The Winds of Change
Continue to Blow in Raytown
RAYTOWN SCHOOL BOARD ATTRACTS SEVEN CANDIDATES
The winds of change are blowing in Raytown. You have heard about the number of individuals who have stepped up to represent Raytown on the Board of Alderman. Raytown has more change coming and it is to the Raytown School Board. One school board member is not seeking re-election. Six non-board candidates and one current member have filed for the two seats that are up this year.
This year the Raytown School Board Elections are held on April 8th. The same date as the Raytown City Elections.
The elections are a "winner take all" format. The two candidates receiving the top number of votes will become new members on the Raytown School Board
Candidates are listed below:
Joe Creamer
Former Alderman and Raytown South graduate is at the top of the list of candidates. Creamer has historically been concerned around the direction of the Raytown School District.
Bobby Saulsberry
Has served on the Raytown School Board since 2007.
Jordan Jamerson
Has been a coach for the Raytown School District.
Edna Adelusola
This is her first time running for the Raytown School Board.
Sam Madson
This is his first time running for the Raytown School Board.
Jules Sneddon
She ran unsuccessfully for the school district in 2023 after moving to Raytown from California a few years prior.
David Holman
This is his first time running for the Raytown School Board.
The City of Raytown will hold a Public Hearing on a proposed Evergy substation on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 during the City Council’s regular business session. The public is invited to attend and speak at this public hearing.
Time and place of the meeting:
Raytown City Hall, 10000 East 59th
Street, Raytown, MO 64133
Meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
The Public Hearing will be
the first Agenda Item
QUESTIONS?
Call Raytown City Hall at 816 737 6000
(extension 9)
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Much has Happened
in the past 18 Months
. . .
53rd Street / Blue Ridge Property Owner
late on Property Development Deadlines
In April of 2023 the Raytown Board of Aldermen approved a contentious zoning change for the former Blue Ridge Nursery Property located at 53rd Street and Blue Ridge Boulevard.
Homeowners from surrounding neighborhoods vigorously opposed the plan to open a gasoline / convenience and liquor store in their neighborhood.
Three Public Hearings were held by the City for meetings concerning the planned development.
The first meeting, held by the Planning and Zoning Commission went well for the homeowners.
Private citizens met with members of the Commission for over four hours. After hearing the evidence and comments from area residents, all but one member of the Commission voted to recommend the City deny the application.
The issue then went before the Board of Aldermen for consideration.
The City held two public hearings on the issue. At both meetings the Council Chambers was filled to capacity.
The Mayor had a City Hall Clerk take down the names of anyone who wished to address the Board of Aldermen. The clerk then cross checked the names of those who had signed up with those who had already spoken previously at the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Mayor then pulled a of stunt that should go down as one of the dirtiest political tricks I have ever witnessed in politics.
He ruled that anyone who had spoken at the Planning and Zoning Commission would not be allowed to speak at the Board of Aldermen meeting!
There is a lesson to be learned here. If you ever attend a meeting at City Hall and they want you to sign a list saying you intend to speak, it would be in your best interest not to sign -- but to simply say, "I am thinking it over. Let me get back to you."
Otherwise you will end up sitting for over three hours to speak only to be told you will not be allowed to speak.
Shame on you Mr. Mayor. Raytown taxpayers deserve better treatment.
The “gag rule” the Mayor used was a dirty trick with the intention of keeping the public from having their say.
At the end of the night, the Board voted 7 yes to 3 no to approve the application.
HOW THEY VOTED: Rezoning of the
property located at 53rd and Blue Ridge Boulevard to commercial use
as gasoline/convenience and liquor store.
VOTING YES: Ryan Myers, Loretha Hayden, Bill VanBuskirk, Bonnaye Mims, Ian Scott, Diane Krizek, Janet Emerson
VOTING NO: Teresa Garza, Greg Walters, Jim Aziere
Fast Forward to December, 2024 . . .
Morris
Melloy is a local Raytown resident who worked with neighbors and testified in opposition
to the opening of a gas station/convenience/liquor store in their neighborhood.
From his point of view, the fight over the zoning of the property at 53rd and Blue Ridge is not over. He points to the language Raytown’s City Attorney drafted approving zoning application.
The pertinent language reads . . .
“Performance zoning shall be applied to this
rezone, establishing an 18 month time frame from the date of approval of the
rezoning ordinance. Within this time frame shall occur approval of Conditional
Use Permit for the Fuel Station component, approval of the Final Site Plan,
issuance of building permits, and the start of project construction.”
Should construction not commence by the end of this 18-month period, the Planning Commission may publish a notice, conduct a public hearing for purpose of determining whether or not the zoning is in the public’s interest by recommending to the Board of Aldermen that it either extend the deadline, or rezone the subject land to another specific district.”
In December of 2024, Mr. Melloy attended the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. He pointed out the lapse of enforcement by the city. The attorney for the Planning and Zoning Commission told Mr. Melloy she would be back to him with a response.
That was over one month ago! Melloy says he has
not heard from the Planning and Zoning attorney or anyone from City Hall
regarding the issue.
Our View . . .
Melloy is running for a seat on the Board of Aldermen currently held by Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers.
The two men are complete opposites. Ryan Myers was the most outspoken member of the Board to support the zoning change at 53rd and Blue Ridge Boulevard.
Mr. Melloy worked the neighborhoods in opposition to the zoning change.
When asked why he was opposed to the zoning of the property from residential to commercial Morris said, “I simply asked myself if I would want such an establishment in my neighborhood.” He continued, “Those on the Board who voted to approve the zoning change turned their back on the people elected to represent them.”
