05-05-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes—May 5, 2014 4291 - All-Terrain Grounds Maintenance—Courthouse, Annex, Jail and Springvale Cemetery grounds maintenance; - Ernst Trenching—installation of fiber optic cable between the Cass County Jail and new Coroner's Office at the former Sunmart building; - Family Health Care—business associate agreement to protect the privacy and security of protected health information for clients of the Cass County Sheriff's Office who receive services through Family Health Care. 6. ABATEMENT HEARING FOR DOUG BURGUM, Item moved to the end of the agenda Frank Klein, Director of Equalization, was present to discuss abatement applications received from Doug Burgum for his property in Stanley Township. The applicant is requesting the valuation be reduced from $1,766,100 to $541,400 for 2009 and from $1,769,000 to $547,400 for 2010. Mr. Burgum states the valuation increased substantially when a building permit was issued for a basement foundation, and the applicant also believes the existing buildings appear to be overvalued. Mr. Klein said since the foundation was built, the ground has shifted making it unusable to build a home. The property is divided into two parcels located on 88 acres, and consists of a renovated farmhouse, steel building, horse stable, riding arena, and unused foundation, which has been capped and is used for storage. Mr. Klein said the township board recommended the value of the foundation be reduced to zero, and if the applicant wanted a further reduction, an independent appraisal would be needed. Mr. Burgum ordered an appraisal on the property, which valued the property at $835,000 with $40,000 for the foundation. Mr. Klein said the property is unique so sales comparisons are difficult to find. He reviewed the appraisal and the township assessor's cost approach. The major difference is due to the appraiser deducting 10% to 30% from the estimated new cost, whereas the assessor did not apply any depreciation and used cost estimates at the time of construction. Mr. Klein concurs that the unstable foundation should have a nominal value of $40,000. He believes the two parcels should have a total valuation of$950,000. Mrs. Scherling questioned the difference between the appraisal and Mr. Klein's recommendation. Mr. Klein said the appraiser used $3,500 per acre, which he believed was low for land values in this area, which is located south of Fargo. Mr. Klein also considered input from the local assessor and building inspector. There was discussion about the foundation value, and the recommendation by the township board to place the value at zero. There was also discussion on how the values were figured by Mr. Klein and by Deena Hopson, Stanley Township Assessor, who was present at today's meeting. The Stanley Township Board did not include a recommendation regarding the total valuation of the two parcels. The item was tabled until the end of the meeting to allow Mr. Klein and Mrs. Hopson to gather additional information to determine an exact valuation figure. 7. SHERIFF'S OFFICE, Donation of patrol vehicle to Bonanzaville Law Enforcement Museum approved Chief Deputy Rick Majerus from the Sheriff's Office was present to discuss a request to donate a squad car to the Law Enforcement Museum at Bonanzaville. If approved, one 2009 Impala would be donated, which has 141,000 miles and is being replaced this year.