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Paul Livius Report
BY PAUL LIVIUS
Short stories of general interest are sometimes over-shadowed by more pressing news. The following stories are important and newsworthy. The Sanitary Sewer items will be of important interest to many of our readers.
Sanitary Sewer Tax Increased 5.25%
The City Administration brought a tax increase package for sanitary sewer bills to the Board of Aldermen for consideration. They asked for a 7% increase in sewer bills. Enough Board members expressed concerns of raising sewer taxes given the current debacle coming out of the Jackson County Tax Re-assessment.
After quite a bit of discussion the Board compromised on a 5.25% increase. Aldermen Ryan Myers and Ian Scott spoke in favor of the 7% increase.
Alderman Greg Walters argued that “people were hurting”, he reminded the Board that at an earlier meeting all had agreed to lower the “cost” from 7% down to 5.25%.
Alderman Bill VanBuskirk made a motion to approve the lower rate (second by Alderman Greg Walters).
HOW THEY VOTED . . . on a 5.25% Increase of Sanitary Sewer Bills
YES: VanBuskirk, Walters, Krizek, Hayden, Garza, Emerson
NO: Scott, Myers, Mims, Aziere
Discounts on Sanitary Sewer Bills
During the meeting the Board was reminded that Raytown Taxpayers
are eligible for a 3% reduction of their sanitary sewer bills provided they pay their sewer bill in a one year advance. To learn more about this opportunity call 816 737 6088. Ask for anyone in the Sewer Billing Department.
Those who pay their sewer bill with a lump sum payment a year in advance will receive a 3% reduction on their sewer bills for the same year.
Those who are 65 years and older may be eligible for a 6.5% Tax Credit paid for by the State of Missouri. Those with disabilities may be eligible for a 25% Discount on their Sanitary Sewer Bills.
To learn more about these opportunities call the Sanitary Sewer Billing Department at Raytown City Hall at 816 737 6088.There is also a 25% Discount available for those over 65 years old who have a disaThere are economic restrictions on the tax credit.
For more information on either sanitary sewer bill plan call Raytown City Hall at 816-737-6088.
PROPERTY TAX LEVY DECREASED BY 3.6%
Emergency Meeting held
to reset Property Tax Levy
The Board of Aldermen had already approved the Property Tax Levy
for Fiscal 2013 / 2014 at a previous meeting based on new figures from Jackson
County. Michael Graham of the City’s Finance Department found an error in his
final review of the tax levy.
At a rare Saturday afternoon meeting the Board voted to change the levy rate by reducing the Property Tax Levy by 3.6%. The result is a decrease of tax revenue to the city of approximately $15,000.
Tax levy rates are set by the State of Missouri. The two property tax levies affected are Property Tax and Personal Property Tax.
The Bridge to Nowhere
It rains a lot in Ketchikan – so much so, that they measure their rainfall in “feet” per year. The average yearly rainfall amounts
to 160 inches per year. I did the math on my trusty Radio Shack Dual Powered
Solar Battery Calculator – the 160 inches comes to 13.3 feet per year.
Ketchikan is also known for its Salmon. These “Alaska Salmon” return to Ketchikan every July and August to spawn. The bays and creeks
of the area are so full of this ocean going fish hat it appears you could walk
on top of the water.
Ketchikan is also the home of the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere”.
The Bridge to Nowhere is an example of governmental excess and waste.
Officially known as the Gravina Island Bridge, now commonly referred to as the "Bridge to Nowhere", was a proposal to build a bridge to replace the ferry that currently connects the town of Ketchikan, Alaska, United States, with Gravina Island, an island that contains the Ketchikan International Airport as well as 50 residents. The bridge was projected to cost $398 million.
Fast forward to today. The bridge was never fully funded, even though part of the $398 million (about one-half of the anticipated cost) was set aside by the United States Senate for construction of the bridge.
The United States Senate eventually defunded the bridge which in effect killed the project.
A road was constructed leading to up where the bridge was to be built to connect an island to service a small airport with a functioning ferry that is really kind of fun to ride on for the 15 minute crossing to the mainland.
It costs $6 per person to ride the ferry from the island to the mainland.
