HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-10-1982 Council Minutes Special Meeting • �
� ;
�
i ; CITY OF' ORONO
�
�
Special Meeting of. the Orono Council, 9 : 00 A. M.
November 10 , 1982
The Orono Council met on the above date with
the following members present : Mayor Van Nest,
Councilmembers Adams and Frahm. Absent Council-
member Butler and Hurr . Also present: City
Administrator Benson, City Planner Olson, Dorothy
N1cClung, Director of Legal Research, Department of
Revenue, State of Minnesota; Russell Lund, Repre--
sentative from New Thought Center, Inc . , i�7i_l�ia;n
Fenholt, Superintendent of Orcno 5c'riool Dis�ric�
#278 , and City Cl�rk Stror�l.
Mayor Van N�st ��cplained to the persons present NEW THOUGHT CENTER
the his�ory of the Church of the Open Door and Tax Exempt Status
the Andromedia property that was totally destroyed
in a fire , and that a portion of the property was
later sold and developed by a developer .
Mayor Van Nest also stated that Milt Hilt, Hennepin
Count_y Assessor, had been informed of this meeting
but was not present.
Ms. McClung stated that an abatement was filed
February 4 , 1982 for a reduction in taxes for 1982
that Milt Hilt signed in 1981.
Russ Lund stated that the property had been tax exempt
for several years and that he had let�ers from County
Commissioner Bud Robb informing him o:f the tax exempt
classification for the church property.
In 1978 , Steve Hanlin, former Orono Deputy Assessor,
notified Russ Lund when he realized that proper
papers were not filed when the property changed from
renter to �urchaser. Mr . Lund stated that the church
rented the property until they �urchased it in 1978
and that the church was exempt at that time.
Mayor Van Nest stated that the Church of the Open Door
did have a tax exempt status but their status did
not carry over to a new operation such as the New Thought
Center which needed a conditional use permit.
Russ Lund stated that the church received tax exempt
statements for 1978 , 1979 , & 1980 but that th�
statements for the past two years, 1981 & 1982 did
not show the tax exempt status. Lund also stated
that he received a letter from Steve Hanlin to fill
out an abatement form in June , 198� that was approved
and signed by Hennepin County Jenson in August, 1980 .
Special Meeting
November 10 , 1982
Yage 2
Mayor Van N�st informed Mr. Lund that it would
be necessary for him to fill out a conditional
use permit for the New Thought Center and then
apply for an abatement.
William Fenholt stated that tax exempt property
is absorbed by residents of the school district
when tax exempt property is respread over the entire
district and that a large sum of tax money is lost to
the school district.
Mr . Lund was informed that he should clarify the
status of the New Thought Center as a church, apply
for a conditional use permit, and then reapply for
an abatement for the two years .
Ms. McClung stat,ed that it ,is difficult to determine
the classification of churches, as there are many �
types of churches, some of which might not be classi-
fied as churches�and tax exempt.
The meeting adjourned at 9 : 40 A. M.
�j ` �
C . �i
William B. Van Nest, Mayor
/�� , '/ l i�..�
Atte st:_ C _��L/„c-�=�-c.� /�'� ,�.���%
Alberta M. St�om, City Clerk