Morris has not given up the fight to block the unwanted development.
12 comments:
Raytown Residents- 5348 Blue Ridge proposal
I just called the city and the community meet and great as I call it, is scheduled for January 14, 2025 at 4:00 pm is still on.
This is a required meeting for the applicant to share visions of the property with affected and or concerned residents. I encourage everyone to attend and see what the applicant is offering at this time. I would also ask for compassion as I’ve been informed this applicant suffered a major tragic family issue.
This is not a formal meeting of the board of aldermen nor planning and zoning. I’ll be honest, it’s hard to decipher what is going on, but appears this planned rezoning is at square one.
I would encourage everyone to stop by and see what might have changed in the initial proposal so we can decide how to proceed.
I will be there to talk and register concerns as it is not very clear what’s happening at this time.
Morris L Melloy
The great professionals at city hall and elected officials that allowed Raytown Road to be completely shut down have spoken loudly about the easy to get around in our community. While other cities would have gone to one lane in each direction Raytown said $<"( _<[.
Just when you think someone will do the right thing you find leadership tripong over each other to out do stupid.
With this weekend play off and the winter weather why was this even started at this time of the year?
I will give those great minds credit they did answer my question on an future stadium vote. Why vote yes. I mean if you can't get to the stadiums easy during play offs it most be are city officials telling us that Raytown makes nothing off the stadiums so let them move to Kansas.
I know I got them message and don't think I am the only one who understand MO does need those expenses stadiums.
Thank you Mayor McDonough for taking a positive yet silent position to move those stadiums.
What games are the staff at city hall playing.
I got a call that the meeting scheduled today was canceled within minutes of the time it was to start and without justification.
Sounds like time for a press conference from the home owns on the way Raytown leaders are treating them. I would also start contacting state agencies and ask for investigation.
Mayor Mike has my support that those billionaires can build their own stadium or move to Kansas.
I was down at Crane Brewing and wondered when the city was going to make that construction company address those dangers buildings. Besides being dangers those buildings also make our city look trashy. It is like an invitation to those in the urban that live either on the streets or by they law of their own gun. It also brings into question why is the city giving raises to certain city staff. Raises should be based on performance and the citizens are not getting the performance out of staff that we deserve.
I agree Mayor Mike is making a very bold move to quietly but politely send a message that no citizen should pay for sports arenas. I believe Mayor Mike understands that the citizens of Jackson County are overtaxed thanks to improper property appraisals.
It would be interesting to learn what the community development department actually does versus the expectation as list on the city's website. The understanding within the community is the department deals with animal licenses and strays, business licenses and inspections, property maintenance violations and rental inspections. This is very interersting and far from what is visible to anyone who is not been defined by the state as legally blind. This blog and local Facebook pages are plagued by ongoing complaints as to property violations (some are rentals) or dogs running wild. City officials have taken zero action to address, but are quick to praise staff and reward them with raises. Is it too much to expect answers and transparency as to how our tax dollars are spent. Don't forget a meeting that was canceled within minutes of its start to get citizens input and disclosure of where the property owner is on the property. Yes, this same department was part of that failed meeting. I believe we all need to call out our elected officials in public regardless if the local grocery store or favorite watering hole that we want and expect answers. I am just thankful for all of the new individuals running for offices in Raytown, I hope we get the change we deserve. Therfore watch out for those candidates tied to the current administration as they will just be a yes vote for the continued gray cloud of deception and secrets that have failed Raytown for over a decade.
I was out for a drive today and the condition of Raytown Road at 59th Street will send a loud message to those living in South KCMO that if you want a stadium your city can pay for it.
I am so supportive of the Mayor's decision to shut the stadium traffic down. Maybe that KCMO traffic will stop at one of our many gas stations when they get stuck in traffic. This is only possible because our Mayor had enough.
From the complaint on here and Facebook the department does not do anything but collect pay checks. This blog is calm and well interactions at time. Facebook has become a place for the Mayor to attack other because he doesn't like them or their position. This is even done when he has nothing to support him and the other side does. In the school we call this a bully. In business we call this unprofessional. In Raytown we call this a police officer.
We do not need another gas station. smoke and liquor store in Raytown, especially in that beautiful area of Blue Ridge Blvd. Can't the Board get that through their head?!!
Has anyone from city hall elected or department head spoken with the owner of the gas station next to the old rail road bridge? It would be interesting to hear the negative impact on that business created by the city for allowing cloud 9 to open gas pumps. It would also be interesting to learn of the negative impact on K-Bees just a few doors between the two previous mentioned businesses since the city allowed cloud 9 to open. Now I am not against cloud 9 it is just that we don't need those same types of businesses so close together. Unlike what the mayor believes and says about supporting local small businesses. How do you do it when fools at city hall want the same type a few parking lots away. They are not going to generate new sales tax and at some point they will be vacant buildings in part thanks to the fools at city hall. It is shameful the lack of thought that is put forth by those at city hall. I would be just as shameful if I failed to call out these 3 businesses all sale cigarettes and liquor. Now you would think an administration under the leadership of a former police officers would understand there is nothing about these businesses that says Raytown is a family friendly bedroom community.
Look at that; the liquor, smoke shop and gas station at 67th and Blue Ridge Blvd has pumps, but not sold gas in over 6 months. Our city officials should be asking why. Now they will yell you none of our business, but we don't need those tanks to be leaking into the soil. Our health and safety needs to be top priority. Remember always hearing "To protect; To serve" as related to law enforcement, but these days it must be about self serving.
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