In the past few years I’ve been involved with Raytown. I’ve learned a few things. What follows is what I remember.
BY MORRIS MELLOY
Only one alderman has introduced his/her own ordinance or proposal regarding Raytown. The Board under the Mayor's leadership seems more interested in a game of who gets to make a motion or a second on legislation created for them by City Staff. I am not stating what staff proposes is wrong, rather that most Aldermen seem to be complacent to the point that very few offer any legislation of their own on behalf of their constituents.
That game needs to end and Aldermen need to think for the future of Raytown, beyond what the city staff's goal of maintaining our community. Staff goals are important, but so is our city's future.
So the filing for candidacy has started. I filed for Alderman in Ward 3, hope that there is enough interest in other Raytown residents who want to change the status quo at City Hall. And, make Raytown the place we love and call home. Finally, provide a reason to appreciate our community..
I would encourage everyone reading this page to seriously consider filing for an open seat on the Raytown Board of Aldermen. We need action and representation of the citizens, persons with views of their own. Visions and ideas to address the issues of our community.
If you have ever considered running for Public Office. Now is the time to step forward and speak up for your neighbors and fellow Raytown residents. Our city needs new guidance that will put Raytown residents first.
Morris Melloy
Candidate for Alderman, Ward 3
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| BY GREG WALTERS |
Seven candidates took the first step to being elected as Alderman to represent Raytowners on the City Council by filing for office on Tuesday, December 10th.
The candidates listed at the end of this narrative shows three of the incumbents have already drawn opposition to their seat on the Board of Aldermen. Two of the races listed have only one candidate filed.
"It's not unusual for potential candidates to sit back and observe what is happening in their particular ward before filing," said Richard Tush, President of the Raytown Democrat Club.
"Filing does not close until December 31st, so potential candidates have time to determine if they wish to jump into the race in their particular ward, continued Tush.
It is important to remember that Raytown City Races are a "winner take all election". The candidate with the most votes will win, even if their vote total reaches a plurality of votes cast.
Filing for office in Raytown closes on December 31, 2024. Interested candidates can find out the filing procedure by calling City Clerk Teresa Henry at 816 737 6000 (extension nine).
FILING FOR OFFICEApril 8, 2025 General Municipal Election
Municipal Judge - 4 year term expiring April 2029Traci Fann
Alderman Ward I - 4 year term expiring April 2029Theresa TushDemonte Rochester
Alderman Ward II - 4 year term expiring April 2029Loretha Hayden
Alderman Ward III - 4 year term expiring April 2029Morris MelloyRyan Myers
Alderman Ward IV - 4 year term expiring April 2029Josh MoralesWilliam E. (Bill) Van Buskirk
Alderman Ward V - 4 year term expiring April 2029Bonnaye Mims
The Hat in the Ring Club
Merriam-Webster defines "Toss one's hat into the ring" as
An announcement that one is going to enter a contest, such as an election to public office.
FOR EXAMPLE: "A candidate has thrown his hat into the ring".
On November 19th we published a tutorial for anyone considering to run for election to the Raytown Board of Aldermen. It was our attempt to clear up any questions a novice candidate may have regarding how much the job pays, when the filing opens and closes, plus a Ward Map of the City showing the boundary lines of each Ward in Raytown. The story also gives a brief explanation of the protocol used by City Hall in conducting Raytown City Elections.
Those who have not seen the story can scroll down to the November 19th edition of the Raytown Report immediately following this week's edition.
If we ruffled some feathers . . . I am so very sorry. We had hoped that the information would help clear the fog of confusion that can sometimes befuddle first time candidates for public office. After all, the incumbents are already know all the rules.
This could be important news for those who hope to see their name as the first choice at the top of the ballot when voters come to cast their votes on April 8th.
Up to this point we have not discussed which five incumbent Aldermen are eligible to run for re-election on April 8, 2025.
No time better than the present! So here we go . . .
