Bd of Review Minutes

Minutes of the 2009 Board of Review meeting held on Monday, June 8th, 2009 at city hall pursuant to notice duly given.


1. Moved by Hornblad seconded by Honish to nominate Mike Loomis as chairperson of the Board of Review (BOR).
Loomis stated he has been chairperson during his tenure except for one year; asked for other nominations;

Hearing no other nominations a unanimous ballot was cast for Mike Loomis as chairperson. 5 ayes

2. Chairperson Loomis called to order the meeting for the 2009 Board of Review at 10:00 a.m.

3. Roll call: Mike Loomis, John Honish, Jim Hornblad, Don Denor and George Nigel. Ron Banach, Assessor and Linda Belongia, Administrator
also present as recording secretary.

4. Banach stated today, June 8th, 2009 he received a fax from a property owner wanting to debate the current fair market value of his home;
Banach stated he called and left a voice message informing Mr. Payant
that the BOR was meeting today.

Moved by Honish seconded by Denor to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

5. No correspondence or public input.

6. Loomis stated the BOR will hear each case; oath will be given; hear testimony; ask any questions; hear witnesses; any comments from assessor; BOR’s past practice has been to deliberate each case at the
end; extended a welcome to the property owners to stay and hear the
deliberation for the outcome on their objection; stated the Assessor will mail a copy of the BOR’s determination to each objector;

a. Eric and Lori Stenstrup, 510 Adams Street, Oconto, WI. objection form was filed in a timely manner; Eric Stenstrup was given the Oath.
three comparables were provided from within last 12 months; 218 Lindsey,
$128,000; 213 Quincy, $145,000 and 1612 Park Avenue, $152,900; all are
comparable single family residential homes; Stenstrup stated his home is
2,112 sq ft; Lindsey Avenue is 1,654; Quincy is 1,880; and Park Avenue is
1,540; Loomis questioned the appraisal of $160,000; done by the Davis
Agency; original appraisal of $175,694 was done by the bank in August 2008; Loomis questioned if any of the comparables are brick? Stenstrup
(Eric) stated Quincy & Park are both brick; Nigel questioned if Stenstrup
approached the Building Inspector on this? Stenstrup stated he did meet
with Banach who advised him to come to the BOR; Denor asked Banach
how much the current economy took on appraisals…how much of a factor
is this? Banach stated he doesn’t know…its supply and demand some it
effects some may not; Denor questioned if city was being assessed…would it effect now with the economy? Banach stated no
because you would have to have comparable sales; Nigel questioned
when will the next city wide assessment be? Banach stated as long as we
maintain within 10% of the equalized value;

Ron Banach was given the Oath.

Stenstrup stated 510 Adams was for sale for 3 ½ yrs;
Banach stated the last assessment was in 2005 by R&R Assessing;
property at that time was owned by Ron and Kathy Hayes; Land is
assessed at $21,200 and the improvements at $163,000 for a total of
$184,200; Nigel referenced Stenstrup’s objection form that states
$197,047; Stenstrup stated that’s the fair market value; Banach stated the
Assessed value of $184,200 is what the taxes are paid on; explained
assessed vs. fair market value; Honish questioned if the BOR is being
asked to look at the assessed value? Loomis questioned what Mr.
Stenstrup is asking for…? Stenstrup stated with the three comparables in his opinion $150,000 would be a fair assessment;

Loomis stated hearing nothing further the Stenstrup was closed. Loomis
informed Stenstrup that in the event the decision reached by the BOR is
not satisfactory that decision can be appealed;

Stenstrup provided for the record a copy of the comparables plus his appraisal for their review;

b. Jeff Hoover was given the Oath.
Loomis explained the procedure; Hoover stated he bought the business
two years ago and paid $110,000 and added $15,000 of new equipment;
currently assessed at $176m615 and is asking the BOR for
reconsideration; built approx 25 years ago; Denor questioned if Hoover
had an appraisal done? Hoover stated no, he bought the property from
the former owner; Honish and Hornblad verified the purchase price of
$110,000; Loomis reminded Banach that he already was sworn in; Banach stated the property was reassessed in 2005 with the land at $71,100 and
the improvements at $94,000 for a total of $165,100…the fair market
value is $176,615; Loomis questioned how long the property for sale was?
Hoover stated approx one year and is asking for the amount to be
reduced; Loomis explained deliberation and notice that will be mailed and the appeal process;

