Concerns about mental health, senior tax relief and commissioner conduct were among the issues residents recently brought before county officials during a Clay County Commissioners meeting.

Jennifer Justice addressed mental health concerns following recent deaths in the county, while James Lehnardt questioned potential changes to the senior tax relief renewal process and criticized conduct he said he has observed during commission meetings.

Justice explained recent events in the county prompted her to raise concerns about mental health and the need for additional attention to the issue. She noted September is Suicide Prevention Month and acknowledged there was still speculation surrounding some of the recent circumstances.

One of those events was the death of her former classmate, James Basham.

Justice stressed all of the facts surrounding his death were not yet known and spoke about the grief surrounding recent losses.

Justice, who serves on the Beacon Mental Health Board, said existing ef…