By Dan Verbeck, KCUR News
Riverside, Mo. – The cavernous room of Riverside's Community Center housed the same metro government leaders who gathered in Raytown May 30th. But is was a more wary atmosphere on June 20th. Metro mayors and legislators from Jackson, Clay and Platte Counties had joined Kansas City's Mayor who is promoting his innovative transit initiative. Mark Funkhouser denies he is trying to ram through a plan he wants. Some leaders suggest that's the reality of it. North Kansas City's Gene Bruns bristled at the proposal his city bear cost of a rail line crossing it from Kansas City into greater Northland. Won't happen, says Bruns.
Lees Summit Mayor Karen Messerli isn't fond of proposed setup of a governing council for this transit operation. And Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders tells the meeting, the legal work forit will be just staggering. Funkhouser says the plan is still in place for a November referendum on transit. But in his words, "nothing in life is absolutely certain." Planners meet again July 25th.