One half of he Board of Aldermen (five seats) are up for election next April. Those candidates are listed below.
LIST OF INCUMBENT CANDIDATES UP FOR RE-ELECTION.
WARD 1 Ian Scott
WARD 2 Loretha Hayden
WARD 3 Ryan Myers
WARD 4 Bill VanBuskirk
WARD 5 Bonnaye Mims
Filing for Alderman opens December 10th and closes on December 31, 2025.
Next week we will take a look back of a number of the votes and issues those incumbents addressed in the past.
For any questions regarding the filing for a election to the Raytown City Board of Aldermen contact Richard Tush, President of the Raytown Democrat Association at 816-914-9423.
9 comments:
Ryan Myers reminds me of one of those fools who knows every thing. Just ask him, but the reality is he knows nothing. This once promising individual has actually proven to be self centered with focus on taxing or feeing his fellow citizens to death. However, he has actually done nothing to make Raytown safer. Raytown is still one of the metro leading lung cancer safe humans. Not only does Raytown allow smoking in public establishments; you can also purchase tobacco related products at 18. Raytown will only make related charges when Ryan can figure out how to add fees to establishments that allow smoking or sell products to those between 18 and 21.
Ryan Myers also has failed to deliver on an appointed police chief. He lead the campaign claiming the Alderman would have more control and this provide us the citizens an understanding of how often our own neighborhoods are being patrolled. Silence in a movie theater is "Golden", but when it comes to spending our tax dollars it is a slap in the face. This is not the only slap to us as there is still silence regarding the effectiveness of the rental property ordinance. Other than the city found a new way to take more money from the citizens.
Ryan Myers really did an outstanding show of his lack of respect not only to those he represents, but Raytown as a whole when he pushed for another liquor, smoke shop n gas station. Is he really this out of touch with Raytown or so self centered that destroying our community and personal finances he will do everything to tax, fee and bring businesses no one wants in their neighborhood.
Alot of questions on Facebook about when the city will get to specific streets, but little answers. It is like Ryan Myers is leading the disappointment for the management of the snow removal from the storm that hit last weekend.
Mayor Mike has his cheerleaders pointing people to the city's website, but it just gives an idea of street priorities. It has no real time information on what has been done.
What! Real time information on where the crews are and what has been completed. Yes, once upon a time Raytown offered this to allow the citizens and elected officials a view of on the productivity and safety the public works department was making. Some time during the Mayor Mike administration this went away. Now we just have the city staff to tell us what a professional job they are doing.
What Raytown needs is a true professional leading city staff that brings back transparency in things like a real time interactive map for snow removal. This same map could be used after other storms to indicate which streets are clear of debris. When the city cannot keep all of informed about simple snow removal what other things is the city not being honest about!
America does not have a official language although many believe it is english. Instead we celebrate our diversity with the different languages spoken by those who have migrated to America from their native countries. In addition, we can be thankful for the native Americans in particular the Navajo for their efforts during World War 2. The Navajo were used to translate messages so that the enemies would not be able to translate.
Today I was shocked to learn that Raytown's very own superintendent in a video was sspeaking some type of street talk. That brings shame to the educational profession while at the same time explain the failure to educate our students. Maybe in the Baltimore school district it is acceptable to speak some type of street language, but we are in Raytown Missouri where we want our students to be well-educated and well-rounded to pass their test that happen to be in english and not street talk. I have read many complaints and heard stories of failures with standard test scores and address school fights to include weapons being brought to school or girls attacked by boys. It is now no surprise when our superintendent wants to speak the way she has done.
The school board needs to give us all a tax break for allowing this type of behavior.
RAYTOWN, Mo. (KCTV) - An investigation has been opened in Raytown as the condition of a weekend shooting victim remains unknown.
The Raytown, Missouri, Police Department says that just before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, emergency crews were called to the area of Gregory and Blue Ridge Blvd. with reports of gunshots heard in the area.
