Diane Krizek-Raytown Ward 5 Alderman

09/04/2026

Meet our City Admin Diane Egger, and her latent desire...

08/23/2026

Today signs are posted by residents on the bridge over the ravine west of Ray South High School as a warning to drive-by shooters who shoot south down the ravine on the bridge and north of it through a grove of trees.

STOP SHOOTING OUR HOME & CHILDRENS BEDROOMS

Neighbors in close vicinity of the bridge organized to put up two signs because they believe the shooters do not realize the havoc they are causing to neighborhoods when they shoot though the woods.

Residents in that vicinity around 83rd St, Harris, Northern are advised to call 911 immediately upon hearing gunfire and consider "hitting the deck".

REST OF THE STORY

The ravine is carved out of limestone rock and has ancient hard wood trees. A week or so ago, residents were outside in their backyard that overlooks the ravine, heard gunfire and saw bullets flying through the trees. One bullet ricocheted and hit their house south of 83rd on Harris St penetrating their son's bedroom.

In the wee hours this week, a house on Harris Court that cannot be seen from 83rd St because of trees was also hit with one coming through their daughter's bedroom.

Both incidents have been reported to the police who picked up numerous bullet casings on both sides of the bridge. These two victims shared their story on Raytown Unleashed.

One neighbor witnessed the 5pm shooting. They drove-by in a early 2000 metallic silvery grey Corolla heading west with the passenger shooting south and then shooting north when they turned around and head west.

If you have any helpful information, please call the Raytown Police Department.

08/22/2026

On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., the Raytown Board of Aldermen will meet to sit as a Board of Impeachment at City Hall.

View the agenda online: https://www.raytown.mo.us/government/boards_commissions/board_of_aldermen.php

08/16/2026

Follow the Money

At the Aug 4 Board of Alderman meeting, former alderman Joe Creamer came forward during public comments to give kudos to the police department for giving attention to the misuse of handicap parking spaces.

Creamer also brought up what he called a Conflict of Interest. Joe Lauber of Lauber Municipal Law had just given a refresher course on the roles of elected officials, city admin and staff, conflict of interests, and gave warning about denying conditional use permits that would invite law suits.

Creamer's conflict of issue was in respect to the committees created to oppose the GO Bond initiatives back in 2022. He stated, "You all know who it is" while Alderman Walters shook his head no. Yes, Walters financially contributed to the committees but did not reap any financial benefit so not a true conflict of interest.

However, it was in opposition to the City's interests to issue GO Bonds to finance the streets, roads, bridges, sidewalks, storm sewer improvements and increase its property tax levy that had not changed since 1978. All ballot questions passed except the GO Bond for roads, sidewalks, etc. but it was by a very close margin.

Who knew what Jackson County Assessment Dept. would do to us a few years later with outrageous improper property tax raises. I expect you have all taken a close look at your property tax bill to see how much each of the taxing jurisdictions receive.

As of today, all the storm sewer projects are completed and residents no long have sink holes, water seepage in their basements, sewer backups, etc.

Unfortunately, too many residents are still living on streets that are a patchwork of potholes with no overlay projects that I'm aware of. But city staffers are always applying for grants to supplement the tax revenue.

I like to empower the people with what I've learned. If you ever want to follow the money, visit the Missouri Ethics Commission where all candidate and committee organization statements and finance reports are sent and available online to the public.

Search either by name of candidate/committee or MEC ID.
https://mec.mo.gov/mec/Campaign_Finance/CFSearch.aspx .tab=0

The committees that opposed the GO Bonds, as follows.

Committee: Not The Time for This Tax
MEC ID: A222564

Committee: Still Not the Time for this Tax
MEC ID: A222629

Your MEC ID is provided by the Commission for the following electronic filing systems: Campaign Finance: C # # # # # #, or A # # # # # #. Lobbyist: L # # # # # #. Political Subdivisions: S # # # # # #. Financial Disclosure Filers: F # # # # # #.

