|
F
<br />31 5
<br />Co. Board of Tax
<br />Equalization
<br />convened for 1986
<br />Argusville dike
<br />agreements signed
<br />Cass Co. Rural Wate
<br />Users granted
<br />utility permit
<br />Cass Co. Annex bldg
<br />one bid recd. 6 -2.
<br />Rejected by Co. Bd.
<br />PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
<br />OF CASS COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA
<br />REGULAR MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
<br />JUNE 3, 1986
<br />Chairman Alon Wieland called the meeting to order and upon roll call, all members were present.
<br />Mr. Eckert moved and Mrs. Stanton seconded that the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as
<br />written. Motion carried.
<br />The Board convened as the County Board of Tax Equalization at 9:15 A.M. Clarence Miller, County
<br />Director of Tax Equalization, stated that the total taxable property has increased 4.34% over last year.
<br />He informed the Board of the following appeals for a tax reduction.
<br />Mr. Gary Annear of Pargo, who was present, requested that the assessment on Lots 19 -24, Block 12,
<br />Original Townsite, City of Davenport, be reduced from $183,060 to $105,000, which is the purchase price
<br />of the property. The City of Davenport has been notified that the County Board of Equalization would be
<br />acting upon the appeal today. Upon the recommendation of Clarence Miller, Mrs. Stanton moved and
<br />Mr. Sondrall seconded to reduce the Gary Annear property in the City of Davenport to $105,000. On roll
<br />call vote, the motion carried unanimously.
<br />Clarence Miller stated that the next appeal is on the sunflower plant at Riverside owned by
<br />Cargill, Inc. The State Tax Department was requested to make the appraisal due to the size and nature of
<br />this property, and their appraisal was $12,000,000. Cargill, Inc. has protested that valuation and asked
<br />that it be reduced to $6,000,000. Upon the recommendation of Clarence Miller, Mrs. Stanton moved and
<br />Mr. Eckert seconded to deny the request and advise Cargill, Inc. to appeal to the State Board of
<br />Equalization on the basis that the State made the appraisal. Mr. Miller stated that he informed
<br />Cargill, Inc. of what his recommendation would be to the County Board of Equalization, and they did not
<br />wish to appear this morning. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.
<br />Attorney Joseph Turman and Hans Halvorson were present to request a reduction in the valuation of
<br />property known as the Scandia Hotel in north Fargo, owned by Fourth Street Investments. Mr. Turman
<br />stated that an appraisal was made by T.W. Sapa at $2,000,000 which was based largely on income. However,
<br />the owners feel that the hotel income will take approximately three years to reach the potential that the
<br />appraisals imply. Mr. Turman requested the Board to phase in the taxes over a three year period in order
<br />to give the hotel an opportunity to generate enough income to pay the taxes, and he also requested that
<br />the County not make a decision until another appraisal is conducted. He estimated this would take 30
<br />days. Clarence Miller stated that the County's Tax Abstract is due to the State Tax Department on
<br />June 30, 1986, so the County Board of Equalization must make a decision by then. He stated that an
<br />alternative would be to follow the abatement procedure.
<br />Floyd Buerkley, Fargo City Assessor, was also present and stated that his office first appraised the
<br />Scandia Hotel property at $1,872,000 using a cost approach plus depreciation method. Mr. Buerkley stated
<br />that the City Assessor's Office has now completed an appraisal using the income approach, based upon a
<br />65% occupancy rate. The amount of this appraisal is $2,100,00_0. He stated that the Fargo Board of
<br />Equalization denied the appeal.
<br />Chairman Wieland asked what the property owners feel the value of this property should be, and
<br />Mr. Turman stated that their request is for $1,400,000.
<br />Upon the recommendation of Clarence Miller, Mrs. Stanton moved and Mr. Eckert seconded that the
<br />request to reduce the valuation of the Scandia Hotel property be denied and that the valuation be placed
<br />at $1,872,000. The motion failed upon roll call vote with Mr. Wieland, Mr. Larson and Mr. Sondrall
<br />opposing.
<br />Mr. Larson moved and Mrs. Stanton seconded to continue the appeal of the Scandia Hotel property to
<br />June 24, 1986, at 9:15 A.M. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.
<br />Mrs. Stanton moved and Mr. Larson seconded to recess the County Board of Tax Equalization until
<br />June 24th at 9:15 A.M. Motion carried.
<br />The Board convened as the County Board of Commissioners 'at 9:45 A.M.
<br />Attorney Daniel Twichell was present regarding the Argusville Dike agreements. The Chairman read a
<br />letter from States Attorney Robert Hoy outlining seven documents, which he found to be in proper order
<br />and suitable to accomplish the purposes outlined by Mr. Twichell at the May 27th Commission meeting. The
<br />States Attorney has discussed the terms of the agreements and the location of the properties involved
<br />with County Engineer Don Richards. Mr. Larson moved and Mr. Sondrall seconded that the Chairman be
<br />authorized to sign the seven documents identified with the City of Argusville diking project on Cass
<br />County Highway 81. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.
<br />Mr. Eckert moved and Mr. Sondrall seconded that the Chairman be authorized to sign the utility
<br />permit for Cass County Rural Water Users along County Road 21 near St. Benedict. On roll call vote, the
<br />motion carried unanimously.
<br />Mrs. Stanton moved and Mr. Larson seconded to reject the one bid received June 2, 1986, in the
<br />amount of $100,000.00 for sale of the Cass County Annex building located at 702 Main Avenue, Fargo; and
<br />that Administrative Assistant Scott Krueger be requested to prepare documentation necessary to
<br />re- advertise for sealed bids. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.
<br />
|