Free complimentary copy January 8, 2016 • Volume 3, No. 11
www.raytowneagle.com • 50¢
Dick Smith Ford sold
By Kris Collins Dick Smith Ford, a family owned business in Raytown for 63 years, was sold to Florida-based Greenway Automotive Group for an undisclosed amount of money. Phil Smith, who has run the dealership with his brother Mark for approximately 40 years, said the deal went into effect Jan. 5. “Both of us are in our 60s and the opportunity presented itself, and so the combination of our age and the opportunity kind of came along at the right time,” Phil Smith said. Phil Smith declined to disclose how much the business sold for, citing a confidentiality agreement with Greenway Automotive Group. “I’m excited about the opportunity to carry on the traditions of the Smith family of great customer service and community involvement,” said Carl Atkinson, one of the two owners of the Greenway group. “To be part of that legacy is both humbling and exciting. We look forward to serving and getting to know all the people in the community and plan on being here for many years to come.”
Greenway, based in Orlando, Florida, is a major dealership group in the U.S. and China with over 50 dealerships, including State Line Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Kansas City. The company considers adding a Ford dealership in the Kansas City area a natural fit for their dealership holdings and longterm business plans. One big selling point for the brothers was that all of the current employees are still at the dealership. “With that, they’re keeping the name Dick Smith Ford and they want to keep everything exactly the same as it is now,” Phil Smith said. “They have no interest in changing anything.” The dealership was founded by Ray and Dick Smith, grandfather and father to the recent owners, in 1953 and operated as Ray Smith Ford until 1977 when the name was changed the Dick Smith Ford. Phil Smith said his brother plans to retire while Phil entertains the idea of going into the nonprofit sector.
File photo Dick Smith Ford, a family owned business for 63 years, was sold to Orlando, Florida-based Greenway Automotive Group, which took over operations Jan. 5.
Park board votes to open Super Splash USA in 2016
Fred Arbanas named interim Jackson County executive By Kris Collins
File photo The Raytown Park Board voted 5-1 Dec. 30 to open Super Splash USA. The board previously considered keeping the park close in light of budget constraints.
By Kris Collins The Raytown Park Board voted 5-1 to open Super Splash USA in 2016 during a special board meeting Dec. 30, 2015. The board discussed if the swim park should be opened at full capacity or close some of the features t o make the park more cost effective to operate.
Ultimately the board decided every feature in the park will be available to residents during the upcoming season. It was estimated to cost $20,000 to $25,000 to properly close down and secure the park. Park Board member Mike Hanna made the motion to open the parks and his motion was seconded by new board mem-
ber Nancy Nail. Chris Rathbone, also a new member to the board, was the lone vote against re-opening the park. He stated previously in the meeting his desire for a better quality water park in Raytown. Larry Sanders and Larry Copeland were absent from the meeting.
On Monday, Highwoods Properties, Inc., agreed to a $660 million deal to sell County Club Plaza to Country Club Plaza KC Partners LLC, a joint venture between Taubman Centers, Inc., and The Macerich Company. The Plaza is a 15-block retail, dining and entertainment asset containing 18 properties spanning 804,000 square feet of retail space and 468,000 square feet of office space. Highwoods Properties reported $31 million net operating income in 2015. The deal is subject to closing conditions and scheduled to be finalized Feb. 1. “Selling our retail-centric assets in
Kansas City is an important step in the detailed plan we announced on Sept. 30 to further enhance our Best Business District office focus,” said Highwoods Properties President, CEO and Director Ed Fritsch. “We are effectively funding our acquisitions of Monarch Tower and Monarch Plaza in Buckhead and SunTrust Financial Centre in Tampa by selling the Plaza.” Highwoods intends to use the expected sale proceeds to repay debt on other properties the company owns, complete other projects and invest in other assets, according to a statement from the company. Taubman Centers, headquartered
in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, management and leasing of 23 regional, super-regional and outlet shopping centers in the U.S. and Asia. Taubman is currently developing four properties in the U.S. and Asia totaling 4.1 million square feet. Macerich focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the U.S. Macerich currently owns 55 million square feet of real estate consisting primarily of interests in 50 regional shopping centers.
Splash continued on page 2
Fred Arbanas, Jackson County legislator for more than 40 years and former Kansas City Chiefs stand-out, was named as the interim Jackson County executive following the official resignation of Mike Sanders on Tuesday. “I want to thank Mike Sanders for his service to Jackson County,” Arbanas said in a statement. “I believe he was, as I have said several times, the best county executive we have had. The county has an excellent leadership team and a strong legislature. I am happy to take the reins and help keep the county focused while the legislature considers a permanent replacement.” Arbanas was sworn in Tuesday afternoon at Fred Arbanas Golf Course Clubhouse as the temporary executive. The Jackson County Legislature will have 30 days to pick a permanent replacement to serve for the remainder of the year. During Arbanas’ 40-year career as a county legislator, he served as chairman four times (1974, 1975, 1988 and 1989). Sanders, 48, announced his resignation Dec. 22, 2015, and said he intends to spend more time with his family and return to the private sector. Sanders had been with the county since 2002 when he was the county’s prosecutor. He was elected as county executive in 2006 and won re-elections in 2010 and 2014. In his official resignation let-
Photo courtesy of Jackson County Fred Arbanas, former Jackson County legislator and Kansas City Chief player, was named the temporary Jackson County executive following the resignation of Mike Sanders. The legislature has 30 days to name a replacement
ter Sanders states he is pleased to leave the county in a good financial position, and he cites the Truman Sports Complex, Historic Truman Courthouse and Eastern Jackson Courthouse renovations as great accomplishments. “I leave with the knowledge that the county is in good hands with a strong county legislature, an incredible management team, and the best employees in the region,” he said in the letter. “I will never forget the support Jackson County residents showed me over the last nine years.”
$660M deal agreed to for Country Club Plaza
First Woman Chair Page 2
Game Day Eats Page 7
Free Fishing Clinic Page 8