Clay County Commission approves multiple resolutions, waives penalties in mailbox-fee appeal

The Clay County Commission on an undisclosed April date approved four consent resolutions, affirmed a request to waive penalties and other fees for a resident who said she lacked reliable mail access, approved prosecutor office invoices with one commissioner recusing, and adopted a restrictive covenant restricting drinking-water wells at the Midwest National Air Center property.

The commission approved the consent agenda, which included Resolution 2024-104 authorizing invoice payments for Clay County for the period March 22–28 (383 invoices totaling $991,199.77); Resolution 2025-107 awarding an RFP to Blue Valley Laboratories Inc. for stormwater consulting for the parks department; Resolution 2024-108 to purchase a pad-foot roller from Murphy Tractor; and Resolution 2025-109 to purchase a large excavator from G. W. Van Keppel. The consent agenda passed on a 6–0 roll call vote.

Deana Jacobs, Administrative Services Director, told the commission the fee-waiver request (Resolution 2025-106) concerned a resident who did not receive timely mail and whose February e-check payment did not clear. Jacobs said, “Our records show that the bill was the original bill was sent in November to the address on record of 1010 Northwest 70 Ninth Terrace, and that an attempt to make a payment was made on February 21 using an E. Check system however that check did not clear the bank which incurred an additional fee.”

The resident, identified in the record as Megan Jacoby, told the commission she had “a terrible time getting my key” for her apartment mailbox and that she only learned the attempted payment had failed after collecting a large volume of delayed mail in March. Jacoby said she was “not asking for the return check fee of $25” but asked that “the penalties and other fees” incurred after the failed payment be waived because she had no reliable way to receive notices.

Commissioner Wellington, who spoke in support of the waiver motion, described prior customer-service problems at the local post office and said the county generally sides with residents in similar cases: “I find it difficult to hold you accountable for something like this when the post office really just doesn't do their job.” After discussion, the commission approved Resolution 2025-106, waiving penalties described in the applicant’s request, on a 6–0 vote.

Tracy Baldwin, Clay County Assessor, clarified that an $85 late-assessment fee related to the July 2024 assessment could remain because it reflected the assessment date; Baldwin suggested the collector could adjust other penalty calculations to the February date because the applicant attempted payment then.

The commission approved Resolution 2025-105, authorizing 10 invoices totaling $1,669.58 for the Clay County prosecutor’s office. The motion passed with five votes in favor and one recusal; the record lists the roll call result as “motion passes 5 in favor 1 recusal” but does not identify which commissioner recused in the vote record.

In a separate regular-agenda item, the commission approved Resolution 2025-103 accepting a restrictive covenant to address historical petroleum contamination on property adjacent to the Midwest National Air Center. Donna (last name redacted in the meeting record), Deputy County Administrator, explained the covenant would “state that we would never drill a drinking-water well for water sources at the Midwest National Air Center,” noting that the airport is served by Kansas City, Missouri, water service and that the covenant would reduce groundwater testing obligations under Missouri Department of Natural Resources guidelines. Commissioner Wagner confirmed the covenant only restricts drinking-water wells and does not prevent other development uses on the parcel. The restrictive covenant passed 6–0.

Commissioners closed the meeting after approving the regular agenda items and moved on to a separate discussion about regional marketing for the 2026 World Cup (reported separately). The county administrator said the next commission meeting will be held April 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the chambers.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 2024-104 — Approve county invoice payments (March 22–28): 383 invoices; $991,199.77. Outcome: approved 6–0. - Resolution 2025-107 — Award RFP to Blue Valley Laboratories Inc. for stormwater consulting (parks department). Outcome: approved 6–0. - Resolution 2024-108 — Purchase pad-foot roller from Murphy Tractor (capital project request). Outcome: approved 6–0. - Resolution 2025-109 — Purchase large excavator from G. W. Van Keppel (capital project request). Outcome: approved 6–0. - Resolution 2025-106 — Waiver of fees, interest, penalties and taxes due to alleged mail access issue (applicant: Megan Jacoby; address on record: 1010 Northwest 70 Ninth Terrace). Outcome: approved 6–0. Applicant paid remaining balance by credit card March 25; applicant did not seek reimbursement of the $25 returned-check fee. - Resolution 2025-105 — Approve prosecutor’s office invoices (March 22–28): 10 invoices; $1,669.58. Outcome: approved (5 in favor, 1 recusal). - Resolution 2025-103 — Approve restrictive covenant regarding petroleum contamination at property adjacent to Midwest National Air Center (restricts drilling of drinking-water wells). Outcome: approved 6–0.

Questions and clarifications from the record: the assessor noted an $85 late assessment fee tied to the July 2024 assessment that the commission identified as properly applied; however, staff suggested the collector could prorate or compute other penalties to the February date because the applicant attempted payment on Feb. 21.