By Emily Randall
Northeast News
Oct. 27, 2010

Ten of the top city department leaders with the ability to directly affect change on the streets of Northeast came together with residents in Northeast on a Saturday morning this week.

Only six residents came out to bring their concerns to the group — but they had enough to say to create two hours of discussion at North-East Library. From street cleaning, to graffiti abatement, to broken streetlights, food vendors who may not have licensing and more, leaders from the Health, Planning and Development, Neighborhood and Community Services, Water Services, Parks, City Attorney, Housing and Solid Waste departments, plus Acting City Manager Troy Schulte, made a list of specific tasks to tackle in Northeast.

“It can get almost like an ivory tower down at 12th and Oak,” Schulte said. “I get a whole lot more out of these Coffees with the City Manager than you do.”

Indian Mound Neighborhood President Scott Wagner raised the issue of trash and graffiti on St. John Avenue, especially east of Hardesty Avenue. Schulte asked for a list of locations for the city to focus efforts on in that area. He also came to the realization that he could make an impact by having the city offer sand blaster rentals to the neighborhoods.

“My issue is getting manpower,” he said, to which Wagner responded that there is no end to volunteers to do the cleaning if there were just equipment and chemicals available.

Schulte also noted that Kansas City Power and Light is starting a new project on Troost Avenue, where it will paint art on its utility boxes to deter tagging. He said Northeast would be the logical next place to take such a project.

Indian Mound resident Dave Norton raised the issues of broken streetlights, damage to the wall surrounding the Indian Mound Park where people have struck it with their vehicles and overgrowth along the walking path along the woods off Cliff Drive.

“We know things are tight, but it would be nice if we could get some tree-trimmers out there,” Norton said.

He added his pet peeve is the large, ugly branch hanging over the roadway on St. John Avenue just west of Belmont Boulevard. On Monday — two days after the coffee meeting — a city truck was already out on St. John working on said branch.

Health Department Deputy Director Clyde Bolton asked for residents to provide locations and times for his people to investigate street food vendors. He noted there might simply be an issue of cultural miscommunication concerning licensing.

“But we don’t want anyone to get sick,” he said.

Schulte also admitted to the group that the Water Services Department has had its failures concerning tracking projects. It’s possible, he said, that metal plates, cones, and holes in the streets have been left in locations that the department isn’t aware of. He called on residents to report these to the 3-1-1 Action Center and help the Water Department get caught up. He also made a general call for people to call 3-1-1 more often so he and his staff can compile data about the most pressing city issues.

Schulte also briefly talked next year’s budget. He said it looks like the city will not experience any revenue growth. He said he would prioritize employee raises so that when the economy turns around, staff members don’t flee to the private sector.