05-24-1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CASS COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA 60B~ ':::':'---':'=-1!!'~'!ii,",'i!ii,:;;;:.:;;:"",~J,";.~:;";".,.~_,=~ ~..-'~ '---' -.., -,-.-.,--..,------,::..,-=-----=-----,-,.-. .-=. -.-.--"---- ---.-----------T'.----------.'--.... Mr. Larson moved and Mrs. Stanton seconded that the Application for Abatement I Abatement of Taxes submitted by Lee A. Christoferson be granted as recommended by Mr. Miller I Hearings and by the Stanley Township Board of Supervisors. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. I I I I I ! Mrs. Stanton moved and Mr. Larson seconded that the Application for Abatement of Taxes submitted by William A. and Collene Bares be denied for the reason that Mr. Miller's investigation of the property shows that it is assessed equitably with other comparable preperty in Stanley Township. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Larson moved and Mrs. Stanton seconded that the Application for Abatement of Taxes submitted by Wayne and Karen Smith be granted as recommended by Mr. Miller. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Stanton moved and Mr. Larson seconded to approve the Application for Abatement of Taxes submitted by Lloyd E. Pittenger, as recommended by Mr. Miller. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Jennie Rousu was present regarding her Application for Abatement of Taxes. She stated that she has done a competitive market analysis on her property arid she feels the assessment is too high. The property is located in the City of Fargo, and the Application was denied by the Fargo City Commission on April 18, 1983. Mr. Marv Heaton from the Fargo City Assessor's Office was present and stated that the Assessor's Office just finished re-appraising this entire area last summer. Mrs. Stanton moved and Mr. Larson seconded that the Application for Abatement of Taxes for Jennie M. Rousu be denied for the reason that Mr. Miller's investigation of the property shows that it is assessed equitably with other comparable property in the City of Fargo. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Larson moved and Mrs. Stanton seconded to approve the Application for Abatement of Taxes submitted by Mark and Arlene Francis, as recommended by Mr. Miller. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Stanton moved and Mr. Wieland seconded to approve the Application for Abatement of Taxes for Ronald W. Larson as submitted and as rec 0 ffiI1\ended by Mr. Miller. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Larson moved and Mrs. Stanton seconded to approve the Application for Abatement of Taxes submitted by Arnold and Delorez Himle, as recommended by Mr. Miller. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Stanton moved and Mr., Wieland seconded to approve the Application for Abatement of Taxes for Terry M. Cox as submitted and as recommended by Mr. Miller. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. The Commission received copies of the guidelines from the North Dakota Tax Department on the enabling legislation regarding the two-year general tax exemption on new residential property. The matter will be placed on the agenda in two weeks. County Court Judge Donald Cooke appeared to discuss the Public Defender Contract, as the current contract expires July 15, 1983. Judge Cooke proposed to hire three attorneys at a salary of $15,000.00 each per year plus a contingency fund of $5,000.00 in case of conflict of interest. He stated that last year Cass County was paying 25% of the total contract price and the State of North Dakota paid the remainder for District Court cases. Judge Cooke feels that the number of cases handled in County Court are about equal to the number of District Court cases, and he estimated that an attorney would be spending about one-half of his time as public defender and the other half in private practice. Bob Hoy, States Attorney, feels this would create a real inequity in salaries because two full-time Assistant States Attorneys in his office are being paid $17,000.00 per year by the County, and they are not allowed by State Law to have a private practice. The States Attorney feels it is important to determine the percentage of cases handled by the County Court and those by the District Court before setting the salary for the County Court public defenders. Mr. Hay will estimate some figures for next week, and the matter was placed on the agenda for May 31st. Chairman Eckert turned over the meeting to Vice Chairman Stanton, as he had to attend another meeting. " Last week the Commission asked for an Attorney General's opinion on whethe~ County Commissioners are considered full-time or part-time to determine their eligibility to receive health insurance benefits paid by the County. Bob Hay, States Attorney, informed the Commission that this question is a policy decision to be made by the Board of Cass County Commissioners. Elected officials are covered under the group insurance by action of the Board on the 25th day of November, 1970, and there have been no changes Tax Exemption on new residences-- guidelines from State Tax Dept. Public Defender contract disc. Health Insurance benefits for Co. Commissioners discussed