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Clay County Commission approves invoices, selects credit-card vendors and debates board-appointment process
Summary
The commission approved routine invoices and a countywide credit-card processing contract and held an extended discussion about improving outreach and transparency for board and commission appointments.
The Clay County Commission approved multiple routine financial items and a countywide credit-card processing contract at its Feb. 20 meeting, then spent substantial time debating changes to the county’s board and committee appointment procedures.
On the consent agenda the commission approved Resolution 20 25-53, authorizing payment of 252 invoices totaling $904,506.28, and Resolution 20 25-51, authorizing an annual support and maintenance agreement for the automated weather-observation system at the Midwest National Air Center with DBT Transportation Services. Both passed on a single motion, 5-0.
The commission also approved Resolution 20 25-54, authorizing payment of 12 invoices for the Clay County prosecutor’s office totaling $2,368.77, by a 5-0 vote.
For countywide credit-card processing, IT Director Kevin Shaw explained the county pursued an RFP and recommended two vendors to handle different departmental needs. "We are seeking approval of RFP to CSG Forte and PayIt solutions," Shaw said, citing data-security and PCI compliance reasons. Commissioner Johnson moved to approve Resolution 20 25-55 to enter terms-and-supply contracts with the recommended providers; the motion passed 5-0. Shaw clarified that transaction fees will be charged to the cardholder, similar to existing credit-card processing for tax payments.
After routine business, Commissioner Lawson introduced a discussion item asking the commission to reexamine how board and commission appointments are made and communicated. Lawson said she wants broader participation from all commissioners and faster handling of vacancies, citing multiple vacant seats on tourism, parks and the Children’s Services Fund Board. “I think if we’re going to have these boards … all of the commissioners at least get to put a name in,” Lawson said.
Commissioners agreed on the need for better communication and outreach but differed on procedure. Some urged greater public notice and improved county web posting of current vacancies; others cautioned against any pre-meeting “straw polls” that could violate Missouri’s Open Meetings (Sunshine) law. Presiding practices described by the commission included consulting board chairs and the county administrator before nominations, circulating candidate applications to commissioners ahead of votes and trying to stagger terms to avoid large simultaneous vacancies.
No formal policy change or vote resulted from the discussion; commissioners asked staff and the presiding commissioner to develop more consistent outreach and application-tracking practices for future meetings.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 20 25-53 (consent invoices) — approved 5-0; Resolution 20 25-54 (prosecutor invoices) — approved 5-0; Resolution 20 25-55 (credit card processing contracts with CSG Forte and PayIt LLC) — approved 5-0.
