Clay County Commission Grows from Three to Seven

*It was standing room only as family members and spectators gathered at the Clay County Commission (photo Jim Oldebeken).*

From our partners at the Gladstone Citizen and author Jim Oldebeken

On January 3, the Clay County government completed its constitutional transformation with its number of commissioners growing from three to seven. Those individuals who the voters elected last November were:

WESTERN COMMISSIONER AT LARGE – Jason Withington
EASTERN COMMISSION AT LARGE – Jo Ann Lawson
EASTERN COMMISSIONER SEAT 2 – Jay Johnson
WESTERN COMMISSIONER SEAT 2 – Scott Wagner.

The four new commissioners join three previously elected commissioners:

PRESIDING COMMISSIONER – Jerry Nolte
WESTERN COMMISSIONER – Jon Carpenter
EASTERN COMMISSIONER – Megan Thompson

Ceremonies in the newly remodeled Commission chambers included each new commissioner taking their Oath of Office and making brief remarks to the standing-room-only audience.

Also taking Oaths of Office were Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte and County Auditor Victor Hurlbert, both of whom were reelected and County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson was elected for the first time.

The increase of the commission to seven was one of several fundamental changes made by the newly adopted Clay County Constitution. Other changes include making the commission nonpartisan, allowing for the recall of commissioners, restricting the commission’s ability to issue debt, and putting the county administrator in charge of appointing directors of several departments including the recorder of deeds, collector, treasurer recorder of deeds, public administrator, and clerk.

Clay County Commission meetings are typically held on Wednesdays at 3:00 PM or 6:00 PM. To receive automatic notifications of Commission meetings, go to https://www.claycountymo.gov/index.php?cID=338