Raytown's Road to Nowhere
63rd Street is the “main drag” through Downtown
Raytown. Located between Blue Ridge Boulevard and Raytown Road. The north side of the
street has a number of small businesses, the back of those businesses have a
narrow alley facing what is commonly called “The Green Space” in Downtown
Raytown.
Not many people use the alley. In fact, it would be fair to say the small amount of parking spaces are used by the owners and employees of the businesses on 63rd Street.
The City of Raytown just completed spending approximately $98,000 to re-surface an area equivalent to one lane of traffic on the alley between Raytown Road and Blue Ridge Boulevard.
In our view the $98,000 would have been better spent on residential streets in Raytown.
What do you think? Take a moment and send your comment to the blog portion of the Raytown Report.
24 comments:
We received a comment from a gentleman who signed is name as Bob Howard. Mr. Howard asked if I can explain why the Board of Aldermen spent approximately $98,000 to repave an alley that is used by very few people in Raytown.
Bob's question is fair. But I cannot answer it because I argued against the project. In my view, as elected officials it is fair to say every Board member in the last four years has run on a promise to repair residential streets. I do not remember anyone saying the wanted to repair alleys that quite frankly, did not need repair.
Not only did I argue against the bill . . . I also voted against it. In fact, I was the only member on the Board to vote against what I saw as a slap in the face to those who live in Raytown neighborhoods on streets that are in need of repair.
In fairness it should be said that some progress was made in repairing additional residential streets this year. But much, much more could have been done if the $98,000 was not wasted on an alley that is used by very few.
On a final note I would compare this to another boondoggle voted in by the City Council four years ago -- the sign in front of city hall cost taxpayers $40,000. It points to one of the least travelled streets in Raytown -- it is difficult to read -- it was a huge waste of taxpayer money.
Add that to the $98,000 wasted on the alley and you come up with $138,000 that could have been used by the City on residential streets.
LOL someone posted on Facebook if there is any place to get an adult beverage and have a smoke.
Where have they been Raytown is the cigarette smoking cancer loving capital of the KC Metro.
What an embarrassing moment; the lack of leadership at city hall refusing to put a positive spotlight on our city.
For the record anyone who starts talking negative about things on Facebook is too often attracted by Mayor Mike and his hateful outbursing followers.
His time in office will be recalled as Mike the family destroyer:
Gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops on every corner .
Dollar Generals on the other corners.
Cancer breeding haven.
"Gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops on every corner .
Dollar Generals on the other corners.
Cancer breeding haven."
How true.
How embarrassing.
And, as a private citizen, if you dare express concern about any of it, the "Great Equalizer" (wannabe) will publicly threaten you that they'll expose your "background".
This is what we have become.
Change starts at the ballot box, folks.
Otherwise, you keep setting yourselves up for more of the same.
You had a chance for change 6 months ago, and you either let candidates run unopposed, or voted in the same people again. If you are not going to take advantage of the chances you are given, quit complaining.
I am glad some were kept on the city council. Like you, I am disappointed at the apathy in Raytown when it comes to the lack of challengers for aldermen and mayor. To set the record straight there were four aldermen candidates. One of them dropped out of the race. So it is not as bleak as you paint the picture. The Mayor's campaign was the usual rough and tumble with a lot of emphasis on hitting below the belt. It can honestly be said he lost three of the races where his favorites were defeated. That is good news. There will be another election about 1.5 years from today. No doubt there is a desire for change in Raytown. Maybe you can help find some viable candidates to make those changes a reality.
The city paved the parking lot too!!!
I have lived in Raytown over 30 years and to date, not one darn time has the street that I live on has ever been paved. Must be nice to be the X Mayor and get your business parking lot and alley paved, compliments of the city. I guess I'll have to get elected to get my street paved then.
"There will be another election about 1.5 years from today. No doubt there is a desire for change in Raytown. Maybe you can help find some viable candidates to make those changes a reality."
YES.
And!
Vote out anyone with an established record of trampling on our citizen's First Amendment rights as well as those who have been convicted of financial improprieties and/or incompetence.
My biggest issue is this, When I pay taxes on my money, the Government takes 50%
Then when I go to buy something at the store, I pay for that with money that has already been taxed.
I am taxed, the store owner is taxed and we both also pay property tax.
Tax on tax on tax on tax and we are left with nothing and the government does not care.
