Clay County's Board of Equalization (BOE) heard more than a dozen property tax appeals at a hearing that included requests for SB190 senior‑tax relief, challenges to market valuations and a high‑profile appeal over a deteriorated historic estate.

The appeals matter because county assessed values set the base for property tax bills and, in several cases, appellants said higher assessments would threaten their ability to remain in their homes. County appraisal staff said they rely on recent sales and physical inspections, and promised follow‑up or adjustments where records or on‑site findings supported them.

Pamela Sweeney, who said she receives "less than a thousand dollars a month to live on," appealed the county's treatment of her application for SB190 senior tax relief and whether she had adequate notice and access to the online enrollment process. Eric Barker of the Clay County Assessor's Office told the board the office did not advise her to sell or "flip" the house and apologized for any misunderstanding: "I never recommend anybody generally to do anything ... if that got misunderstood, I apologize." County staff noted sales comparables and existing condition codes and said they would follow up with Sweeney about filing and relief eligibility.

Other appeals produced a mixture of outcomes and continued review:

- Robin Gross, a townhome owner, told the board her assessed value rose "49% overnight" before an informal review reduced the county's valuation from about $309,100 to $264,300; Stuart Stryker of the Assessor's Office explained the county uses sales of like units from the prior two years to set values, saying, "the way we determine valuations in the county is based off of sales of like units within the last 2 years." The assessor cited multiple comparables and the revised value.

- For a high‑profile property in Excelsior Springs formerly owned by Dr. Robert Schemell, buyer Faris Farasadi presented a 190‑page blight study and contractor cost estimates he said show roughly $650,000 in required repairs; he told the board the house needs roof and HVAC replacements and substantial structural work. County appraisers said they had inspected the property and applied a substantial depreciation, lowering their valuation to $843,800 while acknowledging the parcel is difficult to value because of size and uniqueness.

- Daniel Obisi, who said his house has deferred maintenance and foundation cracks, asked the board to lower his valuation; Anthony Medina of the Assessor's staff said the on‑site review and comparables did not justify a reduction and recommended no change at the hearing.

- Grace Okonta asked the BOE to consider erosion and a sinkhole on her lot and provided a 2021 and 2023 written agreement with Kansas City documenting the city's acknowledgment; Assessor staff said they had accepted her documentation at an earlier informal appeal and had made a modest prior reduction ($4,200 in 2019), but referred the land‑defect question to the BOE for further consideration because the assessor's office lacks a mechanism to adjust land defects beyond the mass‑appraisal process.

- Joseph Rash raised concerns about a large microwave/cell tower behind his property on Endicott Road and questioned how nearby farm ground and the tower were reflected in comparables; county staff noted their current valuation ($446,800) and explained the comparables used, but the office did not make an immediate change.

Across the hearing, assessor staff repeatedly explained the office uses a mass‑appraisal approach driven by recent sales data and measurable physical characteristics. Where staff identified errors or made on‑site adjustments (for condition, basement finish or construction quality), they lowered values; in other cases they told appellants they would investigate documentation or follow up by mail.

The BOE did not take final, on‑the‑spot votes to overturn most assessments. Instead, several matters were left with the assessor's office to verify documents, reexamine condition codes or return with clarified figures. Appellants were told when to expect follow‑up by mail or email.

The hearing combined routine valuation disputes — bedroom counts, basement finish and comparables — with appeals that raised practical hardships for seniors, requests for statutory relief (SB190), concerns about land defects and a contested valuation of a large historic home with extensive repair needs. For many residents, the hearing was an opportunity to present photos, contractor estimates or sales data directly to appraisal staff.

The Clay County Assessor's Office and the BOE said they will issue written decisions or follow‑up to appellants in the coming days; several appellants were advised to provide additional documentation if they wanted further review.