c. Ken Altergott was sworn in. Altergott stated he is not objecting to the
value of improvements, just the land; when he purchased the property it
originally had two buildings…was given permission to fill in one lot, which
he built his home on…when he wanted to fill in the 2nd lot, the US Gov’t
changed how wetlands are treated, can’t fill in now; referenced property
owner’s guide, which defines wetlands; should have filled the second lot in
1970 before they passed the law, no permits were necessary back then.
Hornblad questioned if it’s two lots, how many tax bills does Altergott
get?... questioned if Altergott has ever thought of dividing the lots again
and getting the other reassessed? Altergott stated no, but the BOR can do this; Nigel stated when R&R did the assessing all of the shoreline and
river front was assessed the same; Altergott stated when they assessed
did they know the other 100’ is not buildable…no access; Honish
questioned Altergott on how his house sits on the 100’ and when did the
DNR law change? Altergott stated in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s;
stated the last time he went to the US Corp of Engineers, that was approx
4 years ago; Altergott stated he is not contesting the first 100’, can’t do
anything with the 2nd 100’…that is not fill able; Banach stated in 2005 revaluation was done, Lots 2 & 3 of Riverside Plat, Altergott has two lots
but they are one parcel, 200’ x 560’ depth; Altergott stated the lots are
deep, but in the 70’s he only filled one in, 100’ x 100’ on the one lot;
Loomis questioned Banach if Altergott had any other options? Banach
stated can split off, would have to have at least 90’ of road frontage; Denor
questioned if there would be any advantage to doing this? Nigel
referenced the former Mayor buying property and being assessed same
as other water frontage; Nigel stated Altergott should be given some
consideration being he lives next to a marina…the value of his property is
not the same as other areas because of this; Denor stated the stickler is
land has a value, just maybe not a buildable piece of property; Altergott stated he is contesting the amount he is paying; Loomis questioned
Banach what can Altergott do…what are his options? Banach stated he
can parcel it off, where buildable or not, Army Corps of Engineers or DNR
would have to give determination … adjustment can be given on what is
usable and not usable; Altergott stated he’s still under oath…Corp will not
let anything be built…he’s just asking for a reduction…if separate parcel
he will just let that go back for back taxes and the city will get nothing;

d. David Burkhalter given Oath. Burkhalter stated he purchased the property
in the 1990’s for $3,600 from the county; it’s a good rental unit; referenced
Pat Ragen’s home next door, remodeled and is here before the BOR
looking for equity between his property and his neighbor’s…he has the
property insured for $30,000 with a $10,000 deductible; Honish
questioned what Ragen’s property is assessed at? Burkhalter stated he
didn’t know, Ragen is asking $50,000, and it’s a nice fancy home
Burkhalter stated compared to his rental; Honish questioned assessment vs. fair market value; Burkhalter stated his rental was built in the 1940’s;
Burkhalter stated dimensions 24 x 24; Nigel questioned the garage;
Burkhalter stated is an attached 1 ½ stall; Banach stated that Ragen’s
home had water damage; Burkhalter stated he is looking for parity between his property and his neighbors; Banach stated the property was
reassessed in 2005; Hornblad questioned who came up with the
insurance value? Loomis questioned what is the land appraised at?
Banach stated $10,900; Banach stated Ragen’s property is assessed at
$12,900 for the land and $38,100 for the improvements for a total of
$51,000; Loomis explained the appeal process to Burkhalter;

e. Kevin Huggett given Oath. Huggett stated he is contesting the fair market value; $225,000 in 2005 and he purchased the property 5/17/08 for
$187,000; Huggett stated 807 Arbutus is a comparable and the others are
outside the city; Banach stated the fair market value is $204,400; Huggett
stated he has done no improvements; Denor questioned if the $198,300
was before or after damage…water damage? Huggett stated after,
damage was in 2007; Huggett stated an appraisal was done in May 2008
before the down swing in the economy and the lay offs; Banach stated the
property was reassessed in2 005; Honish questioned is the insurance value at $203,000? Huggett stated that is the replacement value;

Loomis stated that the objector who sent a fax as of 11:13 a.m. has not
shown up yet.

BOR reviewing comparables given by Kevin Huggett;

Loomis stated deliberation based only on sworn testimony presented
today;

Eric & Lori Stenstrup. Nigel stated we are looking at a qualified appraisal
of $175,000, don’t think it’s the BOR place to reassess; Hornblad stated
we need to consider purchase price…quite a discrepancy between that; Honish stated it’s been less than a year ago; Hornblad stated the
assessed value should be between the assessed and purchase price;

Moved by Hornblad seconded by Denor to change the assessed value on
the Eric and Lori Stenstrup property at 510 Adams Street to $150,000.00.
Discussion on how the reduction will be applied; Banach stated currently
the land is appraised at $21,200 and the improvements at $163,000 for a
total of $184,200.
Moved by Hornblad seconded by Denor to reduce the improvement value to $129,800 and leave land at $21,200 for a total of $150,000.00.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

Jeff Hoover.
Moved by Nigel seconded by Honish to reduce the land value for Jeff Hoover, 41 Auto, 854 Brazeau Avenue from $71,100 to $51,050 and the
improvements from $94,000 to $73,950 for total of $125,000.00.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

Ken Altergott. Loomis stated the land is assessed based on 200’; Denor stated if property is suitable for building…what is the rest of the property
worth? Nigel referenced BOR manual…could look at reducing entire parcel; not just land; adjacent to an active business, the Marina…in
addition to land with little or no desire, should reduce it somewhat; Land is assessed at $80,000 and the improvements at $81,900;

Moved by Nigel seconded by Denor to reduce the assessment for Ken
Altergott, 1691 Harbor Road by $20,000, with $10,000 reduction on the land value and $10,000 on the improvement value.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

Loomis stated the BOR would move to deliberate the Kevin Huggett
request as Mr. Huggett was still present.
Kevin Huggett. Banach stated the land is value at $27,600; difference of $11,100 between the appraised and purchase price;
Moved by Hornblad seconded by Honish to reduce the improvement value by $5,550.00 for Kevin Huggett, 225 Quincy Avenue.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

David Burkhalter. Land value at $10,900;
Moved by Nigel seconded by Denor to uphold the assessed amount at $40,000.00 for the David Burkhalter property at 413 Fifth Street.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

8. Moved by Honish seconded by Hornblad to adjourn the 2009 Board of Review.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

Final Adjournment for the 2009 Board of Review at 12 o’clock noon.

Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia,
Administrator