08/01/2026

On July 23, the Raytown Planning and Zoning Commission approved the Conditional Use Permit (CPU) for Dobbs Tires at the former IHOP location. The meeting is worth watching to learn the history of the family-owned Dobbs Tires headquartered in St. Louis and the process it went through to choose the IHOP location in Raytown. The owners of the IHOP property were also present to explain why sewer issues created by a new development has made it difficult for them to sell the property to any restaurant for the past 3 years.

The meeting is an hour long but you can skip past the roll call, etc. to start with Mr. Dobb's presentation:

07/26/2026

After the July 21 BOA meeting, Alderman Mims and I learned some alderman do not believe our mayor has authority over us and one even stated they are the mayor's boss to which the other agreed. This is contrary to Missouri Revised Statute for Fourth Class Cities:

"Section 79.120 MAYOR MAY SIT IN BOARD-The mayor shall have a seat in and preside over the board of aldermen, but shall not vote on any question except in case of a tie, nor shall he preside or vote in cases when he is an interested party. He shall exercise a general supervision over all the officers and affairs of the city, and shall take care that the ordinances of the city, and the state laws relating to such city are complied with."

"Section 79.200 MAYOR SHALL HAVE POWER TO ENFORCE LAWS-The mayor shall be active and vigilant in enforcing all laws and ordinances for the government of the city, and he shall cause all subordinate officers to be dealt with promptly for any neglect or violation of duty; and he is hereby authorized to call on every male inhabitant of the city over eighteen years of age and under fifty to aid in enforcing the laws."

I have therefore requested a work session covering the powers of the elected board of alderman and mayor. Lauber Muncipal Law Firm will conduct the session, date to be announced.

07/26/2026

At the July 21 BOA meeting, an alderman claimed they never received a copy of the BOA's Code of Ethics. For the record, every new alderman receives "Elected Official Orientation" 2-inch binder with organization info of all City departments, "City of Raytown Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials" and "City of Raytown Personnel Manual". We also receive a certified copy of our Oath of Office signed by us and the City Clerk with the official City embossed and gold seal.

05/02/2026

BOA VOTES FOR THOMAS IMPEACHMENT HEARING

On April 14, the BOA voted to conduct an impeachment hearing for Alderman Latrice Thomas despite Aldermen Walters and Morales voting against. Alderman Aziere blew us all away with his comments concurring that an impeachment hearing was the correct process. He had gone to Jeff City to personally meet with Attorney General Hanaway, members of the Missouri Senate, including Senator Cierpiot. He was advised that if the BOA doesn’t vote for a hearing, then it sets a precedent that we don’t uphold the law we swore to uphold.

During public comments, Thomas’ attorney Toney Willis threatened to sue us for wrongful removal and back pay for Thomas but later during the meeting Special Counsel Garrett reminded him this is a statutory not civil case and there lies the crux. Has Thomas been given correct legal advice?

The City is under the jurisdiction of the State that declared Thomas unqualified. Obviously, the City could not allow her to continue to vote without authority. Each article of her impeachment cites her every unauthorized vote and second motion. In fact, after receiving the DOR letter, City staff reviewed her every action to determine if the outcome changed by removing them, but all okay. Can you ever imagine the mess had she been allowed to sit until now given the BOA votes required for approval of contracts, payments, ordinances, and acceptance of grants, etc.?

One of Thomas’ supporters emailed a letter to the BOA on April 14 before the meeting attempting to make this a race issue given that a white man removed a black woman alderman. Thankfully, Aldermen Hayden and Mims made extremely supportive comments to quell that with the facts: No one is above the law. And Alderman Mims stated the mayor didn’t go looking for that DOR letter. It came to us. Mims also reported ex parte communications with Thomas advising her to resign, sit out two years then try again.

The impeachment hearing will allow Alderman Latrice Thomas to finally make her case for remaining in office and the BOA will finally be able to ask questions to get to the facts in order to make a decision for returning her to the dais or for her impeachment.

This appears to be the first time our City has ever had to deal with this issue. Special Counsel Nathan Garrett did his level best to explain the reasons for the process and answer our questions.

Stay tuned to the City website for when the hearing is scheduled to convene.

