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2003-05-08 CC Minutes BOR . ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL BOARD OF REVIEW May 8, 2003 Albertville City Hall 6:30 PM PRESENT: Mayor Don Peterson, Councilmembers LeRoy Berning, Tom Fay, Tim Sweeney and Ron Klecker, City Clerk Bridget Miller, Wright County Assessor Greg Kramber, and Wright County / City Assessor Tony Rasmuson Mayor Peterson called the Board of Review meeting to order. Wright County Assessor Greg Kramber asked how many of the council members were new. Since there were a number that have never gone through the Board of Review process he had a little outline of the process in which he handed out to the members. He proceeded to review the process of a Board of Review. He then turned it over to Wright County/City Assessor Rasmuson. Wright County/City Assessor Rasmuson told the Council that they had a list of residents that had called in and put on a list. The first person on the list was scheduled for 6:40 p.m. She was not present for the meeting. The proceeded to the second person - that was Ellen Miller. . Ellen Miller proceeded to the podium to explain her situation. She was asking the council if they would consider changing her classification. She has a 10-acre lot off of County Road 37. There is a house on the site but it is vacant. She hires a farmer to plant hay for her and then again in the fall she hires the farmer to harvest the hay. She then sells the bails of hay for income. Wright County/City Assessor Rasmuson explained that when he went out to assess the property he observed what was on the property. Since he did not see any livestock he looked for farm equipment which he seen nothing. Therefore he re-classified it as non-homestead residential. There was discussion of the Green Acres rule of thumb. Wright County Assessor Kramber explained it needs to be 10 tillable acres to qualify with the house on the plat it is not 10 tillable acres. Ellen Miller asked him to find that in writing for her. He would research it and mail her the necessary documentation. Mayor Peterson asked if there was a motion to re-classify Ms. Miller's property from non- homestead residential back to agricultural. There was no motion made therefore the property will remain non-homestead residential. Wright County Assessor Kramber called the next person on the list that was Gordon Berning. Gordon Berning proceeded to the podium. He explained that he was representing Don's Auto . Repair Services. He explained that there is an odd triangular piece of property, which butts up to "..f.\Dn....1;~ n.........\r'...uu.......;1 'lK;"'''.oOC'\''J)'''2 It.f;...ni-o...\f\, (\Q 0'1 'O...........A ......,:"00.,;00"'" .1........ . . . ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL BOARD OF REVIEW May 8, 2003 Page 2 of3 the Auto Repairs property. He maintains the property to keep the weeds down and make the city look presentable. He commented that the "downtown" of Albertville has moved down the road and it has hurt business some and feels the Auto Repair Station is being compared to the new businesses that have been built. He was asking the council if they would consider lower the taxes on the triangular empty lot. Wright County/City Assessor Rasmuson commented that they are trying to slowly transition the previously established businesses in with the new ones. The businesses on County Road 37 and 19 are taxed at a rate of $6.00 - $8.00 per square foot. The Auto Repair Station is at a rate of $4.50 per square foot. The triangular piece is only at $2.25 per square foot. He also explained that Norm Arens sold his property for a fairly nice price, which had another factor into the value of the Auto Repair Service Station. Mayor Peterson asked what they were at last year in comparison to this year. Wright County/City Assessor Rasmuson looked it up and responded with $0.54 per square foot last year. So it did go up considerably. Mayor Peterson asked if anyone wanted to make a motion to reduce the rate. Tom Fay made a motion to reduce the rate to $1.25 per square foot. Tim Sweeney seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carries. Wright County Assessor Kramber called the next name on the list, which was Diane Sorensen. Diane Sorensen proceeded to the podium. She informed the council that she was here representing L & D Trucking. She explained that her taxes too went up considerably. She was wondering if the council would consider lower hers. It is tough to make a living since the September 11 th incident. If they feel they can't lower the taxes is there another spot within Albertville that she could possibly relocate her business. Wright County/City Assessor Rasmuson explained that her property is close to the Norm Arens property that was recently sold and it affected her taxes as well. Mayor Peterson suggested moving her business to the Industrial Park area. The city owns a couple of lots out there. City Clerk Miller is to get a message to the City Planner to contact Diane to see if there is anything that would work for her. Mayor Peterson asked if there was anyone that wanted to make a motion to reduce her taxes. There was no motion to reduce the taxes. . ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL BOARD OF REVIEW May 8, 2003 Page 3 of3 Wright County/City Assessor Rasmuson proceeded with a number of letters that were sent to them regarding their property taxes. One was from the Albertville Creamery. They were asking the City Assessor to review the building. He would like a reduction due to needed repair. Councilmember Fay made a motion to reduce the value based on the Assessor's review of the property and re-evaluate. Berning seconded the motion. All voted aye. Wright County/City Assessor read another letter from a property owner. Gerhard Knechtl wrote a letter to the Assessor commented that the value of his property went up a large percentage. Mayor Peterson asked if there was a motion to reduce the property taxes for Gerhard Knechtl. There was no motion. Therefore there is no reduction in property taxes. Wright County/City Assessor read another letter this one was from David Bailey representing the Ashley Furniture Store. City Assessor was working on the building value for Mr. Bailey. There were no additional letters or questions. Mayor Peterson made a motion to adjourn at 8:00 PM. Klecker seconded the motion. All voted . aye. ':0~ Q~ --; Don Peterson, Mayor \i~J\;~tC\ \,- VV\ ' Y\\~.Q~ (~ Bridget Miller,~City Clerk .