Does the Star Read the Blog?

Maybe...You recall one of my recent posts regarding The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA, noted a question and comment from Alderman Clark regarding the paucity of citations during the previous month (to be exact, 11 citations issued, 10 by one officer, 1 by another).  Officer O'Neal (sitting in for the Chief) really had no response as to the reasons for the low #.

The Star just ran a piece, "Dips in KC traffic citations draws concerns about safety, revenues".  KCMO City Manager Troy Schulte asked, "Why are we writing so few tickets?" referring in the downward trend of citations over the past two years.  The PD response?  "We are doing other things and we are trying to be a kinder, gentler police department".  Schulte's reply, "But I'm just concerned about long-term traffic safety".

Ticket revenue at WL is not huge...but, reasonable speed control, especially on Eastside, Westside and Potomac is important.  Maybe Alderman Clark is on to something?

Flock of Seagulls

Forgot to mention, this past weekend took a short cruise down the Lake, about 20 or so seagulls sat right in my way...don't they know better?  Another early spring phenomenon.

Heloise Hints

Heloise was not available for comment, but Sherry is.  Longtime reader Sherry made a useful Comment regarding sewer like smell in your drains...

"From a great builder at Weatherby Lake in years gone by and rest in peace Bob Mason who passed about 10 days ago, his advice to me about 20 years ago as follows: water in an open floor drain will eventually evaporate in the P Trap and what you are smelling are sewer gases. So pour water in the offending drain to almost full then add a teaspoon of cooking oil. Problem solved. The oil sits on top of the water and will never evaporate. If the oil is flushed down the pipe you will need a little more cooking oil."

So, pass along this helpful hint from Sherry to your distressed neighbors who are complaining about au de poop in their homes.  My thanks to Sherry the happy homemaker.

"Haunted by leaks"

No not referring to the Trump administration...I am reading an article in the Star (2/22) that refers to an investigative report detailing the estimated 2015 "9.15 billion gallons in ghost water"in the KC water system...put another way, they know how much water was treated and distributed (28 billion gallons) but a third of it (9 billion) "went missing".  The article by Mike McGraw estimates that the ghost water costs ratepayers $133 per customer per year.  Hmmm, could that be me?...you?  I think at this point, the answer is I don't know...but inquiring minds want to know, right?

Another term used to define missing water is "shrinkage".  It has been a subject of interest here at Weatherby Lake, but not recently.  We get billed for water from our friends at KCMO...we in turn are billed by WL based on what your radio feed meter barks out a meter reading time.  What is the difference between what we owe to KCMO and what we bill?  That would be shrinkage.

In any event, it might be a topic of interest at the next BOA.  Are we underwriting any of the ghost water at KCMO?...and what is our shrinkage rate in WL?

Foul Smells

I know that could refer to many things, but let's narrow the focus.  Way back when, the distinct odor de poop could be detected as you headed down Eastside towards U cove (notoriously nicknamed "Stinky Cove")  Just happens to be the site of one of the two lift stations that service our sewer system.

Fast Forward.

There is a relatively new social media site, already fairly popular at Weatherby Lake and other neighborhoods, Nextdoor Neighbor (https://weatherbylake.nextdoor.com/news_feed/).  One of the popular posts of the moment is the issue of foul smelling sewer like odors emanating from various drains within homes around the lake  Peeeuuuu?  Cause?  

Can't Happen Here?

From the Landmark...

The State Auditors will be auditing the City of Ferrelview (population 450, just across I-29/KCI) after a petition drive by citizens was accepted by the State.  Both the governmental finances and court will be reviewed.  The Auditors office intends to do the audit late spring/early summer.

You might recall Mayor Bos resisted financial reviews/audits, mostly because of  the expense involved.  Not to suggest any wrong doing but there are too many examples in MO of intentional malfeasance in city governmental affairs.  So the best policy is to do what is necessary to be compliant and keep the City's books in order...which was recently confirmed by the WL audit of 2015 finances.

Bald Eagle

I have seen a Bald Eagle at the lake as I have been driving this past week.  Was going to take a pic of some birds on a finch feeder yesterday when I saw this beauty just beyond our deck.  The eagle was perched, watching the lake then swooped out, making a long arcing approach as it snatched a small fish from the lake...just like that.