If you have the time, watch the April 14 BOA meeting’s 48-minute video to see and hear for yourself.
https://raytownmo.new.swagit.com/videos/381544

04/13/2026

MY OPINION: Latrice Thomas Case

On April 14, the Board of Alderman will vote on whether to hold a hearing where Thomas can finally prove she was wrongfully disqualified for the position she was elected to. To date, she has refused to provide evidence that her taxes were paid by the date required by the MO Dept. of Revenue.

BACKGROUND
Latrice Thomas was elected to represent Ward 3 in April 2025. On Dec. 20, 2024, she filed Missouri Dept of Revenue Form 5120 Candidate’s Affidavit of Tax Payments and Bonding Requirements.

After the April 8, 2025 election, the City received copy of a letter dated April 23, 2025 from the Missouri DOR addressed to the Jackson County Election board stating the DOR received a complaint that Thomas was not compliant with RSMO 115.306.2(3). The investigation proved requirements had not been met. She had 30 days from the date of that letter to pay her taxes or sanctions would disqualify her from the current and next election cycle. (see attached)

On Feb. 19, 2026, the City Clerk sent a memo to the BOA recording the entire sequence of events that transpired after receiving Thomas’s DOR disqualification letter that serves to answer many questions.

After that meeting with the mayor, Thomas chose to go to the news and social media and paint herself as a victim who was wrongfully removed. Two aldermen, one told to me firsthand, and the other, second hand, that they advised her to resign gracefully, join committees, and run again when she is eligible.

Instead, Thomas and her supporters continue to accuse the Mayor and City Clerk for making a “unilateral” and wrongful decision to remove her that has effectively turned the attention away from her being caught committing perjury, a felony, on Form 5120 that led to her to become disqualified in the first place.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=575.040

Multiple requests have been made by City attorneys for evidence her taxes were paid on the due date. Through her attorney she has promised to provide evidence then reneges and asks for another 30 days and reneges. This cat and mouse game has been going on for months until March 15, 2026 when her attorney sent a letter declaring in so many words the burden of proof is on the City, in addition to making bodacious demands.

WHY ARE CERTAIN ALDERMAN DECLARING THEY WILL ABSTAIN FROM VOTING FOR A DEMOCRATIC HEARING WHERE EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED SO TRUTH PREVAILS AND JUSTICE CAN BE SERVED?

In my opinion this has been charade from the start that has cost the city over $100K in legal fees for state attorneys because our city attorney is limited to municipal governance. For an entire year, Thomas has refused to come clean. Supporters don’t want a hearing so she can’t be formally impeached and return to the dias. But if the BOA votes for a hearing, our attorneys can subpoena her tax records and then game over, the truth is out. And in my opinion, any alderman who votes against a hearing or impeachment is playing RDA/ Jackson County Democrat party politics that breeds cronyism and implies they believe Thomas is above the law and transparency and statutory compliance is not paramount. At the last BOA meeting that had no quorum, an alderman was seen hugging Thomas when alderman should remain impartial.

RAYTOWN CITIZENS GOVERN YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY. I URGE YOU TO EMAIL ALL THE ALDERMAN AND TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SITUATION.
HERE IS THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION: https://www.raytown.mo.us/electedofficials

01/29/2026

CITY STAFF REPORTS BOWEN TOWER VIOLATIONS CORRECTED

City Staff reported Jan. 28:

"As of January 20, 2026, all of the violations that the city can address have been corrected. There were no outstanding issues. A few tenants were complaining about mold but attached is the “mold policy” for landlord/tenant complaints. We do not perform testing."

Mold Policy:
"Be advised, more complex environmental hazards, such as mold, radon or lead paint issues are handled by specialists certified in environmental issues. The City of Raytown does not provide these inspections. The complainant must retain a special inspector who is certified with specialized skills who can observe and obtain samples of which can be taken to an actual laboratory for finalized testing. The cost of such testing is at the expense of the tenant or landlord requesting the test."

In a previous post, I urged tenants to file building code violations with the City. However, they must first prove to have reported the alleged violations to the building's responsibility party. Most of those at Bowen Tower had done so.

However, one tenant told me they submitted several work orders for maintenance as required in their lease but later found the property manager had trashed them. Thankfully, the landlord who has been on site twice this past year has replaced the manager and maintenance personnel.