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.
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