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| 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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| BY GREG WALTERS |
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| One block to the west of 65th and Woodson Road. |
- 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.
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| Starlight Theatre / Swope Park |
26 comments:
Interesting article about an alternative way of slowing down traffic in Raytown. I hope the City council sees fit to agree to make this common sense solution to traffic enforcement in Raytown. It will free up police to tackle another problem in Raytown. An explosion of violent crime in our city. I urge all the City Council to step up an support the building of traffic calming speed humps in our residential neighborhoods.
Will there be any e tra funds for speed control devices after the state taxing commission only addressed half of the problem with the assement problem.
I know it is hard to find self thinkers who also have the motivation and drive to complete the task.
The commission clearly is lacking alot. We all need to ask if this problem was from this time last year why didn't the addresses before Hancock took affect. Now all government entities are negatively impacted. I don't be the intent of Hancock was for the senerio we are all watching unfold. Those on the tax commission should have addresses Hancock. Perhaps the simplest way would have actually rolled everything including Hancock back to the former assessment values.
I just don't Those celebrating the tax commissions decision to every complain about service cuts forth coming because again the taxing commission did a half job.
We received the following comment from Morris Melloy of Raytown Community Awareness. He said he received the following message from a friend of his and asked we could see if anything can be done about the situation. We told Morris we would forward his friends concern to City Administrator Damon Hodges. (the original message follows)
"Hey Morris",
"Do you know anything about the construction being done on the DMV parking garage?"
(Morris replied), "I will try to find out."
"That would be great, thanks. They have been drilling and jackhammering on the structure for over a year now, and it would have been much faster and cheaper to knock it down and rebuild it."
Not to beat a dead horse but several of the dangerous drivers I encounter have expired paper tags. Just sayin.
Alderman Meyers need to realize that a rate increase in sewer is not just the price of a McDonald's value meal, but rather an accumulation of ALL increases for those already struggling. A little increase here, another increase there and pretty soon, we are at an increase of 20% in overall in monthly utility, food, gas, etc. costs just to survive!!!
I would like to remind several that we have ordnance, and we need to ensue that they are not only enforced, but any government entity should lead by example.
Raytown has ordinance 50-490, which covers signs. As read on through, it talks about signs in the right-of-way. It has been bad enough that the "we buy ugly homes" signs in the right way. In more resent years politicians who don't live in Raytown are starting to flood our right-of-ways. There has been an "Ellington" sign in the crack of the side walk in front of Wendy's. What was this candidates campaign thinking not only sign in violation of the law, but a hazard for those walking down 63rd Street.
Folks it gets worse those we trust with the safety, well being and education of our children have decided it is acceptable for them to place signs in the right-of-way throughout our city advertising they need staff. If the school district cannot get this right, we have a duty to ask what else do they not have right.
??? what shares revenue with the park tax now?? I thought that was sewers. Parks is going to ask for a new tax - should the existing tax go 100% to sewers?
Perhaps someone can educate me. Any reasons given for the need to raise the sewer tax? What costs have increased? Are the wages of the workers increasing? In what way have the costs of sewage treatment increased? There was a time when I was happy to pay my fair share for the upkeep of the services we've all come to expect and take for granted. Since last years assessment fiasco, though, I'm less enthusiastic. I'm ok with paying my fair share of it. I'm ok with helping those who need help too. I'm not ok with helping people who have no interest in being a part of what things cost, but expect to reap the benefits of things like sewer maintenance, streets, city parks, law enforcement...
Alderman Myers was quick to decide that 7% or as he put it, the price of a Big Mac at McDonalds was not too much to ask the taxpayers for. This does not sound like much to Mr. Myers, but we don't know how that impacts others in our community.
What I do hear in the back of my head is an old Credence Clearwater song "the government only ask for more". Mr. Myers, some are not fortunate sons with silver spoons in our hand. I understand you either are or have been on the REAP board, which should give you better insight into the economy's impact on many in our community. However, based on you time on the BOA and refusing to listen to those you represent none of us should be surprised by your Big Mac comment.
There are several questions around that Big Mac. As McDonald's would ask, is it the meal or just the sandwich? Is it during a special like “buy one get one for a dollar”? Maybe it is the day after a Chiefs regular season game and the Chiefs sacked the quarterback making it a buy one get one free. Yes, these details matter as depending on the deal it could be something better for the consumer.