Can You Hear Me Now?

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
February 8th

Public Works
George reported (kind of) an update on ongoing negotiations for an antenna on our water tower for Sprint.  Terms are being negotiated currently, no date for completion of talks and installation on the tower.  If and when it is put in place...and a noticeable boost in reception is proven...this longtime, long suffering ATT mobile user might be headed for big Yellow.  ATT, can you hear me now?

Be Careful What You Wish For

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
February 8

Two straight days of reporting by the Star suggest Guv Brownback and his JOCO pals have had serious discussions regarding a Johnson County construction of an alternative to MCI (lower West siders, MCI is the airline code for KCI)...really.  For a few at WL who get frazzled by the occasional intrusion into WL air space by errant airliners this must be music to their airs, or rather the possibility of quiet to their ears (see post Sounds of Silence to relive the time that MCI was truly silent).  Is this just a poke by some to get the construction/reconstruction of MCI on track, who knows?

Mayor's Comments on Alderman's Comments

Ms Finn briefly mentioned the resurrected Ad Hoc airport noise committee...followed by the Mayor's 2 cents on airline overflights of WL.  According to his personal log, since mid-December, there have been two incursions of flights over WL.  Hard to rally the troops behind those paltry numbers, but still worthy of air time (sorry, couldn't help myself) during BOA meetings.

The Mayor did not respond to a question from the audience regarding SAM training for the WL Police force (Surface to Air Missiles), leaving the public to wonder exactly what threats have been made to MCI officials.

On a serious note, imagine if JOCO/KS were to actually build an airport.  Besides our lake, the proximity of the airport is a nice feature of homes here, think about a trip south of Olathe to hop on board your Southwest flight... oh the agony.  You are now free to roam about the country.

Let There Be Light (For West Siders Only)

Followup to the previous post on the Entrance lighting situation.  My source informs me the Potomac monument actually is wired for lighting...but apparently there is a hold up pending some work the Park Board may be doing around the monument area (not sure exactly what the "work" is).

The West Side and Kerns monuments are a different story.  Neither are wired for lighting, and based on the Mayor's recent column in WLL, apparently all work is complete except for landscaping.  I did not check the most recent WL budget to see if the EAG still has funds for 2017...will have to check.

Yes, there is a tab on the City website for the EAG:
http://www.cityofweatherbylake-mo.gov/pview.aspx?id=628&catID=28

It might be a tad out of date.

Because I Said So

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
February 8

Remember when you mother said "Eat you peas"...and you had the audacity to ask "Why".  More than likely at some point (at least when you were a little one) the response was "Because I Said So!".

Discussion during the Comments from Alderman (sic) portion of the meeting led to a comment about the annual Candidates Forum being held at the WLIC Pavilion (at the end of March no less).  The Community Center where previous Forums have been held in years past is out.  Why? Booked, right?  Nope.  Just like last year, the Mayor, arbitrarily decided, it would not be made available, for free, to conduct the Forum.  (Tanya Finn, a candidate last year paid for the Community Center out of her pocket last year).  But wait you say, isn't it a Community Center?  And wouldn't it benefit the Community to have a Forum where candidates can speak and/or address questions from the Community.  Most folks would say Yes and Yes.  So what is the problem?

When challenged because "I Said So" he could not provide any solid evidence other than then we (the City) would have to provide it for free for others.  He could not specifically cite case law, precedent or any legal opinion that would discourage providing the CC for free for the Forum.  Furthermore, the City Attorney, observing the discussion, declined to bail out the Mayor when questioned...hmmm.

After a spirited back and forth the Mayor conceded he "would look into it".  My guess he will, probably before the year is over.

So what do you think?  Should we provide the CC, once a year, for free, to conduct a Candidates Forum for the annual WL Municipal election in April?  Providing of course the CC is available, and all candidates and citizens are advised of the Forum.

Maybe a call to the Mayor to give your 2 cents worth is in order...his home phone # is in the phone book...don't call City Hall, they have work to do.  If you prefer, his email address is pjbotbyl@aol.com.  Either way, I am sure he would appreciate your feedback. 

