$500,000 in Reserves?

Why is it that the recent former mayor and the current city aldermen say that the city has a half million dollars in reserves, but when downtown merchants bring up the need to replace missing lights so that downtown won't be so dark at night the city staff always says they don't have any money? Given that one of the lights was hit by a truck and, presumably, the city collected insurance for it why wasn't it replaced at the time? Now the city officials say "that was so long ago that we don't know what happened, but we don't have enough money now."

Hey folks, either there is enough money to replace three lousy lights downtown, or the city is in far worse financial shape than we've been led to believe. Perhaps those reserves aren't really reserves after all. Perhaps it is money that's already promised. Perhaps for grinder pumps.

WAG

Big Cat on Campus at Parkhill South High School

Two ladies, both students at Park Hill South High School, are walking around downtown Parkville asking local businesses for support in the way of prizes for their upcoming "Big Cat on Campus" event on the evening of December 3rd. We are familliar with this kind of event having had an AFS student who participated in the "Mr. Park Hill" event years ago at Park Hill High School.

Businesses who participate will be given an advertisement placement in the evening's printed program (this is likely to be seen by more folks than a full-page ad in the local birdcage liner). The event is billed as a "male talent show" and will be judged by area celebrities. The prizes will be given to the winners and participants in the show.

We'd like to encourage Parkville merchants to give and to see the show. More information can be requested from Kerrie Herren at 816-359-4120 or herrenk@parkhill.k12.mo.us.

WAG

Thought for the day

Proof read!
Our favorite birdcage liner publisher is advertising for an assistant with a computer. Perhaps that assistant will have spelling/grammar checking.

WAG

Downtown Parkville Visitor's Map

Visitors to Downtown Parkville have a very useful map available to them that shows the locations of all the businesses and amenities available in the historic Parkville. This map is produced by Main Street Parkville Association (MSPA) and is provide free of charge to all downtown merchants and others (including hotels and motels, and the visitor bureaus). The map and listing as well as the events happening downtown are a tabloid size, printed in color and trifolded, are reprinted every quarter.

The new map will now include information of the spaces that are available for rent, lease or sale. Where known by the MSPA the commercial vacancies are listed as "Space available" with a contact phone number. I see folks every week that have an interest in opening new businesses in the downtown. The MSPA also gets notification from community leaders about contacts they have had from new entrepreneurs.

Recently I have met a couple who wants to open a book and stationery store. They have been looking at two or three different spaces on Main Street and in English Landing. I have also talked to several folks about opening an art supply store. I know I would be a customer at both stores should they get open.

==JFK==

Watercolors High Fashion

Carol and I first met Shelley Wood a day or two after she first moved into her new business on Main Street. We welcomed her and invited her to get involved with Main Street Parkville Association (MSPS) and the many events that are operated under the auspices of the Parkville Community Development Corporation. Shelley did attend the last MSPA meeting. We think she and her business, Watercolors High Fashion LLC, are good additions to our community.

Dannelle Nichols, the program coordinator for MSPA has provide me with the following write-up, from Shelley, about her business:

Watercolors High Fashion is an elegant, high class woman's and men's clothing boutique. Located in historic downtown Parkville, MO. The store is in a home that is dated over 100 years old. There are six rooms with elegant chandeliers in each room and over 2,000 dresses that are restocked every week with new inventory. Included are men's unique t-shirts, shirts, ties and jewelry. There is a TV with sports channels and leather chairs are in the men's area so that their special women can have time to shop while the men are kept happy. We also carry beautiful jewelry and accessories.

We also have a special, very private room where we welcome cancer patients who need that special attention on what to wear for wigs. We carry hair extentions (Jessica Simpson), Racheal Welch wigs, and plumes of ornate feathered headbands. We take high-end dresses and bridal gowns for consignment (all consignors must call for an appointment). Warm fresh cookies are served everyday just for stopping by. Hope to see you soon.

Shelley Wood

Watercolors High Fashion is located at 307 Main Street, The phone number is 816-741-1963 and the e-mail is watercolorshighfashion@yahoo.com. The store hours are: Mondays closed, Tuedays & Wednesdays 11-7, Thursdays 11-8, Fridays & Saturdays 11-7 and Sundays 12-6.

==JFK==

Thought for the day

Never stick your hand into the cage unless it is to change the liner.