This is where you have lost your audience because it is time you ask big boy questions. Let the audience help even though you have made it clear you don't take questions unless pre-submitted.
What is the actual cost increases next year from water treatment in Kansas City vs. water treatment in at the Little Blue Valley Treatment center? Yes. There is a difference as charged by Kansas City vs. Little Blue . One quarter of Raytown sewage does not go to the Little Blue Valley Sewer District. It goes to Kansas City for treatment. Their rates are not the same! Is the city billing based on the higher of the two sewer treatment facilities?
Even though Raytown’s costs are based on the Little Blue Valley Sewer District, not Kansas City.
Raytown sewer bills are based on water usage from two different water companies. Those rates do not match either. Our sewer rates should be proportionate to the rates taxpayers pay to the two water companies. This one size fits all billing system is unfair to taxpayers in Raytown.
You seem to pride yourself in being some sort of guru when it comes to tax rates.
What baffles me is why you want a high 7% increase when the professionals at city hall suggest a 5.25% increase. It makes one wonder if you even care about the plight of many of your fellow taxpayers. Your actions show that you most definitely do not.
I was out last night doing errands and sure enough spotted several signs from the school district in the right-of-way. What kind of example is the school board setting for the students when they allow this behavior. I happened to recall last year one of the school board members attacked a teacher, which makes me question if that was why Raytown High had so many fights at the end of the school year. We need a school board and administration that sets the right examples for living in a civilized society and not one of law breaking and physical violence.
What is the significance of the three bats standing on end?
Not sure what the significance is about the three bats. That being said, I will share with you what the man who stacked them up told me. He said, "I'm a ballplayer. I have my superstitions."
It made perfect sense to me. From my point of view, that is part of what makes baseball special and such an extraordinary sport.
Do we still have a public communication person?
What does a position like that pay and what do they do?
I ask as I have repeatedly seen comments from our Mayor and at least one of his friends who is Alderman that there is no misuse of funds. They further support this with we are audited every year and everything is accounted for.
That is an interesting spin often used by someone who is fixing the books, but doing so in a manner to stay with the legal definition that would pass a CPAs audit following the guidelines or standards CPAs use.
Sometimes one as to dig further and look for additional things not just an invoice and a payment. Start with what is the dollar amount of the purchase and did it require oversight of someone else making an approval of the expense. In some cases this requires approval by the board. One of the favorite tricks is not getting multiple bids on a specific item.
How often does this happen. Anyone in purchasing will tell you a minimum of 3 bids, but 5 is better. The individual making the purchase might have run the process twice. I know double the work, but if they are not familiar with the products available the 1st round is more information gathering. The 2nd is taking that information and now getting all bidders to bid very close to the same type of service or product. Again there should be documentation available. If not there is a problem. Often these problems include multiple individuals working together.
One old trick is you agree to buy a specific amount of a product sometimes to make everything look legit and get the prices within range the activity will be spread over several months. As part of this verbal agreement, a new computer or tablet is provided and shipped the the employee's home. Sometimes the price is padded. Example a business might need 5 new saws the paperwork shows 5 new saws, but a verbal agreement has 6 saws ship with the invoice inflated to cover the cost of 6 saws. The extra saw going to the one purchasing. This is again only caught when other bids are for a lesser price.
Often individuals who are helping themselves to personal treats at the expense of others will on occasion not get bids and hope no one catches. This depending on the dollar amount is a good way to get a weekend getaway, tickets to a sporting event or concert, and even at times a boat.
Thinking about this we all should question our city officials. Just because you pass an audit doesn't mean we are not being taken advantage of.
Two thinks come to mind and I believe both under the current administration. The same one that says nothing happened here. Explain the sign in front of city hall that is next to impossible to read. No look at the on at Kenagy Park. Big differences. It gets better for those that don't go to downtown Raytown, 63rd and Blue Ridge Blvd. If you didn't know the city paid close to $100,000 for the parking lot to be paved. Those a city hall still claim it is an alley. Again a red flag, but the best red flag is there was no bid.
