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Councilmember Grabek asked Monk if we went to our own assessor or <br /> contracted with someone could we acquire the computer information that <br /> has been generated by the County staff? <br /> Monk stated that all of that data is available to the City in hard <br /> copy form. All of the available data would be transfered . <br /> Former Mayor Lou Oberhauser stated that when he became Mayor <br /> there was a change in the law that said you had to have qualified <br /> assessors . Before that th�t the assessing was done by good Joe and <br /> whether he had any qualifications as an assessor was really <br /> immaterial . When that came up we had to choose whether or not we should <br /> go with the County who nad qualified assessors on staff or go our own way <br /> with our own qualified assessor . The question is never between the <br /> qualifications of the assessor because tiZe assessors that work for <br /> Hennepin County are very well qualified. The assessor that we hired <br /> for theAssessing District had good qualifications . It really boiled <br /> do�an to the principal of government and the principal of Orono existing <br /> at all is that principal of local control . The best government is the <br /> government that is closest to the people and when we sat down and went <br /> through the process we felt that the existance of our village was based <br /> upon the principal that we keep the functions that the village can carry <br /> out , which are getting less and less , as close to home as possible. It <br /> was basically based upon that principal that we decided to go with the <br /> �9est Hennepin Assessing District, which I think was a good decision <br /> both on a principal basis and also based upon the results that we <br /> received . One of the things that happened when the County took over <br /> was the fact that Don Monk mentioned, there was 16 o differencial , now we <br /> are down to 80 . I think that it really boils down to not so much the <br /> monetary consideration, asreallyaprincipalof government. That is <br /> the best government although it :nay be more expensive individually to <br /> the citizens , is that government that is closest to the people and that <br /> is to have your own local assessor . <br /> Gentleman from audience asked, is there any conment either from <br /> the audience or the Council about the level of service, response to <br /> complaints , response to citizens questions at the County? Are <br /> citizens and Councilsatisfied with the services they are gettingfrom <br /> the County? - - <br /> Mayor Butler stated that she had not personally received any <br /> criticisms of the County or their staff . <br /> Kenton Carlson stated the bottom line is , within the community <br /> are properties being assessed fairly and is Orono as a community being <br /> assessed fairly compared to other communities . <br /> Counci lmember Grabek asked Monk would the City of Orono lose if we <br /> make a decision to hire our own assessor this year and evaluate the <br /> program this year and watch it, monitor it and make the choice as the <br /> next year comes up whether we continue the contract with this assessor <br /> or another assessor or decide to go with the County. What do we as a <br /> City have to lose in your opinion? <br /> page 4 <br />