05-04-2009 Council Minutes Reconvened Board of Appeal & Equalization

Home Browse Search

C3� MINUTES OF TAE • RECONVENED ORONO BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION Monday, May 4, 2009 6:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL Members present: Mayor Jim White and Council Members Lili McMillan and Jim Murphy Members Absent: Council Members Cynthia Bremer and Doug Franchot Staff present: Hennepin County Appraiser Nate Stulc and Assistant County Assessor Bill Effertz, City Administrator Bill Wells and City Clerk Lin Vee .. " Mayor White reconvened the Board of Appeal and Equalization at 6:01 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Murphy moved, McMillan seconded, to approve the minutes of the April 27, 2009 meeting of the Orono Board of Appeal and Equalization as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 0. COUNCIL ACTION ON ASSESSOR'S RECOMMENDATION Stulc reviewed the Assessor recommendations for the audience members as follows: - Heather Johnstone, 3285 Crystal Bay Road, original 2009 estimated market value of $910,000 — • no change recommended - Jon Hofer, 3339 Crystal Bay Road, original 2009 estimated market value of $712,000 —no change recommended - John Henrich, 4125 Highwood Road, original 2009 estimated "market value of $1,709,000 —no change recommended. Stulc noted that he visited the property to re- measure the square footage and verify that the correct information was on file with the Assessor's office. Murphy verified that Stulc had personal contact with those who had questions from the April 27f' meeting and that he has reviewed comparables submitted by the property owners. Stulc noted that a memo was submitted to Council indicating that there was a typographical error in the original recommendation for Robert Devere, 2670 Countryside Drive West, and the Assessor was correcting the recommendation from $876,000 to $824,000. The owner was advised of the change. White stated the next step is to appeal to the Hennepin County Board of Appeal for those property owners who do not agree with the values approved by the Orono Board of Appeal and Equalization. Hofer indicated he was looking for input from Council and that attending the last 3 meetings had been a waste of his time. White stated that Council can make adjustments to valuations if they find something extremely out of line. They review information submitted by the Assessor and believe he is competent to do his job. Adjustments were made to some properties, but not to the three properties that are represented at this meeting. Property owners have the responsibility to prove that the Assessor doesn't have accurate • information. , Page 1 of 2