06-05-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--June 5, 1995 1344 Randy Devitt asked a question from the audience about farmland values, and Mr. Klein responded that the state legislature determines the agricultural values. Mr. Klein's report includes a recommendation on individual changes in the townships. Two commercial structures in Stanley Township (owned by Verden Anderson and Roger Bessett) and one commercial structure in Warren Township (owned by Jeffrey Knutson) inadvertently missed being assessed. Mr. Klein said the local assessor and township board agree that the structures need to be added to the assessment rolls. Notices were sent to the property owners and no responses were received. Randy Devitt, who owns property and is appealing an assessment in Mapleton Township, was present and said he sold two of the three properties mentioned above. He said he sold the property to be valued at $25,000 to Mr. Knutson for $82,500; and the property to be valued at $22,400 to Mr. Bessett for $20,000. Mr. Klein said the recommendation to assess the Bessett property at $22,400 is based on $10 per square foot; and the Warren Township Assessor recommended the assessment of $25,000 on the Knutson property. MOTION, passed Upon recommendation of the Director of Equalization, Mrs. Toussaint moved and Mr. Eckert seconded that the following commercial structures be added to the assessment rolls at the values listed as follows: $52,000 for Verden Anderson property located in part of S~, 30-138-49; ~22,400 for Roger Bessett property located in part of NW~, 30-138-49; and ~25,000 for Jeffrey Knutson property located in part of NE~, 25-138-50. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. Commissioners received a letter from Frank Klein dated June 1, 1995 regarding appeal of assessment by Randy Devitt for a 23 acre tract of land in Mapleton Township. Mr. Devitt was present to protest the increase in taxes proposed by the assessor because he doesn't believe he is being taxed fairly. He has been an active farmer but makes more than half his income from activities other than farming; and he alluded to discrepancies in the taxation of various properties. He said he could find hundreds of instances like his if he had time to examine the tax rolls, and he would like to address this with the Commission again at a later date. If people are not paying their taxes, Mr. Ness said the county wants to know about that. Mr. Klein said he will work with Mr. Devitt if he knows of some properties that would not meet the exemption qualifications. It is Mr. Klein's opinion that Mr. Devitt does not meet the farm exemption requirements. He said the property is only a 23-acre tract and Mr. Devitt is employed in the City of Fargo. Upon inspection, Mr Klein noted that no ground is being tilled and none of the buildings are