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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOR April 11, 1996 NOTICE BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1996 AT 7:00 P.M. ANDOVER CITY HALL 1 . Public Hearing - Comments on Individual Property Values. 2. Close Public Hearing. 3. Adjustments to Property Value. 4. Adjourn A pÇ¡rð\JeO 51 ì /qiJ, CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NW. . ANDOVER. MINNESOTA 55304 . (612) 755-5100 ANDOVER BOARD OF REVIEW - APRIL 11, 1996 MINUTES The Annual Andover Board of Review was called to order by Mayor Jack McKelvey on April 11, 1996, 7:00p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Present: Councilmembers Don Jacobson and Mike Knight Absent: Councilmembers Bonnie Dehn and John Kunza Also present: Anoka County Assessors John Leone and Jerry Faust City Administrator, Richard Fursman The following presented their cases: Melvin & Connie McCormick. 17806 Aztec Street NW. PIN 05 32 24 23 0005 Ms. McCormick stated they are concerned with the rate of increase in their taxes. For several years it remained at a 1- or 2-percent increase, but for the last two years it has increased at 4 percent, then 6 percent. She's is concerned about being able to keep their house if it will continue to escalate. Mr. Leone explained all of Andover has experienced lot value increases, plus all of Anoka County received a 2.5 percent structure increase. He was at the property in June, 1995, and reassessed it at that time. He shows the lower level as unfinished. The estimated value should reflect the market value at which they would be able to sell their house. He would be willing to meet with the McCormick's and review comparable sales that were used to set their estimated value. By law they are to value properties at market value. Mr. Faust explained the two options available to help mitigate the real estate taxes. No action was taken on parcel. Steve & Peqqv Mickelson. 16150 Makah Street NW. PIN R18 32 24 24 0007 Mr; Mickelson asked about the market value on his home and lot. He felt there has been a large increase in valuation over the last two years. Mr. Leone reviewed the figures, noting 2 1/2-acre lots are selling for between $32,000 and $52,000. This is a five-acre lot on which the value has increased to $37,300 plus the increase of 2.5 percent for the structure. There are few five-acre lots available. He will be reassessing this area this spring. That entire area has similar houses with the exception of two or three on the northern end of the street. He hasn't seen any negative effect on market value of the other homes in the vicinity resulting from the smaller houses. Part of the large jump in valuation resulted from the adjustment to lot valuations over the last two years to bring them in line with what is being sold on the market. Andover Board of Review Minutes - April 11, 1996 Page 2 It was agreed that Mr. Leone will view the property and bring a recommendation back to the Council. Ann Sikora. 11 177th Avenue NW. Pin R81-32-24-14-0001 & ROl-32-24-13- 0001 Ms. Sikora stated she had Mr. Leone out to her property two years ago. Her valuation has gone up $42,700 over two years. Her house is 32 years old and is falling apart, and the house and garage have water all around. She didn't want to sell her land, and argued there is very little developable land because of the swamp, which is even killing the trees. She has been retired for 18 years and cannot keep paying these outrageous taxes. She's lived in Andover for 60 years and on this property for 46 years. She cuts the dead oak every year and the blue spruce are also dying, which will result in additional work. The rental house is over 100 years old and is a low-income house in which she only gets $4,000 a year. About $2,000 of that goes to maintain it. Now her taxes takes over one-half of her Social Security income. They are seniors who have lived here and made this City what it is, never taking a cent from the government. She does not want to be told any more to move out or to sell. She wants to preserve this for her children and grandchildren so they can take care of her, but she is being taxed out of it. Mr. Leone explained he must look at what the land woulJ sell for. He has an appraisal of $4,000 to $6,000 per acre on the high land, $3,000 per acre on the submarginal land and $50 per acre on the totally submerged property. They are not trying to tax people off of their property, but he must set the value at market value. There is a $6,000 increase in value over next year. After further discussion, it was