooms for the current tenants? Oh yeah.
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