Free complimentary copy June 3, 2016 • Volume 3, No. 32
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MAJ-R Thrift Grand Opening On Saturday By Kris Collins MAJ-R Thrift and Discount Store, near 75th Street and Raytown Road had a soft opening on Wednesday and will have its official grand opening event from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m on Saturday. Owners Mac and Jo Anne Ayer moved the original MAJ-R Thrift store, which opened in 1983, to Raytown from Kansas City, Kansas. John Michaels, who oversees marketing and advertising for the store, said the family hopes MAJ-R Thrift will become as much a part of the Raytown community as it was across the state line.
there 33 years, we were like family with the community. Being there the last few days, people came by in tears just to say goodbye. That’s what we’re going to try to establish here. We’re a close-to-the-community thrift store, and that’s one of the reasons we picked this location. Obviously, it’s very visible trafficwise, but it’s also in a very strongknit community.” The store, located at 7506 Raytown Road, will have face-painter and balloon artist, prize giveaways and sales for the grand opening Saturday. “She’s fantastic, so the kids will love to see that,” Michaels said of
City hosts TIF work session
Photos Kris Collins M’Kayla Hall organizes clothes at MAJ-R Thrift and Discount Store Tuesday ahead of the store’s grand opening from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Frances Shoemaker organizes jewelry at MAJ-R Thrift, located at 7506 Raytown Road, on Tuesday before the store’s grand opening.
“I think this is going to work out even better,” Michaels said. “Being
the artist. “She’s really good with kids and there won’t be a bunch of
people walking around with just poodles,” Michaels said of the balloon artist. She does mind-blowing stuff.” The face-painting, balloon art and food will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Those who sign up for promotional programs will also be entered into a drawing for a 48” Samsung HD LED Smart TV and a reconditioned Frigidaire washer and dryer. Michaels said the store offers clean clothes in nice condition, and offers good promotions, the latest of which may be found on the stores Facebook page. MAJ-R Thrift, Michaels said, is part of the community because it gives back to the community.
The Ayer family owns five MAJ-R Thrift stores in Missouri and Kansas and each one donates a part of the store’s revenue to charities. Three stores benefit Ozanam, an organization that provides services to at-risk youth and young adults, and the others benefit Sherwood Center, which provides specialized education and support services to individuals with autism in the Kansas City Metro Area. “I’ve worked for them for five years and I’ve seen other companies that help charities, but they go far and above what they need to. They really do,” Michaels said. More information on MAJ-R Thrift and Discount store is available at www.maj-rthrift.com.
The Raytown Board of Aldermen hosted a work session Wednesday evening to discuss the Tax Increment Finance district. Mayor Mike McDonough said the informational meeting was held to give the aldermen all relevant information necessary to make informed decisions on how to move forward in negotiating with the Raytown Fire Protection District, which requested to be released from an agreement it made with the city in 2007 in relation to the TIF district and Raytown Live redevelopment project. The Raytown-Brooking Eagle could not report on the meeting in depth by press time. For full coverage, visit www.RaytownEagle.com.
Jackson Co. settles lawsuit for $50k By Kris Collins On May 18, Jackson County agreed to a $50,000 settlement in a lawsuit against the county and three detention center employees filed by an inmate who claimed the defendants violated her constitutional rights by transporting her in 2012 while she was going into labor. The Jackson County Legislature unanimously approved the $50,000 expense at its March 23 meeting. The resolution approving the $50,000 payment states the county’s counselor recommended the settlement, which is to be paid to the American Civil Liberties Union of
Missouri Foundation for the benefit of Megon Riedel, the plaintiff. “We are pleased to see the officials and systems that committed this injustice take responsibility,” said Jeffrey A. Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Missouri. “Unfortunately, this indifference to a person in medical distress is not unique to Megon and we will continue to hold those who run our jails and prisons accountable. We hope to see other county jails across the state follow Jackson County’s lead in taking steps to make sure that pregnant women are treated humanely.” Jackson County Public Infor-
mation Office Brenda Hill said the county could not comment on the matter because of the nature of the agreement between the parties. According to a statement from the ACLU, Jackson County will also implement written policies and procedures addressing the use of restraints and transportation guidelines for pregnant inmates. According to court documents filed on May 18, the case filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri has been dismissed. In the event that the settlement in not finalized, any party may move to re-open the case within 45 days. Court documents
state the settlement was reached in mediation. The resolution approving the settlement states the county is released of all claims against the county and its employees for any damages incurred. In court documents the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, which filed the suit on behalf of Riedel, alleged the staff at the jail knew Riedel was pregnant and underplayed the seriousness of her need for medical attention. Riedel reportedly went into labor in the early morning hours of Oct. 5, 2012. The court documents state she was forced to walk on her own
to a transport van without the assistance of a wheelchair for a trip to the Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correction Center in Vandalia. Riedel was allegedly shackled during the ride, during which she reportedly continued to have contractions, developed a headache, vomited and bled, court documents state. Riedel was evaluated by a doctor at the Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correction Center and taken to Audrain Medical Center in Mexico, Missouri, where she delivered her son. The child was not harmed.
