06-02-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--June 2, 1992 268 Mr. Wieland wondered if Sheyenne Diversion assessments will have an adverse effect on property values in Stanley Township, but Mr. Klein said they haven't yet. MOTION, passed Mrs. Toussaint moved and Mr. Risher seconded that the residential structure values be increased 4% in Stanley, Reed, Raymond, Harwood, Everest and Durbin Townships. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. WALL POULTRY BARN, Commercial assessment Mr. Klein recommended that the Wall poultry barn in Harwood Township be added to the tax roll because he said the barn does not meet the farm structure exemption in State law. In order to be exempt, Mr. Klein said the structure must be used in conjunction with or incidental to a farming operation. Since Mr. Wall has 80,000 laying hens on a 70-acre operation, Mr. Klein doesn't believe he meets the exemption at this time. MOTION, passed Mr. Eckert moved and Mrs. Toussaint seconded that the Wall poultry barn in Section 27, Harwood Township, be assessed at $168,000 as a commercial structure. The motion carried on roll call vote with four members voting "Aye," Mr. Wieland abstaining from voting since he was the appraiser of record for the operation before it started. Mr. Shannon asked that the minutes reflect that it is his position to support the motion because of an oath to follow State law, but he thinks the law is inadequate--for instance, the definition of farming is too narrow, he said. RECESS BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, Next meeting June 15th There being no further business to come before the County Board of Equalization, the Chairman declared the meeting recessed until the next regular Cass County Commission, which is June 15th. CONVENE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, Bridge item discussed Mr. Eckert said a bridge on a township road was damaged by heavy truck traffic, and Steve Grindberg has an estimate of $30,000 to refurbish the bridge. Mr. Grindberg is questioning whether County Road Department employees should do the repair work or if he should call for bids from contractors. The recent Road Department audit used a figure of $30,000 as a guideline for considering that the work be contracted. Mr. Eckert said bidding the project could take 2-3 months, while Road Department crews could begin the work in about one week. He said there is money in the Road Department budget for this repair because a scheduled bridge project will not be completed this year. Mr. Montplaisir said money budgeted for one bridge project can be used for other bridge repairs. Mr. Risher asked if Road Department employees have to be paid overtime in order for them to do this bridge repair, but Mr. Eckert said the personnel working on the bridge would not be paid overtime. He said Mr. Grindberg informed him that he will have a lot of overtime for the engineers on a road project.