The Paul Livius
Report BY PAUL LIVIUS

In a one hour work session before the regular Board meeting Mayor McDonough and Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers teamed up to float an old idea before the Board for consideration. The question they posed was  . . . .

Should the City of Raytown go to a one hauler trash service?

Raytown is currently served by at least seven trash haulers. McDonough and Myers did not go into any detail on how they would implement such a plan. The Mayor did ask for comments from the Board.

The response was interesting.

Alderman Bill Van Buskirk in opposition to the idea. He told fellow Board members the city was best served by private enterprise. He believes the best way to keep costs down is by allowing the market place to compete.

Alderman Ryan Myers did not give any specific plans for his proposal but did speak in favor of forming a committee to discuss the issue. He also spoke of the need to reduce the number of trash haulers because of the damage heavy trucks can cause to residential streets.

Alderman Ian Scott echoed VanBuskirk’s position that it would be best to leave trashing hauling with private businesses.

Alderwoman Janet Emerson clearly opposes any change. She told the Board most people are happy with the service provided by their private contractors. She considers the current system as one of a client / businessman relationship that works well for Raytown.  

Alderwoman Diane Krizek spoke in favor of placing trash hauling service under the City.

Alderwoman Loretha Hayden suggested the city conduct a poll of Raytowners to hear what they have to say.

Alderwoman Bonnaye Mims said the homeowners association she lives in only uses one trash carrier. She says the system seems to work.

Alderman Greg Walters told the Raytown Report if the result is lower cost for Raytown homeowners, he would support it. He does have concerns. “If City Hall is in charge of the billing, will the city create a use fee on on the service?” asked Walters. “What of those who dispose of their trash by other means?” Would apartments and business be included?

Alderwoman Teresa Garza was called away from the meeting because of an emergency  and was not available for comment.

Alderman Jim Aziere was not in attendance.

Controversial Plan to Spend $91,262.50
on Re-Build an Alley approved by Board 

The Board of Aldermen approved a controversial package to re-build an alley located directly behind a row of business on 63^rd Street between Raytown Road and Blue Ridge Boulevard. 

The plan calls for re-construction of one lane of traffic with two inches of mill and overlay. 

The city is currently working on some residential streets in Raytown. The new surface averages 1/4" on residential streets. 

A couple of property owners affected by the project told the Raytown Report that they had not been contacted by the city regarding the project. Two of the owners said the area the city has marked for a new surface is private property.

Mayor Mike McDonough told the Board of Aldermen the alley in question is really a street and that he had viewed documents showing it as a street. He did not share a any of the documentation with the Board.  

The Board approved the Resolution for an expenditure of $91,262.50 by a vote of nine to one.

Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters was the only “no” vote. He told the Board the City has much more pressing needs for street improvements in our residential neighborhoods. “Those residential streets have more traffic in a day than that alley sees in a week”, said Walters. “That is where the  money should be spent.

Damaged outdoor toilet at Minor Smiith Park.

Fireworks Used in the Destruction of Park Property at Minor Smith Park

Vandals used used fireworks to destroy a portable toilet at Minor Smith Park over the Fourth of July Holiday.

Park Board Director Dave Turner told the Raytown Report that a $1,000 Reward is being offered to anyone who can give information that leads to the conviction of those of committed the crime.

Anyone with information is  urged to call 816 239 3149.

Scorch mark from fireworks used
on a tennis court at Colman Park.

The photo on the left is of what remains of a heavy duty trash can at Colman Park. The container, which is made of heavy duty plastic, was located on the west side of the park along Lane Street. Someone disposed of fireworks by placing them in the container. The result, a fire so hot that it melted the container and consumed all of the contents. As the melted container shows, the fire burned very hot. There is a large fir tree within ten yards of he fire.

The Kansas City area is currently considered to be in a drought by the National Weather Service.  Had the fire ignited the nearby tree it would have easily spread to similar trees growing at the southwest corner of the park.    

Another fire was reported to the Raytown Fire Department at Colman Park that same July 4th evening.

The photo on the right is of debris that rained down on a residential home and yard next to where the fence fire occurred. 

A 70-year-old neighbor called the Police Department, Fire Department, and sent a message to the Parks and Recreation Department when partygoers (within 2 feet of her fence line), caused a brush fire and literally shot off illegal mortar-like fireworks that ended up on her property. This neighbor finally had to talk to the partygoers herself, pointing out that the fireworks they were setting off were illegal, how dangerous they were, and how disrespectful they were behaving towards both the neighbors and the park itself. It's quite disturbing when a 70-year-old woman has to take matters of safety into her own hands when her calls for assistance were not responded to.

Street Improvements Planned for Raytown
We have created two maps showing the streets that will be worked on this summer. The first map shows which streets will be affected. The second map shows where new lane striping will be used on streets throughout Raytown.

The following map shows which streets will receive improvements. The streets marked in BLUE will receive Mill and Overlay. The streets marked in GREEN will be receive MAQS surfacing. The streets marked in RED will receive UBAS surfacing.

The following map shows where new lane striping will be used.

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Paul's Rant

A Rookie's Mistake BY PAUL LIVIUS

I have finally finished my review of the Zoning Application by the owner of Discount Smokes and Liquor / convenience store and gas station. In my view the most interesting meeting was the final meeting. Some stand-out moments are hard to forget.

Newly elected Ward 5 Alderwoman Diane Krizek went into a rather lengthy monolog in which she was making a case that the old Blue Ridge Nursery had always been a commercial operation. 

We carried an in depth interview with the previous owner of the property, Bob Voorheis, in which he outlined the number of property owners from the 1930's forward. A good portion of that time Raytown was not incorporated and had was a governmental entity.

Though what is most telling from our interview with Mr. Voorheis was how the property came to be zoned residential when Mr. Voorheis closed down his business.

So, for the record, we pulled up the story in which Mr. Voorheis gave an extremely accurate and concise rendering of the facts.

"When Mr. Voorhies decided to retire, the City of Raytown contacted him in writing. He was told that since he no longer had an occupation license he was required to remove his business sign from the property by cutting it down at ground level."

"The letter also instructed Voorheis that since there was no longer a business license associated with the address, the entire 5.2 acres would revert back to a Residential Zoning classification.

Mr. Voorheis agreed to the terms set out by City of Raytown."

So there you have it. The "Residential Zoning" was created by the City of Raytown. Less than ten years later, the City Hall would double down on its decision when it worked with Raytown residents to create a master plan for the City. That Master Plan re-affirmed City Hall's position that the property (at the time) was and is zoned residential.

Perhaps Mrs. Krizek would have been aware of these facts had she attended the Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearings. Or, had she bothered even to watch the video feed provided by the City to the public.

Mr. Voorheis' rendition of the history of the property was delivered to the Planning and Zoning Commission in a presentation by Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters at the Second Public Hearing held by the Commission.

Those facts were made part of the Public Record and included in the minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Which in turn, was then provided to the Board of Aldermen in writing. 

Rookie mistakes usually apply to baseball. But in this case, they would apply to Mrs. Krizek's jumping to a conclusion.