Raytown aldermen approve pay adjustments, stormwater change order and budget rollovers

The Raytown Board of Aldermen met Nov. 19 and unanimously approved several administrative measures, including pay adjustments for aldermen and the municipal judge, a change order on a completed stormwater project, and a carryover of prior-year purchase orders into the FY2025 budget.

The measures were approved during a regularly scheduled meeting called to order at 7:02 p.m. and adjourned at 7:22 p.m. The board moved each item on voice or roll-call votes; all motions recorded in the meeting packet passed unanimously.

Pay measures: During the second reading of two ordinances, the board voted to establish compensation levels for the office of the Board of Aldermen and for the municipal judge for terms beginning April 2025. The ordinances were read as second readings; motions to adopt each measure were made, seconded and carried on unanimous roll-call votes.

Stormwater change order: The board approved a resolution amending the agreement with T and B Trucking and Excavating LLC for the 80 Third Street stormwater project to add $12,461.50, bringing the contract total not to exceed $469,398.50. Robinson Kent, Public Works Director, told the board the project is complete, with sod and final work finished last week. Kent said easement issues delayed the start and generated extra costs for items such as storm box delivery, hydroseeding and sod placement, and that the proposed increase reflects those unanticipated expenses and some internal contract savings. "We are definitely finished with this project," Kent said. Alderman Mims asked whether the work was completed; Kent replied, "The job is done."

Budget reappropriation: Finance Director Michael Graham presented a resolution to amend the FY2024–25 budget to roll outstanding purchase orders and incomplete projects into FY2025. Graham said the packet lists items totaling roughly $6.5 million, with the largest amounts tied to construction projects, and explained the rollover is intended to account for POs and contracts that remain active as the fiscal year closed. "We need to get them incorporated into the FY '25 budget," Graham said. Aldermen asked whether funds remain after the rollover; Graham responded that, for the listed construction projects, "more than likely" the amounts will zero out as they are tied to contracts.

Public comment and local context: During the public comment period, online participant Morris Malloy urged a stronger, proactive police presence in Raytown and criticized how aldermen consider pay raises, saying residents want aldermen to bring forward ordinances reflecting constituent requests rather than relying primarily on staff proposals. Malloy said he supported the pay adjustment as deserved but urged elected officials to recall when they last introduced ordinances based on resident concerns.

What’s next: All measures taken during the Nov. 19 meeting passed; the board adjourned at 7:22 p.m. No additional hearings or dates for further action on these items were announced in the meeting beyond the regular committee notifications shared during announcements.