Melinda Mehaffy, Excelsior Springs’ economic development director, is among the civic and educational leaders in Clay County who are concerned about the county’s decision to have residents vote on a proposal to decrease the county’s commercial property surtax. As KSHB-TV (Channel 41) reported July 29, the surtax would drop by 15 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, if voters approve the proposal. Initially, when Clay County Commissioner Jerry Nolte proposed the decrease in April, the plan was to cut the tax by 79 cents per $100 of assessed valuation – a move that drew criticism from Western Commissioner Jon Carpenter and North Kansas City School District 74 Superintendent Dan Clemens, KMBC-TV (Channel 9) reported. Mehaffy expressed her concerns during a July 29 city government work session at the Hall of Waters. Her biggest concern was what she called the “most disappointing” part of the proposal process – an alleged lack of engagement wi...