Committee Minutes

MINUTES
CITY OF GRAND FORKS - BOARD OF EQUALIZATION
April 9, 1996

The city council of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota was called to meet as the Board of Equalization in the city council chambers on Tuesday, April 9, 1996 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Polovitz presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Beach, McCabe, Hoeppner, Hanson, Carpenter, Klave, Beyer - 7; absent: Council Members Hamerlik, Glassheim, Sande, Babinchak, Geller, Johnson, Hagness - 7.

Mel Carsen, city assessor, reported they did sales ratio study on residential and commercial properties that took place during 1995. He stated that on residential they tested out at 93.1%, about 7% less than the target of 100%, and increased residential property in certain areas by no increase to 7% increase, that State Law requires notification to property owner if increase 15% or greater. He reported that on commercial property they tested out at 96.9%, so no overall increase on commercial property. He reported that notices were sent to property owners if increase in valuation was greater than 7.5%; that they sent out 875 notices this year, compared to 4700 two years ago and 2900 last year. He also reported there is total increase in valuation for the city of $3,000,000 in taxable value, about 4.5% increase overall; and that a mill is worth about $67,000.

He stated that the meeting this evening is to hear protests on individual properties. He stated that practice has been to hear protests tonight, that protests then reviewed by assessing department, with hearings scheduled before the finance committee, who will then make determination and recommendation back to the Board.

RECEIVE FORMAL PROTESTS

Mayor Polovitz called for presentation of protests or appeals. Formal protests were presented by the following property owners, protesting the assessed valuation of their property:

1) Jerry Bakke, 1314 Cottonwood Street, protested valuation of his property at 1239 Dyke Avenue.
2) Eman Hejlik, 25-27 Polk Street
3) Lyle Nelson, 1218 Shakespeare Road

Written protests were received as follows:
1) Pizza Hut, Parcel #44-2603.004.01.00
2) Holiday Air Apartments #6515, Parcel #44-1115.000.10.00

It was moved by Council Member Beach and seconded by Council Member Hoeppner that the protests be referred to the finance com- mittee for investigation, consideration and report back on May 6, 1996. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

Page 2

RECESS

There being no further protests to be presented to the Board, it was moved by Council Member Beyer and seconded by Council Member Klave that the Board of Equalization recess to and reconvene May 6, 1996 at 7:00 p.m. after the finance committee has held its hearings and has had time to make its recommendations to the Board of Equalization. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,



Alice Fontaine
City Clerk