agreed Mr. Leone will visit the property again and make a recommendation to the Council. Sophie Kozlowski, 1021 Crosstown Boulevard NW, PIN 23 32 24 13 0001 and 23 32 24 12 0001 Ms. Kozlowski stated her taxes have doubled, now over $3,000; but she must live on a little over $10,000 of Social Security income. She must. pay over $100 a mont.h for medicine, and it doesn't leave much for her to live on. She explained the trees she has planted every year, those destroyed by snowmobilers, that. nothing can be done with the parcel of land across the railroad tracks because it is too narrow, that her house is over 100 years old and is under water, that there were only four trains a day when she moved there in 1943 and now there are 35 to 40 per day shaking her house, an1 that. she wants t.o be able to die on her land and not. be forced out by taxes. Mr. Leone reviewed the size of the parcels and t.he proposed market valuations. The property is near the area for sewer and water, which increases the value. winslow Holasek, a resident, stated the property in question cannot be served with municipal sewer and water unless the City will allow a lift station. Andover Board of Review Minutes - April 11, 1996 Page 3 Aft.er further discussion, it. was agreed Mr. Leone will visit the propert.y again and make a recommendat.ion t.o the Council. Winslow Holasek. 1159 Andover Boulevard NW Mr. Holasek understood the assessors must value according to t.he market value set by the State. People move to the area, which increases property values, and then they request more services, schools, etc. It creates a bad sit.uation if a person does not want to sell but wants to remain on the property and retire there. He stated this has to be corrected at a higher level of government. The legislature has passed the buck, and it becomes more of a burden to the taxpayers. No action was needed. W. W. Klus. 7017 Valley View Road. PIN R33 32 24 41 0068 and R33 32 24 41 0078 Mr. Klus registered an objection to the valuation for the commercial properties at 13628 through 13660 Crosstown Boulevard NW. The taxes have increased steadily over the last three years. The tenants pay this, but it takes away their ability to cover the finances because they have to drop the net rent. They have properties in other counties; and based on the City's valuation, it is taxed at $0.585 cents per square foot higher than other counties. He wanted the assessors to look at the basis of the valuation and the reason for it. Again, this is the highest value they have on any of their properties. The higher taxes hurts them from the standpoint of keeping a good tenant mix. They like Andover, but asked that the valuation be looked at based on the facts of their centers in other counties. Mr. Leone stated the valuation did not change from the payable 1996 to the payable 1997. Mr. Faust stated they also have a petition in the tax court on this property. Mr. Klus is here this evening to fulfill the requirement to be able to move onto the county board if he chooses to do so. No action was taken. Brian Johnson, 18006 Aztec Street NW. PIN R05 32 24 22 0006 Mr. Johnson stated he checked on the market values of neighboring properties and found them to be fair. All increases seemed to be fair and consistent. He put an addition onto his house and increased the size of the garage to three cars. At the time that was done, the valuations payable in 1995 was an $18,000 increase in assessed valuation. Since then there has been a 21 percent increase. He compared his increase to a neighbor's whose house is a similar style but whose assessed valuation increased only $8,000 in that same time period. He asked if his property could be reassessed. -- - - ~-- Andover Board of Review Minutes - April 11, 1996 Page 4 It was agreed thac Mr. Leone will visit the site and make a recommendation to the City Council. The Council acknowledged the letter from Donald J. and Barbara J. Kulla, PIN R09 32 24 32 0010 HNA 00548278, wanting to keep their option open to appeal to the county Board of Equalization. MOTION by Jacobson, Seconded by Knight, to continue the Board of Review until the second meeting in April of the Andover City Council; and at-. that time we consider for review Steve Mickelson, Ann Sikora, Sophie Kozlowski, and Brian Johnson, and have them brought back to the Council at that time for a final determination. Motion carried on a 3-Yes, 2- Absent (Dehn, Kunza) vote. The meeting was continued to April 16, 1996 . 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, \1\~ G.'>Ç~ Marcella A. Peach Recording Secretary -- -