The Boys (and Girls) of Summer

BY GREG WALTERS

Colman Park is a special place. It is extremely popular with those who like to walk their dogs or just stroll through one of the prettiest parks in Raytown. 

The ballfield on the south part of the park is especially an added plus. 

If you are a fan of the game, and who isn't with the Royals in the hunt for a championship in the American League Central Division, then you need to check out the hitting exhibition going on at Colman Park on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. 

One of the players is a past member of the Women American Olympic Team. 

If you want to see a hitting exhibition that will keep you glued to your seat for a couple hours, stop by and enjoy the show.

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BY PAUL LIVIUS

Aldermen to Consider 

Sewer Tax Increase

Members of the Board of Aldermen held a first reading on a bill that could increase the Sanitary Sewer Tax on Sewer Bills up to 7%.

Three options were suggested by the City’s Finance Department to increase the sewer tax.

    Option 1 - would be a 7% increase of the sewer tax.

    Option 2 - would be a 5.25% increase of the sewer tax.

    Option 3 - would be a 3.5%% increase of the sewer tax. 

              

Ward 4 Alderman Bill VanBuskirk suggested the city should forgo the 7% increase and instead look at a 5.25% increase (option 2 as provided by city staff).

Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers was the only Board member to speak in favor of a 7% increase of the sanitary sewer bills. He suggested the price increase would average about the same as what a Big Mac costs at McDonalds. Myers suggested increasing the sanitary sewer bill by 7% (option number 1 as provided by city staff).

Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters countered Myers’ McDonalds comparison when he was said he was more concerned by those who cannot afford even a Happy Meal at McDonalds. Walters went on to say the real problem in America is inflation.

Walters said, “Many of our people are hurting. Some have resorted to running up credit card debt just to put food on their table. That credit card debt, if not paid timely, will run 20%. in interest payments.”

Walters said he believes the Board should draw the line at a 3.5% (option number 3 as provided by city staff).

Ward 2 Alderman Jim Aziere did not suggest what the increase should be. However, he did speak to the effect inflation is having on small businesses and families and noted that many small business owners have gone on record that they will not be able to continue to stay in business for the next year due to inflation.

In its report to the Board of Aldermen the City Administration has recommended the 5.25% increase. (option 2, as provided by city staff). The Administrative Review further stated, "Due to the rising cost of treatment, we do not believe there are any alternatives to raising the sewerage rate to cover the increase." 

Our View . . .

We find it interesting the City Administration took the time to offer three suggestions on how much to raise the Sanitary Sewer Tax. They left out an Option No. 4 to NOT raise the tax. Be that as it may, it would a cold day in Hell before we see that option come from City Hall on any tax package. 

Three Aldermen spoke out what they believed was the best course to take. VanBuskirk (who suggested the 5.25% increase, and Walters, who suggested the 3.5% were being pragmatic. After all is said and done, the Little Blue Valley Sewer District was created specifically to treat Eastern Jackson County's sewer treatment needs.

Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers suggestion that the Sewer Bills be increased by 7% is way out of order. The City recommended 5.25%. Why on Earth would Myers want to burden taxpayers with a larger increase?

It is a good question. The report from City Hall clearly recommends Option 2 (5.25%). We wonder if Mr. Myers received the memo.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Missouri State Law requires a Public Hearing be held before the Board of Aldermen before they cast their votes. That Public Hearing is tentatively set for September 17th. The Raytown Report will publish information on the rules covering the Public Hearing as the City releases them. 

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Speeding, Side Shows,

BY GREG WALTERS

Reckless Driving

A PLAN TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER 

If there is one constant complaint I hear from my Constituents in Raytown it is the need to get a handle on enforcement of our city's traffic violations. 

Like many other small cities is the metropolitan area, Raytown has been struggling with the rebuilding of its police force. This is not the fault of the city not funding the positions. The City has regularly set aside what is needed to hire and pay its officers. What has been difficult is to find people who want to go into law enforcement.

The root of this problem can be traced back to four years ago. During the 2020 elections our nation experienced social unrest. This manifested itself in riots, civil disobedience and a capitulation of many leaders across America of purposely choosing to either stand by, and, in some cases, even cheer on the social disobedience. 

Acknowledgement of that brief bit of history does not solve the problem left in it's wake.

Simply stated, that "problem" is that many people purposely decide to NOT choose a path that leads to law enforcement as a career move. 

The subsequent shortage of those considering entering the business of policing our cities will take some time to heal. The good news is that there has been some improvement in Raytown's situation. According to Raytown Police Chief Robert Kuehl, the number of active officers on the Raytown Police Force has grown. Chief Kuehl is optimistic that trend will continue for Raytown.

TRAFFIC CALMING IS PART OF THE SOLUTION . . . 

Earlier this Summer, the Raytown Board of Aldermen met in its Annual Goal Setting Session for next year. One important result of that meeting was to direct City Staff to explore and use "Traffic Calming" as a tool to slow down speeders, stop the dangerous "side show" events by irresponsible drivers and crack down on dangerous drivers who speed through stop lights, stop signs and ignore speed limits.

Coincidentally, the City of Kansas City, Missouri recently announced plans to create "Speed Humps" in residential neighborhoods to slow down speeders.

One block to the west of 65th and Woodson Road. 

Speed humps are not new. The one pictured at left (located at Woodson and 65th Street, just one block from Raytown) is one of three such humps on a very long residential street. As the pictures shows, the car IS SLOWING DOWN to cross the hump.

Here is why this is such an effective deterrent to speeders.

SPEED HUMPS . . . 

• Are a self-enforcement tool, work non-stop and is a subtle reminder to drivers they will obey traffic laws.
• Work . . . 24/7/365 . . . They are effective at slowing down speeders.
• Literally remind drivers THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD. Drive with caution.
• Free up Police Officers for more active patrol duties.
• Slow vehicles down to 15 miles per hour to drive over them.

Other tools are available to the City to stop the dangerous practice of side shows. Side Shows are when drivers drive at recklessly high speeds in intersections and parking lots. This is especially true at two of Raytown's largest city parks . . . Colman Park and Kenagy Park.

The photo on the right shows a solution that is working at Starlight Theatre in Swope Park.

Starlight Theatre / Swope Park

The street is cut in a pattern that breaks the spinning of the wheels on the pavement. This makes the so-called "Side Show" impossible to perform.

Used in combination with "Speed Humps" this "one-two" punch has dramatically reduced the reckless driving at Swope Park in Kansas City.

This important legislation needs the support of the Raytown Board of Aldermen for it to become a reality. Raytowners are urged to contact their Aldermen and Park Board members to ask them to support these important upgrades to our city streets.

For a list of Elected and Appointed official telephone number and address use the following link: ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS

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