Free complimentary copy October 7, 2016 • Volume 3, No. 50
www.raytowneagle.com • 75¢
Southwood Elementary celebrates National Walk to School By Diane Krizek Eager young students of Southwood Elementary school joined up at C. Lee Kenagy Park at 79th Street and Raytown Road for the annual National Walk to School Day on the morning of Oct. 5. The sky was blue, the grass covered with dew and dozens of delicious donuts donated by Raytown Hy-Vee awaited boys and girls in the shelter to fortify them for the nearly two block trek to their school. While they awaited for the call to launch out, students and parents were provided a sheet of tips for walking safely to school and signed safety pledges while Officer Joe Holt passed out Topps baseball cards that were donated by the Kansas City Royals for the Cops are Topps program. “They’re excited, really excited about getting the baseball cards and it’s a great turnout today,” said Officer Holt. “I’m giving out as many as I can.”
Mayor McDonough and Officer Holt led the march down Raytown Road to Southwood Elementary school where teachers and staff cheered the students for making safe choices in their walk. The event was organized by Southwood Elementary PTA president, Terrica Jones, who reported that her PTA is 20 families strong now. One of their future projects is an outdoor classroom. “An outdoor classroom is really nice because it gets our kids outside. Our kids are not getting as much recess as they used to and they’re spending more time in the classroom. So, just getting them out into the sunshine helps them a lot. It gives them a change of pace, something new and another way to reward them.” Southwood Elementary students couldn’t have had a better day for stretching their legs, learning how to walk safely and joining in the camaraderie of National Walk to School Day.
Walk continued on page 2
Downtown streetscape officially opens with ribbon cutting By Diane Krizek Elected officials and members of the Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce, Raytown Main Street Association and the community congregated at 63rd Street and Raytown Road on Oct. 5 to ceremonially open the newly renovated streetscape in downtown Raytown. Economic Development administrator Tom Cole, Mayor Mike McDonough and Raytown Main Street Association president Steve Guenther made opening remarks emphasizing the streetscape’s significance in elevating civic pride, enhancing the area for community events and advancing business growth in downtown.
Photo courtesy of Scott Walz
Compensation Committee recommends 7.5% raise for city marshal and 25% for municipal judge By Diane Krizek The Elected Officials Compensation Committee was appointed by Mayor Mike McDonough to review the compensation of aldermen, city marshal and municipal judge with the impetus that salary changes must be made prior to the next municipal election which will take place on April 7, 2017. Police Chief Jim Lynch who is acting City Marshal has announced his intention to run for reelection to a fourth term. Most city insiders assume that Municipal Judge Traci Fann will also run for reelection after being elected to two terms without a challenger. The committee members tasked with the assignment were Jo Riggs, Don Wilson, Richard Koop, Jim Bradshaw and Ralph Monaco who chaired the committee. Eyebrows raised around town with the selec-
tion of Monaco who is known to be the personal attorney and close friend of Lynch and McDonough. A conflict of interest is apparent because Monaco represents clients who seek justice from the municipal judge. Monaco opened the discussion of the committee’s recommendation at the board of aldermen work session on Sept. 27 with: “I want to dispel what may be a rumor that is untrue. And that is, when we looked at the salary compensation, we did not look at an individual. We didn’t say ‘Jim Lynch makes this and Jim Lynch should make more’…We looked at it simply as the elected person and we were devoid of who that person was. We don’t know who the next police chief will be or the next municipal judge and we don’t know who the next board of aldermen are going to be.”
Ice Cream Social Page 5
Monaco went on to explain that they looked at when was the last raise of each position and what were the economic changes and new duties imposed during that period. The committee compared the compensation packages of alderman, city marshal and municipal judge to counterparts in Gladstone, Grandview, Blue Springs and Liberty but what was not considered is the financial budget for each of those municipalities. Alderman Aldermen compensation has been $400 with a $50 car allowance monthly since year 2000. The salary/benefit package for this parttime position totals $5,969 annually. Annual Salary Car Allowance Work Comp FICA Unemployment
$4,800 50 154 367 48
The committee recommended raising the alderman salary to $500 monthly. Monaco remarked that the board will never be fully compensated for all the hours they put into board meetings, prepping for meetings and serving on committees. Municipal Judge The municipal judge’s last raise was in 2012 and salary and benefits bring the total compensation to $31,531.99 for this part-time position.
2004 $23,460 yr 2006 $24,408 yr 2007 $25,628 yr The committee recommended raising the annual salary of the judge by 25% to $35,238.74 annually with 2% increases every year thereafter. The argument for the substantial raise is due to the added responsibilities imposed on municipal judges “because of Ferguson.” In its Mar. 17 agreement with Ferguson, the Department of Justice stated: “The Justice Department’s investigation uncovered a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct by the FPD and the Ferguson Municipal Court, including: violating the Fourth Amendment by conducting stops without reasonable suspicion and arrests without probable cause, as well as using excessive force;
Annual Salary $28, 190.99 Work Comp 902.00 FICA 2167.00 Unemployment 282.00 Six raises have been given prior to 2012: 2000 $20,000 yr 2002 $21,459 yr Compensation continued on page 2 2003 $23,000 yr
Salisbury Meatballs and Rice Page 7
Raytown Sports Page 8