WAG

Parkville Information Web Site

Parkvillians should be aware of the recently updated and upgraded downtown information web site: parkvillemo.org. On this web site (owned by the Parkville Community Development Corporation (PCDC) and managed by the Main Street Parkville Association (MSPS)) visitors can find: (1) all downtown and member businesses of the MSPA, (2) information about downtown and MSPA and PCDC sponsored events (e.g. Christmas on the River), (3) links to other community related sites and resources, and much more.

WAG

Parkville Old Towne Market Community Improvement District

What's a "CID"? How is a CID managed? How does it get its money? What does a CID do with its money? How many CIDs do we have in Parkville? How do I find about the CID where I shop or live?

These are all good questions. First, a CID is a political subdivision of the city, it is comprised of a board of directors who are approved by the Board of Aldermen. The officers of the CID are nominated and voted on by the board members; the officers are a President, Vice President, Secretary and a Treasurer. The CID receives its money from a voter-approved sales tax that is levied on all sales within the boundaries of the CID. The sales tax is collected by the businesses, paid to the state and the state sends the CID's share directly to the CID's bank. Each CID is set up differently, but in the case of the Parkville Old Towne Market Community Improvement District, POTMCID, it uses its money to fund grant requests presented to it by organizations that operates within its boundaries. In the case of the POTMCID, to date the on;y grant requests received have been from the Main Street Parkville Association, MSPA, which is an entity within the Parkville Community Development Corporation, PCDC. The grants are used to pay for a wide variety of worthy endevours, including marketing, special events and beautification.

In parkville there are currently two CIDs. The POTMCID and the Parkville Commons Community Improvement District, PC1CID. The latter is a CID set up to utilize the 1% sales tax collected in the Parkville Commons shopping center. The POTMCID also collectes a 1% sales tax which is the same as what the City of Parkville collects. Informaton about either CID can be had by contacting the Parkville City Hall, however, for the POTMCID, you can e-mail me directly at fishmanjack@gmail.com. MeetingS for CIDs are open to the public and I encourage anyone with an interest to attend at least one meeting of either, or both.

==JFK==

A word about our polls

As you will notice there a few opinion polls posted here. These polls are locked, and neither I nor any other contributors can change any other person's votes. In addition, anyone who has voted can change their vote any time they log in. I do ask that everyone please refrain from "stuffing the ballot box."

If you haven't voted please do so. In addition, I would like to hear any suggestions you may have for any other poll questions.

Walt

P.S. Please welcome JFK, John Farrell Kuhns, who has been invited to be a full contributor to this blog (he has posted a couple of comments). Several other folks have been asked to be contributors. Stay tuned.

A new voice added to the blog

I have been invited to be a direct contributor to Our Parkville MO instead of just leaving a comment or two. I understand that several other folks have been, or are being, invited to be contributors/editors. First, I want to thank Walter A. Grantham, WAG, for inviting me. I have no axes to grind and no particular causes to espouse, but I really don't suffer fools well. I see this blog as a place where legitimate discussions can be carried on, and where some of the news that never seems to make it into the local press can be passed on in a timely manner.

I feel that the most important thing happening in our beautiful town right now is the prospect of the Steamboat Arabia Museum coming to town. I was one of the handful of folks originally invited by the Hawleys to the meeting last month at the museum in the River Market. Previous to that the museum's representative, here in Parkville, first came to visit with my wife, Carol, to fill her in on the museum's desire to locate on the bluff at Park University. Surprisingly, about one week after he laid out the plans for the museum to occupy a piece of land overlooking the exact site on the south bank of the Missouri River where the boat sank. I sat in on the meeting and I can say Carol and I were as excited about the prospects as was the museum's representative. He had several pages of site plans and maps.

A week later, at the meeting at the museum with representatives of the city and the county, it was reported that the university stated they no longer wanted the museum on campus (for whatever reason). I talked to some officials at Park and they all stated they had heard nothing about it. They stated thay not only didn't know the university was no longer interested, but that they had never heard that there had been any conversation about locating it on campus in the first place. What a dissapointment! However, the Hawleys made it clear that after looking at a few other sites, including Weston, that they still wanted to locate in Parkville. There was skepticism expressed by some of theose present, especially from the county people.

Since that date, as was reported here on Our Parkville MO there is some serious movement with the city, and it seems the Board of Aldermen is involved. None of this has been reported in any of the local newspapers. It seems that some may have spoken out of turn, but I have confirmed from other sources that contact has, indeed, been made and that things are proceeding.