No Communication

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
February 8

For the uninitiated, the Board meetings begin with:

• Call to Order
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Roll Call

All Aldermen and Mayor accounted for, Alderman Stevenson present after missing last months scheduled meeting and subsequent Special Board Meeting.

First real item of business on the agenda:

• Mayor's Communication to the Board

Except he had nothing to communicate to the Board.  Odd, you would think something happened that might be necessary or interesting to communicate to the Aldermen since the last meeting in January.  Nope.  Remember Alderman Clark took the Mayor to task last month for a chronic problem of lack of communication to the Board.  Alas, nothing.  So be it.

Next agenda item:

• Comments from Alderman (sic) (explanation of sic for those of you on the lower West side...used in brackets after a copied or quoted word that appears odd or erroneous to show that the word is quoted exactly as it stands in the original, as in a story must hold a child's interest and “enrich his [ sic ] life."

My suggestion to the City Clerk to add another agenda item..."Mayor's Comments on Aldermen's Comments".  Mayor Botbyl had a difficult time not weighing in on comments made by the Aldermen.  One comment in particular led to an animated discussion during "Open Floor"

More about that tomorrow.

Weather Spotters

Stormy weather coming?  Sooner or later...sign up for weather spotting at:

http://www.weather.gov/eax/2017spottertalks

March 29th, 7PM @ Park Hill High.

Living Large

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
January 18

You might have seen the Mayor's summary of the 2015 audit of the City finances in the Weatherby Lake Living Newsletter.  What you didn't see were some of the numbers in the report (available at City Hall or from your Alderman).
Rob Wilson of Accounting Solutions presented the audit information at the meeting.  One fact that might have slipped past the audience (and the Board) was Wilson's statement regarding net revenue for year...$67,000.  While a good thing in general, it does speak to the fact our sources of revenue are limited and not subject to growth over time...while City expenses are bound to increase as inflation rises.  City employees were given a 3% across the board pay increase for 2017 causing some heartburn among a few of the aldermen.  

Free Advice

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
January 18 

Aldermen's Comments

Continuing a tradition of seeking free legal assistance (a la Stevenson) Alderman Richmond brought up a potential issue in West Ridge, where he lives.  His concern is getting information about the West Ridge developer and the requirement (or not) of the retention pond maintenance.  Some discussion ensued with the request the City Attorney look into it.

Odd because the City really has no standing on the issue.  As you may or may not know, West Ridge has its own Home Owners Association (HOA).  Until the development is complete (which looks to be soon) the developer is the defacto responsible party for the HOA.  After that the residents in the HOA become responsible.  All this is spelled out in the HOA covenant which each homeowner has or should have.

(Background...the original developer, at that time it was called Sonoma Ridge, was sued by a group of residents on West Side Drive, during the efforts to replat and develop the property.  The City of WL was also sued as part of the litigation.  In the end there was an out of court settlement, the developer got to proceed, with some stipulations, the citizen group was paid their legal fees by the developer and the City (you and me) was left with legal bills of around $20,000...funny how that works)

New Faces

If you paid any attention to the City election last April, you probably remember Mayor Botbyl touting the need for "new faces" on the Board of Aldermen.  Turns out, the two most vocal Board members who had issues with the Mayor, Steve Clark and Tanya Finn, were up for re-election.  I presume Dee Surma on the East and Red McLaughlin on the West were recruited to remove the thorns from Botbyl's...side.  That didn't work out too well as both Clark and Finn prevailed.

Wonder how the Mayor feels about "new faces" now?  Rick Footer and Daniel Berglund are certainly new faces, both in appearance and generation, facing off with Surma (once again) and the incumbent Richmond.  The April election could indeed change the landscape of the City going forward.  The Mayor might be right, time for New Faces.  Stay tuned.

Pardon The Interruption (This is for West Siders Only, East Siders, You Are Excused)

My fellow West Siders...have you ever noticed the Monuments at the East Side entrances have lighting at night?  The East Side Barry had been experiencing some electrical issues but apparently has been fixed.  The East Side City Hall, lights at night.

What about the West Side Monuments?  No lighting @ Potomac, West Side or Kerns, at least not as of last night...and they seem to have been completed months ago.  Strange.

I am sure the Mayor can help, 816 741-5545.