Albert Lea, Minnesota May 4, 2006
The meeting of the Board of Review was called to order at 7 p.m. in the City Center Council Chambers by Mayor Aaron Summers.
ROLL CALL
Present were Board Members Vern Rasmussen, Randy Erdman, George Marin, Jeff Fjelstad, John Severtson, Al Brooks and Aaron Summers. Also present were Board Secretary Sandi Behrens, Ryan Rasmusson, George Rothmeier, John Yost, Arlin Trae and Tim Sosebee from the Freeborn County Assessor’s Office and City Manager Victoria Simonsen.
BOARD OF REVIEW
Mayor Summers opened a public hearing for the purpose of reviewing and correcting the assessments of the City for the year 2006. The required notice for this hearing was published on April 23, 2006 and posted in the City Center.
Ryan Rasmusson announced that the Board is here to take questions regarding classification or valuation not the dollar amount of the tax. He reviewed the summary of duties established for the Local Board of Appeals and Equalization.
Mr. Rasmussen identified the various reasons why values changed for the 2006 assessments for residential, commercial/industrial and apartments and reviewed the Market Value Analysis his office had prepared.
The following individuals appeared before the Board:
Bob Fredrickson, 205 Burr Oak Drive, feels the value for his property is too high.
Bill Babb, 121 West Hawthorne, feels that he could not sell his home for the value placed on it.
Roger Holty, 1026 St. Joseph, feels that his value is too high and asked why the “This Old House” designation is no longer shown on his statement. Mr. Rasmussen stated that the exclusion phases out over a period of years.
Brian Burkhard, 2124 West Edgewater Drive, questioned the increase for the four parcels he owns on the west edge of Sunset Street and asked what the percentage increase in the tax base was. City Manager Simonsen responded that the increase was 7.94%.
Carol Bublitz, 2014 Southeast Marshall, stated that her home is 116 years old and she feels the value is too high.
Terry Kvenvold, 1114 Fairlane Terrace, president of Interstate Motor Trucks, 1900 Sorenson Road, stated that the City Council created a competitor for his business and asked how the City can subsidize Trail’s and yet raise taxes on his business.
Stanley Stover, 305 Johnson, feels that the value set for his property is too high.
Freeborn County Assessor Rasmusson told those present that the assessor’s office does take telephone calls and will talk with individuals who visit the office. Often times, a phone call will take care of the dispute. He informed the individuals that his office will be in contact with them.
Board discussion centered around a time to reconvene for the follow-up review. Mr. Rasmusson reminded the board that the meeting must occur within 20 days after the initial meeting. After discussion, the board agreed to conduct the follow-up review on Monday, May 22, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
RECESS: 7:28 P.M.
With no further comments to be heard, the meeting was recessed to Monday, May 22, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Center Council Chambers.
Filed and attested May 5, 2006.
____/s/ Sandi Behrens___________ ______/s/ Aaron Summers___________
Secretary of the Board Mayor