LIBERTY – Given the choice between recognizing Kansas City’s zoning authority within city borders or going to court at taxpayers’ expense, the Clay County Commission turned to the county’s lawyers. Although commission letterhead on a press release announced the legal action, Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte said he had not been consulted in advance and disagreed with the action. “I don’t see why we’re picking this fight with Kansas City, to tell you the truth,” he said, and later added, “When press releases go out in the name of the county, they should be run past the commissioners, so we are aware.” After this newspaper broke the story that the county had begun clearing land to build a controversial, $20-million county annex without a city zoning permit, Clay County acted. Apparently, one or two commissioners decided that – rather than get a permit, as other builders must do within city borders – the county did not need...