02-27-1989 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 1989 COUNTY ROAD 116 CONTINUED It was moved by Mayor Grabek, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, to table any further discussion on County Road 116 at this time. Motion, Ayes =5, Nays =O, Motion passed. 3399 CRYSTAL BAY ROAD - VALUATION Mr. Jerry Wheeler was present to express his concerns for property values for himself and his neighbors. He referenced a letter received from the City Assessor in response to a letter he had sent questioning the lowering of property values due to the low lake level. Mr. Wheeler and his neighbors wanted to know, prior to appraisals being done, whether the City intended to lower property values because of the inaccessibility to the lake. Mr. Wilde, one of the City's Assessors, responded to Mr. Wheeler, saying that the Assessor's Office did not have the time or interest to examine the bay. Mr. Wilde told Mr. Wheeler that state law prohibited him from using personal judgment in determining values, and that he must solely rely upon comparable values for comparable Orono real estate. Mr. Wheeler felt that there was no other bay other than Black Lake that had "hip- high" mud with 2' of water for 300 yards. Mr. Wheeler and his neighbors were asking the City Council either contact the City Assessor and ask them to look at the properties in question, or explain why they were not entitled to ask to have their properties examined. iMayor Grabek explained that the City has been sensitive to problems that are environmentally caused. However, he said that the City could open up a pandora's box, if a valuation revision was made for every individual problem that may occur. Mr. Wheeler stated that he found Mr. Wilde's explanation to be unacceptable. Mayor Grabek suggested that there should be another attempt of communication between the Assessor and Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler pointed out that the reason behind hiring an individual assessor, opposed to using Hennepin County, was to have someone that would be more responsive to the needs of the Orono area. Mr. Wheeler was requesting that someone talk to the Assessor and ask them whether or not they are willing to examine the block in which Mr. Wheeler resides. Councilmember Goetten questioned when Crystal Bay Road would be scheduled for a routine review. City Administrator Bernhardson did not recall. He added that he had contacted City Assessor, Rolf Erickson, and that it was Mr. Erickson's intention to send a letter of explanation to Mr. Wheeler. Goetten informed Mr. Wheeler that there was a Board of Review that was scheduled specifically to hear the concerns of property owners regarding valuation. Mr. Wheeler responded that he did not want this issue • addressed individually, but rather as a group. He felt that the entire neighborhood was impacted, not just his property. Mayor Grabek reiterated his belief that another attempt 10