There are very few things I can think of that would be better for Parkville. Imagine the positive impact on the quality of life the museum would have here. This, of course, would be in addition to the positive impact it would have on the economics of our town.

I would like to hear from you on this subject.

==JFK==

Politics in Parkville

Well friends, last night was a good night for politics in Parkville. The Bill Quitmeier fundraiser was held at the National and the last presidential debate was on television and radio. I'd like to hear from anyone who was at the Quitmeier event; who was there, what was said, what are your impressions? I think this is a tough race for an ethical and reasonable man. He's running against an opponent who refuses to debate due, I think, to her lack of knowledge of what the job entails and her fear that she will look bad in the presence of a man who knows the facts and who really wants to keep Platte County moving along without giving it up to the developers and their lawyers.

Quitmeier has repeatedly said this is Platte County, not Flat County. Your thoughts?

On the presidential debate I was forced to catch snippets from the radio as I drove back into town from Minneapolis (I travel way too much for my family-owned business). What I missed were the facial expressions and body language of the two candidates. Once I got home I tried to watch the rerun at midnight, but sleep beckoned and I missed it. Again, I'd like to hear what you folks thought. This morning the commentators seemed to be in agreement that Obama, again, won the debate and seems to be steaming on. Comments, please.

Steamboat Arabia Museum

Well folks...it seems a certain Parkville alderman let some folks get a peek at the kitty in the bag. There is more than speculation and hopefulness that the Arabia Museum will actually be coming to our fair town. Stay tuned. Isn't this exciting?

Comments?

Parkville Community Development Corporation

Wow! The buzz on the street about last night's meeting of the Parkville Community Development Corporation, PCDC, is even louder than the news about the guy who was killed on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) tracks last night. It seems that the publisher of the local "newspaper" showed up at the meeting and proceeded to raise strenuous objections about projects the PCDC board was proposing. His performance was given no consideration by the board, and they proceeded to approve a program to recognize the many volunteers who have helped make the PCDC events so successful. It seems he is against recognizing these valuable people...this is completely in line with his stand to do as much harm to the psyche of downtown Parkville as possible.

A Blast in Parkville!

English Landing, Saturday, October 4th: According the club members of the Kansas City Association of Rocketry (KCAR) this day's event was the biggest so far of the annual gatrhering of amateur rocket scientists in Parkville. Called October Skies, the event is organized yearly by H.M.S. Beagle, Kansas City's science store. The KCAR members run the entire show and provided the necessary expertise needed to flawlessly launch over 100 rockets. Beagle personnel, Leif Bahl, Bill Nedblake and John Kuhns handled the check in for all aspriring rocket scientists.

One participant's father was over heard telling another, "Isn't it great what these folks are doing for parkville?" I later found out that two bus loads of students and teachers came for the day from Turner Middle School's Science Club, nearly each student had a rocket to launch. Launches were done for prizes in two catagories. First was the "spot landing" where the participants' rockets were supposed to land as closes as possible to am R2D2 robot model, and secondly there was "flight duration." The wind wasn't usually a factor, but for some of the lighter rockets with larger engines the duration of flight was truly awesome. One rocket we watched propably landed on Joe Millers deck.

Local restaurants, including those as far away as Nick & Jakes, reported they had the largest day in months. Tommy T's owner Tom Hutsler said his burger joint had the biggest day since they opened.

Changes in Downtown

The e-mails are flying, and I am sure that there will be a newspaper publisher running stories and editorials that will attempt to make downtown Parkville look as bad as possible. Of course, as everyone says, his job is to sell newspapers and not to promote the town.

Well, here's the news for all of us: While it is true that Angelo Gangai announced that the Power Plant Restaurant and Brewery is closing indefinitely downtown Parkville still has the lowest vacancy rate of any of the business areas in the town with the possible exception of the strip center on Missouri Highway 45. The loss of the Power Plant is to be mourned as is the figure of Angelo briskly walking the downtown streets taking care of his many tasks. We saw the last group gathering at the Power Plant, a campaign strategy meeting for Bill Quitmeier. As one leaves three others are coming in.

Word has it that a book store is coming to downtown as well as a tea room. In addition the scooter/motorcycle shop is coming along and we hop we'll soon see it in operation on County Highway FF west of the Power Plant building. We can count on one hand the vacant storefronts in the downtown. We wonder how many hands it takes to count the vacant storefronts in Parkville Commons. Comments?