UPDATE: On Monday evening at 9:05 pm five gunshots from what sounded like a high caliber handgun were fired at the southern entrance of Colman Park. Police responded shortly afterward and collected evidence (spent shell casings) from the crime scene.
Gunfire at Colman Park
At approximately 8:00 pm on Saturday evening an unknown individual fired six shots at Colman Park. It is not believed that anyone was injured in the shooting. There was, however a woman screaming, “have you been shot?”
By time the police arrived the shooters were long gone.
This type of activity has, unfortunately, become common place at the park
on weekends and even during the week. Neighbors of the park
tell of live gunfire at least twice during the week – and almost without fail on the
weekend.
The shootings have many things in common. They all take place at night.
Immediately after the shots are fired you can hear car(s) speeding away from the park.
The police show up, but not until all the shooters are gone.
Saturday night’s incident has neighbors of the park very concerned.
Witnesses say the park was not cleared after the gunplay. One neighbor of the
park found shell casings and a bag where the event took place.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Raytown Police Department at
737-6020.
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| BY GREG WALTERS |
A week does not go by in which I am asked when the State Audit of the City of Raytown will be completed. At last Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen I publicly asked for an update on the progress of the audit.
Our City Administrator,
Damon Hodges, reported the “the audit is still on-going.”
This came as somewhat of
a surprise. The audit was reported to have been in its winding down phase
earlier this year. Originally, the Board was told to expect the results in
April or May of 2020. A meeting was tentatively scheduled to meet with the auditors on September 22nd. The Board was informed the meeting
had been cancelled. No explanation was given as to “why” it had been
cancelled.
The Raytown Report will
continue to monitor the situation and post updates as the story develops.
Board Scales Back
PROPOSED CHANGES AT CITY HALL
City
Administration officials at Raytown City Hall presented a 1.2 million dollar
remodeling package for Raytown City Hall at last Tuesday’s meeting. Public
Works Director Jose Leon presented the proposal to the Board. The City is
in receipt of $1.7 million of Covid-19 Funds from the federal government for
use on Covid-19 related needs. The money does come with strict guidelines as to
how it can be spent. There is also a deadline for the money to be spent by the
end of the year.
The 1.2 million dollars would utilize approximately $600,000 of the Covid Funds to pay for changes at city hall. Additional funds for the balance of the 1.2 million dollars would come from the city’s general fund balance. Items such as touch free plumbing in restrooms and water fountains, re-design of building entryways to include a vestibule entrance and upgrades to the Audio Visual equipment were included in the package.
Board members were in agreement with accessing all the federal funds available. But they balked at proposed changes that would have downsized the Council Chambers to make room for a larger “break room” and “privacy room” at City Hall.
Alderman Jim Aziere reminded the Board the Council Chambers was also used as a court room. It is not uncommon for the Council Chambers to be filled to capacity when it is in session.
Ward 5 Alderman Derek Ward made a motion, seconded by Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters to limit the exposure to the city in the cost of the project to the $600,000 financed by the Federal Covid-19 funds. He explained items could be divided into areas of needs and wants. Improvements to city hall entryways, touchless plumbing systems and improvements to the city’s heating and cooling systems were noted as needed changes.
The motion included directions to City Staff to not downsize the size of the Council Chambers (which doubles as a Court Room).
City Administrator Damon Hodges asked if a 10% contingency fund could be added to the $600,000 in Mr. Ward’s amendment. Ward agreed to the amendment with Walters concurring with the change in his second.
The Board voted unanimously to accept the amendment to limit expenses to the $600,000 plus a 10% contingency of federal grant money for projects. City staff is expected to bring new recommendations based on that dollar amount at the next Board meeting.
USE THIS LINK TO COMMENT . . . COMMENTS
Comments
For 3 years I've pointed out the massive issues the city has with spending. I have to say the PD budget is still lacking. The new Chief was able to add a lot of new items without raising the budget at all. His second proposed budget included an entire new unit formed that would get equipment and training needed for "Impact Officers" this would increase his budget only 3 % but seems they would have an impact far more than the 3% of their cost. Last year I stated 6 new officers for a similar cause. I know the Chief wants to prove he can be trusted with a little before asking for more, and i think that is a good general policy. However he continues to prove himself. If he can backfill the 5 or 6 spots instead of 3, i think we should use the money the city was going to match COVID funding to shrink city hall public spaces that the board rejected to instead fund some of these spots. Note that just because there is funding for the position does not mean people will apply or make it through the hiring process.
All in all, the city has shown it has a very large amount of money to draw from when they want to give out no bid projects to friends and political donors, but not when it concerns safety of it's citizens.
When I moved to Raytown in 1999, I was walking Hank Dogg and heard shots fired near 67th St. I called dispatch and was told that there would be no response because shots fired were a "normal occurrence." I hope that the shots fired at Coleman Park will not be regarded as a "normal occurrence." In my opinion, shots fired are not acceptable and action should be taken to eliminate this situation before someone is killed!
Andy Whiteman
Fireworks, balloons, fairies, unicorns...
2 weeks ago we were at the top of the street at the park and heard 4 GUN SHOTS directly to the south of us. Afternoon on a weekday. An old Grand Prix accelerated out of the park immediately afterwards. We were close enough to see that the temporary tag had expired in March of this year.
There's just no way to be on top of each and every incident, and it saddens me that our childhood park may eventually become a casualty.
I feel for the people that live in the neighborhoods that surround that park as well as those that are doing everything in their power to come up with a solution.
Mike has made this community safer and richer, we have more new businesses and putting out this scary stuff will scare them away.
The problem is much bigger than any one park, or business or apartment building.
That's when the mayor took over. He always smiles and says there's nothing bad in Raytown.