05-06-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

17. Commission Minutes-May 6, 2002 2440 ABATEMENT APPLICATION, Denied for David HabiQer A notice of hearing on the tax abatement application of David Habiger, Amenia, was sent to Mr. Habiger; however, he was not present at today's hearing. Mr. Klein had expected Mr. Habigerto attend the meeting today, and he asked if the board needed any further information at this time. The board felt Mr. Klein's investigation and photographs of the property would be sufficient. .'--- Mr. Klein said the Amenia Township Board of Supervisors recommends denying the abatement, and he also recommends the abatement be denied because there is no evidence to indicate the assessment is invalid, inequitable or unjust. MOTION, passed Mrs. Schneider moved and Mr. Wagner seconded to deny abatement #4217 for David Habiger for property located in Amenia Township, as recommended by Amenia Township and the Director of Equalization, for reasons stated in his investigation of the abatement application. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 18. JAIL TRANSITION TEAM, Update by Sheriff's Department Sheriff Don Rudnick, Walt Willis and Carlos Perez were present regarding the transition team duties in the last month. Mr. Perez reported on training, ordering equipment, completing background investigations for new employees, reviewing additional RFP's (requests for proposals) and working with Information Services on computer software and hardware. 19. JAIL BID ALTERNATES, Site irriQation and additional pavina Bonnie Johnson, County Coordinator/Jail Project Coordinator, provided some history on bid alternates for the new jail. One is for site irrigation, which would be limited to the front, or public area, of the facility. The irrigation would greatly assist the germination and growth of new seed planted at the facility. She received an estimate, since the time of her April 25th memorandum to the board, in the amount of $26, 474.00, plus a small amount for mechanical and electrical connections. - The second bid alternate is for completion of the curb, gutter and paving of the perimeter road at the back of the jail. Currently, only the front half of the circular loop is scheduled for paving, and the back half of the road was left as gravel to allow the county an opportunity to review the sales tax revenues and the costs near the end of the project. She said having the entire road paved would serve the county better because of snow removal, and it would eliminate regular gravel maintenance. She received an estimate of $133,200.00 for this alternate, providing the base material is sufficient. Michael Montplaisir, County Auditor, said he reviewed a summary of the new jail budget, and there is money in the sales tax revenue fund to pay for these two bid alternates. He said most of the $300,000 contingency fund is left, and only about $1.5 million dollars of the $3 million building fit-up fund has been used. The board could look toward the month of November this year to make a decision to discontinue the jail sales tax collections at the end of March, 2003, according to Mr. Montplaisir. He said the State Tax Department needs at least one quarter of lead-time to notify the county's retailers to -- terminate the tax. In terms of dollars, Mr. Wagner believes it is cost-efficient to do the work now. Mrs. Schneider said the road is quite muddy and she would favor doing the work now.