That is robbing the people.
If Raytown has money to pave an alley they have money to pave streets without raising taxes.
Just an additional example of how former police officers like to waste money.
I will never forget the $1,000 for boots that was spent by the police department.
They are specifically designed for that officer based on his measurements. I had two pair for the 19 years I rode the motorcycle for the PD. So that theory is BS.
5:31 That's a really strong statement! Who have been convicted of financial improprieties and/or incompetence?
Wrong. Change doesn't start at the ballot box. Those places are already here. A whole new BOA and mayor can't and won't change that. The way you can vote is with your wallet. Just don't shop there.
That's an easy one.
May I answer?
Pick me! Pick me!
If they announce their intention to run for office again, the official report could and should do all the talking.
Straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
Concise, factual fact-facts. Factoids. With mondo heaps of factivity. Optimally factimized.
As others have recommended, let's continue to attempt to recruit new, qualified, good-hearted community members that sincerely have the best interests of this City and everyone that lives here in mind.
Well, it's been a minute, but the Mayor hasn't yelled "I'm the Mayor", "You're out of order" or censored an Alderman lately. Must be a slow Tyrant week.
10:32 we can't pick you. You didn't sign you name.
This weekend I had lunch with an old friend and being they know I am not on Facebook they shared so shocking post. What made them shocking was the behavior and abuse by a government employee of the library system. This individual's attitude is getting old and needs to be addressed.
This individual believes it is socially acceptable to attack others on Facebook who do not share his lust for higher taxes. Tax that are unjustified based on the spending of the government entities he supports like a religious fanatic. Don't get me wrong we are all entitled to our own opinions, but publicly attacking the individuals is beyond acceptable in the world we live today.
He is a black eye not only to rhe public library system, but also the city of Raytown as the Mayor has appointed him to one of the city boards.
So much for the Mayor holding everyone to the same standards and making the accountable for their unethical behavior.
We as citizens cannot allow this behavior nor the Mayor to turn a blind eye.
Do we still have a codes department?
I am being serious based on the overgrowth vegetation at several intersections or around traffic signs like West bound 67th approaching Hunter.
I know some will say we have several on the payroll, and I would say anyone can get paid.
The question is do they show up to actually work. Remember the story in the Star a few years back that the Jackson County Sheriff Department was pay two individuals that no one had seen in year, so nothing should surprise anyone on the efficiency or more like lack of from pur fine leaders at city hall. Don't forget our department heads do not even live in Raytown which means they are not impacted by the failures and could care less about how the foolishly spend money.
Don't forget a few years ago the city's insurance company paid out for failure to follow the law by city employees. The unanswered question is how much did insurance increase the following year. Also because the true issue was the city's failure to ensure vegetation was properly trimmed so it didn't interfere with visibility of drivers.
WOW! Full circle that if code would actually do the job hired to do the city's insurance wouldn't have been on the hook and it is now clear leadership at city hall learned nothing or it could be to the point they don't live here so why care. What a strange way to manage a city and provide fir the safety of those in it.
No complaints from me, but me and my neighbors would like to know what we have to do to get our street repaved.
We all are in agreement the city can call it an alley if that is what it takes.
Can anyone find research and find out the following?
Why was the Raytown School District allowed to open and operate the Herndon Culinary school without an Occupancy License?
That is a good question about both the professionalism at city hall and the lack of following standards by the schools.
Once again an example of why test scores are down because the school system in Raytown is not leading by example. Maybe this better explains the problems in the schools like rape and guns.
10 square miles of rode ways and an alley behind some buildings on 63rd Street that faces an abandoned area call the green space. The only one gaining off of this is the Mayor's twisted idea of progress. The alley gets 2" of new asphalt while the rest of the city gets a glorified oil/gravel mix on a few public streets. They spent over $90,000 for the two inches of asphalt on an alley that will benefit a very few. Something stinks in Denmark and it ain’t the cheese!
Whatever happened to Ryan Myers plan to take away our trash service? Seems like he brought it up and then never mentioned it again. Someone should go up to a meeting and ask him in public comments at a Board meeting.
I agree with most of the people on Facebook were saying. It is just another money grab by city hall.
Oh I know why that alley way was paved there is hidden gem in that strip called a bar !!! Shocker
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