12-22-1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

Diana Murack requested Commission approval to attend the Minnesota Association of County Administrators meeting in Bloomington, MN on January 31 through February 2, 1988. Mrs. Stanton requested receiving a copy of the agenda for the Commissioners to review for the January 5th meeting. Diana Murack reported that two brass ornaments were stolen from the railings inside the Courthouse. Commissioner Eckert stated that he will help to secure the other ones located throughout the Courthouse, and the States Attorney suggested filing a report with the Fargo Police Department and the Sheriff's Office. Mr. Mark Thelen, Director of Finance for the City of Fargo, appeared at the County's request to explain problems with the City of Fargo tax increment program. He stated that the County Auditor incorrectly calculated the tax levy on the tax increment projects resulting in a shortage of budgeted funds to the City of Fargo and the Fargo School District. He stated that the error has gone unnoticed for the past seven years. County Treasurer Maxine Liversage stated that if the County were to mail tax statements to correct the error in the 1987 tax calculation, it would require mailing 24,000 additional statements and she estimated the cost of the materials alone to be $14,675. Due to the manpower involved in addition to the cost of the materials, she indicated that she would like to see a solution that would not require sending additional tax statements. Mr. Duane Carlson, Assistant Superintendent for the Fargo Public Schools, presented copies of a letter stating that the Fargo Board of Education passed a motion at their December 15, 1987, meeting requesting the County Auditor to revise the 1987 tax statements that were mailed after they believe the error had been discovered. There was some discussion about the time when the error was first found and County officials were notified and when the 1987 statements were mailed. When asked about the County's options in correcting the situation on the tax increments, States Attorney Robert Hoy stated that he has not had sufficient time to completely review the statutes to determine what options are available to the County. Mrs. Stanton requested the States Attorney's opinion, and Mr. Wieland suggested writing letters to all entities involved asking for their formal position on the matter. He also requested that the County Treasurer provide the Commission with a memo identifying all of the costs involved, to the best of her knowledge, and a time frame of the work that would be involved. The next regularly scheduled Commission meeting is January 5th, and Mr. Wieland did not anticipate meeting before that time since Commissioner Sondrall is absent and since the Commission will be gathering as much information as possible in the next 2 -3 weeks. Mr. Thelen stated that the City would appreciate receiving copies of the information that the County is gathering, such as the memo from the Treasurer and the States Attorney's opinion. In closing, Mr. Wieland stated that the County will take the steps