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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-23-1997 Board of Review Minutes3 MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING 0 HELD APRIL 23,1997 ROLL The Orono Board of Review met on the above date with the following members present: Mayor Gabriel Jabbour, Councilmembers J. Diann Goetten, Charles Kelley, Barbara Peterson and Richard Flint. The following represented City staff: City Administrator Ron Moorse, City Assessors Rolf Erickson, Dave Wilde and Lisa Mott, Hennepin County Appraiser Bill Davy and Recorder Lin Vee. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jabbour at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Jabbour explained that the purpose of the Board is to be sure that appropriate values are assigned to Orono properties. He reviewed the process the Assessor uses in arriving at market values, noting there are certain limits the City must maintain. Jabbour notified those present that an appointment could be made with the Assessor to further discuss property valuations rather than waiting to appear before the Board at the current meeting. He added that further appeals could be made to the County Board of Review or District Tax Court. Erickson explained that the Assessors will review the appeals and visit those properties they have not seen in the last two years. Letters will be sent to each owner who has appealed stating the Assessor's recommendation and the date and time of the Reconvened Board of Review. Erickson also reviewed the qualifications for "This Old House" improvements. • Jabbour explained that appeals would be heard in the order in which property owners signed in upon arriving. He asked that each owner state his name, address of property, property identification number, value of the 1997 Notice of Valuation and the value the owner feels appropriate. 1. John Ericson, 1620 Shadywood Road. #17- 117 -23 210012 - He stated it was not necessary for the Assessor to visit his home. The market value on the taxes payable in 1996 was at $266,000, $302,000 for 1997 and $318,00 for 1998. He feels 3% of $302,000 is a fair increase. He did some major remodeling in the 1980's. 2. Mr. Scott Shekels. 1345 North Arm Drive - Mr. Shekels did not stay to appear before the Board. 3. Linda Schrader, 1295 Arbor Street. #10- 117 -23 31 0035 - She bought the property in October of 1996. The house is a 100 year old, 1% story, Victorian with very few improvements over the years. She has done some electrical and structural improvements. The house was valued at $73,600 before she bought it, now it is at $79,900. Jabbour commented that the purchase price of $79,900 established the market value. She feels it is not worth $79,900 and would like the Assessor to review. MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING HELD APRIL 23,1997 6 4. Lanny Langhans, 1366 Rest Point Road. #07- 117 -23 32 0060 - Market value for last year was $218,000 and this year it is at $255,000, a $37,000 increase. He feels that is excessive since there has been no remodeling in 20 years and the house is 60 years old. Jabbour suggested Mr. Langhans make an appointment with the Assessor to have him visit the property. 5. Dwight Seward, 2780 Countryside Drive West, #04- 117 -23 12 0010 - He stated the basement was finished off at a value of $36,200, however, there is some discrepancy in what was actually done in comparison to the valuation of the basement project. The last tax bill was $370,000 and this year it is $426,200. He asked if there was an average tax increase. Jabbour stated that for various classifications like lakeshore, commercial or non - lakeshore there were different percentages. Non - lakeshore properties had an average 4.1% increase. Seward noted his increase was in the 5% range. 6. Rollie Winebrenner, 3287 Casco Circle, #20- 117 -23 43 0044 - Last year the house was valued at $111,000 and the Assessor reduced it to $104,000. This year it is assessed at $110,000. He felt his increase was higher than his neighbors with an increase of 5.8 %. He would like to be treated fairly and feels 3% would be appropriate. Erickson commented that housing in this area almost always appreciates more than the cost of living. • 7. Dave Lohmann, 1860 Lakeview Terrace, #21- 118 -23 42 0009 - He stated he has been a resident for 8 years noting taxes have doubled in that time while his salary has not. A sewer improvement will cost him $15,000 in the next year increasing monthly taxes by $200. He asked if the $15,000 sewer assessment would be added to the current market value. Erickson responded that values follow the market, they do not automatically add the value of a project to the property until sales show the market value has increased. Jabbour noted each lot may be affected differently depending on the existing septic capabilities and the potential for more bedrooms created by sewer availability. Steve Benson, 1290 Arbor Street, #10- 117 -23 31 0028 - The property is assessed at $109,500, last year at $101,000. Four years ago the home was assessed and reduced to $96,000. Mr. Benson would like to make an appointment and have the home reviewed again. 9. Mark Lamontane. 1270 Arbor Street, #10- 117 -23 31 0029 - He stated that last year the assessed value was down $100 from the year before yet the taxes still went up. This year the value went up 9% and he feels that is too much. He asked if he had his property reviewed and it was valued higher than what the Assessor currently has listed, if his market value would go even higher. Jabbour responded that the City has never raised the tax value in such 2 0 MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING HELD APRIL 23,1997 a case but the Tax Court might. Erickson added that the Assessors would not recommend raising a value. However, if they find improvements that they do not have listed in their records, the following year an adjustment would be made accordingly. Erickson noted this property was in the quarter of the City that was redone in 1996 and market values increased there. 10. Neil Blesi. 2064 Shad- Road. #17- 117 -23 31 0015 - His property is near Lord Fletcher's. He stated the house has a history of being overvalued and he has appealed the values 5 -6 times. He gave some examples showing his property has increased more than neighboring properties even though there have been major improvements in other properties. His value for this year is at $254,000, last year was $242,000 and 1995 was $227,000, increases of 5% and 6.6 %. Mr. Blesi would like to see the value lowered by 5 %. He noted his house, which was built in 1948, has no central air and it cannot be installed because of radiant heat. It is difficult to find comparable sales. The Assessor was out in 1995 and noted that allowances have been made for the problems existing on the property. Erickson suggested one of his assessors who has not visited the property could do another review. 11. Jeff Martin, 760 Hunt Farm Road, #31- 118 -23 11 -0010 - Mr. Martin did not. stay to appear • before the Board. • 12. Phil Kaley. 1395 Brown Road South. #10- 227 -23 310050 - Mr. Kaley did not stay to appear before the Board. 13. Mr. Larson, 724 Tonkawa Road, 05-117-23 34 0003 - Mr. Larson stated his value increased 12.3% this year with no improvements to the property. He doesn't feel he could get that value if he sold it. In the early 1970's, he questioned the appraised value. At that time the Assessor stated his property was a prime lot which was the reason for an increase. He noted that rain drains along his driveway into his property. The value was reduced at that time by $3,000 but was raised by the same amount the following year. Erickson reiterated that the State Legislators should be contacted as the State controls the way property taxes are calculated. Kelly agreed that the legislators have created a regressive tax and need to be called about real estate tax reform. The current system escalates taxes on property without approval of voters. It was moved by Kelley, seconded by Goetten, to schedule the Reconvened Board of Review on May 12, 1997 at 6:30 p.m. as the Board must meet within 20 calendar days. 3 MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING HELD APRIL 23,1997 Written Appeals Submitted: Douglas Johnson, 1355 Shoreline Drive, #02-117-23 34 0012 George and Katherine Kalweit, 4265 Forest Lake Drive, #07- 117 -23 12 0016 Matthew N. Nicoll, 160 Smith Avenue, #02- 117 -23 210029 Stephen P. Moseley, 1635 Bohns Point Road, #17- 117 -23 110006 Donald C. Swenson, 80 Luce Line Ridge, #31- 118 -23 34 0010 R. Hunt Greene, 865 Partenwood Road, #05- 117 -23 43 0002 ADJOURNMENT The Board of Review adjourned at 8:08 p.m. l 4 Gabrie abbour, Mayor • • •