mechanism used to fund largescale projects. The TIF captures tax revenue and allows a city to pay off bonds used for a development project over a long period of time. The TIF district has been a topic of discussion for the fire district and city since the fire district began reviewing an agreement made between the entities when the TIF was formed in 2007. “At the core of this debate is the belief that the city misled the fire district in 2007 and has not upheld their side of the 2007 agreement since,” Mace said in a statement when the public hearing was announced in May. In 2007, the fire district agreed to fully participate in Project 1, which includes Wal-Mart, of the Raytown Live project, but did not wish to surrender a greater percentage of tax revenue than is required in state law to the other parts of the redevelopment project. State law allows emergency service entities within a TIF district to recoup 50 to 100 percent of the district’s tax increment.
In November 2015, the fire district informally requested the 50 percent refund for Project 2. The city calculated that 50 percent refund at $8,096. The city plans to credit the district for the refund on future tax bills once a formal request is made by the fire district. The fire district wants out of the agreement entirely, citing the city’s failure to properly administrate the TIF district as outlined by state law. The city failed to file statutorily required financial documents from 2012 through 2015 and to hold periodic public meetings on the TIF district. The city has since filed the financial documents and is not facing any penalties as a result. During a May Raytown Board of Aldermen meeting, Mayor Mike McDonough said the city cannot retroactively allow the fire district out of the agreement, citing the city’s responsibility to protect the bond holders and taxpayers. Beyond the Fire Board’s ken, the city organized a work session on the TIF district that was held
Wednesday evening at City Hall. Mace said the fire district officials learned of the meeting through a chance visit to the city’s website. “Without knowing when this meeting was scheduled, it baffles me why we wouldn’t have a combined meeting together,” Mace said. “If this meeting has been scheduled for months, it is pure coincidence.” A request for comment from City Administrator Mahesh Sharma was not returned to RaytownBrooking Eagle. McDonough said Wednesday that the meeting was scheduled at a time when the aldermen and TIF attorney could meet. McDonough said the meeting notice was posted at City Hall on May 27. “It was that simple,” he said. The purpose of the work session, McDonough said, was strictly information and was held to give the Board of Aldermen information on the TIF to make informed decisions on how to move forward in negotiations with the fire district.
No formal action was taken by the board. The work session Wednesday did not include public comment, which McDonough said would not have been conducive to the board’s grasping of the complex issue. The sentiment was perhaps best expressed by Willerth in a letter he sent to the fire district declining its invitation to the city to co-host the June 6 meeting. “I do not think it is in the public interest for an entire fire district board and the entire Raytown Board of Aldermen to sit down and review extensive detailed financial records in an open public meeting or attempt to negotiate the resolution of any outstanding pending issues initially in an open public meeting,” Willerth wrote. McDonough said the city currently has no plans to hold a meeting to seek public input on the matter. However, he said the city intends to hold annual meetings and issue annual reports on the TIF for the public in the future.
Fire Board to host TIF meeting June 6 without city officials
By Kris Collins It appears the Raytown Fire Protection District will host a public meeting on the Raytown Live Tax Increment Finance District by itself at 7 p.m. June 6 at Fire Station No. 1, located at 6020 Raytown Trafficway. Fire Chief Matt Mace invited city staff and officials to co-host the meeting, but the invitation was declined. “The last time we had any personal communication with the city was March 4,” Mace said. “Since then we’ve had no emails or phone calls relating to our issues.” However, the Fire Board’s attorney has been in contact with the city’s attorney about the Tax Increment Finance, or TIF, district that was formed for the Raytown Live redevelopment project along Missouri 350. The city’s attorney, Joe Willerth, said Wednesday that the district is yet to respond to a letter he sent in late April. A TIF district is a funding
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