Draw you own conclusions and ask hard questions, but the actions speak very loud.
Interesting article about Alderman Myers. Does he really think you can pay your property taxes with McDonald's Big Macs?!? It would not surprise me if he thought that was how taxes are paid.
Speaking of Alderman Myers, here is something he needs to know. There are many of us patiently waiting to throw you out of office next time you run. I understand that would be in April of 2025. We are all looking forward to the contest.
Just sign me a proud homeowner in the 53rd Street and Blue Ridge Boulevard neighborhood.
Who is resurfacing Sterling?
I don't disagree it needs done, but professionals put signs out.
If no signs is an indication of the work to be done the street will not last anytime.
It is such a shame that individuals don't want to do a good job, but sure expect to be paid.
Dear Alderman,
Why is Raytown Road being worked on when there are many roads in worse condition in Raytown?
This brings great concerns about the rationality of whoever is making decisions.
I will say thank you to those for knowing Biden was told he was too old to hold office. Some of the decisions made at city hall make wonder about the ability of our leaders here in Raytown.
Drove by the now vacant IHOP on 350 Highway and Raytown Road. Does anyone know what happened? I checked the city website and it had nothing to say. Too bad they are gone. It was a nice place to catch a filling breakfast.
Yes, that puzzled me as well. Just another bad decision like the rebuilding of the alley/parking behind the downtown businesses.
Sometimes the local politics in Raytown is kind of like a baseball game. Two teams play each other. Only one can win. When one team wins they celebrate. When one loses they go home. They do not go around bad mouthing the other team because they lost the game.
That's the difference between between baseball and our local political scene.
Mayor McDonough is apparently still smarting from losing six of seven attempts to raise property taxes in Raytown two years ago.
It bothers him so much that he is still bad mouthing the people that defeated him.
Here is a wake-up call for the Mayor. The voters defeated the bonds.
Not Greg Walters, not Sue Frank, not Neal Clevenger or anyone else the Mayor is attempting to smear when he sits down at his keyboard.
Given the tax increase voters were handed by Jackson County to homeowners in Raytown, it would appear the voters made a wise decision.
City Hall spent $20,000 of taxpayers money to publish “informational literature to 'educate' Raytown voters on the issue. That does not include the amount of money used to pay for multiple direct mailings to Raytown voters.
It is estimated the amount spent by Mayor McDonough and his friends came close to $65,000!
That is money that would have repaired a lot of neighborhood streets in Raytown.
Went there for breakfast on a weekday a few months ago. There weren't many cars in the parking lot so we figured we'd get quick service. It took 10 minutes for somebody to notice us and then get seated, another 15 minutes for someone to come take our order and then when the food arrived 20 minutes later, it was cold. Never done this before but we just got up and left. The place was pathetic and that's probably why it went out of business.
The roadwork being done on Sterling is financed through a grant received from the Mid-America Regional Council. The City of Raytown is the recipient of the grant. The city contracts large projects such as the work on Sterling and Raytown Road.
When construction was begun on the Sterling project it was discovered there was a storm sewer connection that was badly in need of repair. A different construction company that specializes in storm sewer repair was hired by the City of Raytown to pay for repair of the damaged storm sewer.
The cost of the repair is not covered by the MARC grant. The city will pay for the repair work . . . which is anticipated to be between $70,000 to $75,000 in additional cost.
Thank you for the update, but don't you agree there should be warning signs or this how the Alderman from Ward 3 have requested.
I ask as we the citizens know from the past our Alderman in Ward 3 don't care about our opinion and safety therefore why put up warning signs as lives don't matter in Ward 3.
Drove on the new Sterling Rd pavement yesterday. My cars suspension says thank you.
Just saw a bunch of bashing on Facebook from McDonough the other day about Greg Walters. He really needs to grow up and stop the name blaming it's all on him, the people have spoke. So tired of reading his awful degrading comments about citizens of his town. Just awful
My wife and young children have been caught in the dangerous "sideshows" at Bannister and Raytown Road before KCMO installed the pavement cuts. More than once. So far, the pavement cuts seem to have worked very well. I fully support (and expect) Raytown to implement pavement cuts, speed humps or to use any other tools available to prevent these dangerous take-overs of our public streets.
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