As law enforcement officials responded to the first call, they said they received a second call about a vehicle that appeared to have been shot with an individual inside near the U.S. Bank at Gregory and Ditzler Ave.
When first responders arrived, they said they found a man inside a vehicle who appeared to have been shot. He was taken to a nearby hospital as his condition remains unknown.
Read the most interesting conversation the other day on facebook. It was between a guy named Morris and the Mayor. Morris had written some suggestions on how to make snow removal more efficient in Raytown. The Mayor responded that every street in Raytown had been plowed and he had GPS tracking to prove it.
I remember when the city used to publish where the snowplows had been. He had the same GPS tracking and had it published on the city’s website. I wonder why our current mayor does not.
I am pretty certain city hall has the technology. They might as well use it.
On the other hand, it may not matter. Earlier in the storm I saw a snow plow truck go down the street that was packed with snow. Problem was, the plow was not lowered to street level!
So I guess both Morris and the Mayor are correct. No doubt the GPS on the truck tracked that the truck had gone down a street. But it the plow is not lowered it would not matter if the truck went down the street since snow is not being plowed.
The Raytown Community Development Department is processing applications for a Rezoning, Conditional Use Permit, and Final Site Plan application filed by Dana Blay of DBL Architecture Inc., on behalf of property owner, Nasruddin Bhamani, for the construction of a retail/convenience store and service station for the property located at 5348 Blue Ridge Blvd
It’s the 5 acres on Blue Ridge BLvd. The property is well known in Raytown’s history, as Beautiful tree & flower nursery loved and well maintained by its previous owners. It sold at an Auction, who planned to build patio villa 55+ community homes. Then Covid happened, he did not build. Then, it sold again.
It’s always been zoned Residential
Planning & Zoning denied the zoning change requirement
Planning and zoning recommended to the board of alderman’s No. Do not pass this application.
If Boa approved.
The new owner would like to put a convenient liquor store, gas station 
You do have a second chance! The owner did not file for permits and break ground within 18 months.
The neighborhood meeting
Raytown City Hall at 4:00pm on Tuesday, January 14, 2025
A public hearing to consider this application will be held by the
Raytown Planning & Zoning Commission at 7:00 PM on Thursday February 6, 2025.
The full packet and agenda will be available for view on the City of Raytown website on Friday, January 30, 2025.
Raytown, MO – Raytown Police have identified the man who died as a result of being shot as Robert Pitts, 75 years old, a Kansas City, Missouri resident.
On 01-11-2025, Raytown Police Dispatch received a call about a vehicle that appeared to have been shot, with a person inside, which was on Gregory Boulevard, near the bank at 9063 Gregory Boulevard. Officers arrived and located the vehicle at that location, and found Pitts inside, who had been shot. Pitts was transported to an area hospital where he later died. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the TIPS Hotline, 816-474-8477 (TIPS.)
Report number 25-0074
I applaud the plow crew for not coming back repeatedly and burying my driveway. Yes, I know, it still can happen. In years past, I would get my driveway opened after the plows had come through knowing I had to leave in the morning only to be awakened in the middle of the night by the plows coming by a couple times. Sure enough there was a 3 foot high pile of frozen slush to be shoveled before I could leave.
BTW, I did notice that a certain alderman, whom I am not a fan of, did shovel his sidewalk and the rental house he owns next door.
Just sign me Raytown Newbie.
Don't buy in to the BS that Michael McDonough cares for the public. He is the one that pushed all the property tax increases. He campaigned hard and even spent five grand of his own money to support the 2% sales tax on our internet sales. He supported the 7% sanitary sewer tax when his own city administrator had recommended 5%. Which was interesting. Not one word of protest from the city administrator when mayor mikes city council pushed through the 7% increase.
In my view they all gotta go. The Mayor may not be on the ballot but he can very easily lose control of his city council.
Next April is Raytown voters chance to undo the tax and spend philosophy that has flourished under Mayor Mike.
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