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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOR - April 22, 2010 'c 0 ANDOVER BOARD OF REVIEW APRIL 22, 2010 - MINUTES The Annual Board of Review was called to order by Acting Mayor Julie Trude at 7:04 p.m., Thursday, April 22, 2010, at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers Present: Sheri Bukkila, Don Jacobson, Mike Knight Councilmembers Absent: Mayor Mike Gamache Also Present: Jason Dagastino, Anoka County Residential Assessor John Leone, Anoka County Commercial Assessor Jim Dickinson, City Administrator Molly Johnson, Anoka County Residential Assessor Acting Mayor Trude noted that official notices of the public meeting had been sent to the homes of residents and is posted outside the Council Chambers. She explained the purpose of the meeting and advised that they would only review assessments from the current year. 0 Mr. Dagastino reported that there was a significant decrease in the number of calls he received this year compared to the same time the previous year. He advised that only ten staff reviews were conducted this year. He advised that some residents were actually concerned with the low value of the property compared to calls normally concerned with an increase in valuation. He explained that most of the calls received were in regard to taxes and not the valuation; residents questioned why the value had decreased, but the amount of taxes did not. He reported that 145 arms length transactions were conducted in the City of Andover in 2009 with an average sale price of $208,000, which was an 8.4 percent decrease from the average price of $220,000 in 2008. Mr. Leone provided an update regarding commercial property valuations and current vacancies in different areas the City and the neighboring communities. Mr. Dagastino advised that while there were 145 arms length transactions in 2009, there were also 193 foreclosure sales, which means that the bad sales outnumbered the good sales within the City of Andover. He explained that the foreclosures and short sales have an influence on the valuation of the homes in an indirect way since sellers are forced to compete with the foreclosure and short sale prices. Ken and Marv Ann Slvzuk. 14124 Crosstown Boulevard NW (PIN 27-32-24-33-0105) were present at the meeting to preserve their right to appeal to the County. 0 Mr. Leone confirmed that the residents wanted to keep their options open on the property and reported that staff would be visiting the properties to review the assessed values. , Andover Board of Review Meeting Minutes - April 22, 2010 0 Page 2 The Council acknowledged the Slyzuk's appeal and their preserving of the right to appeal to the County. Winslow Holasek, 1159 Andover Boulevard, Parcels R23 322431 0025, R23 322431 0026, R23 3224320006, R23 322433 0002, R23 3224340052, R23 322441 0001, R23 322442 0002, R23 3224420003. R23 322443 0001, R23 322443 0002, R23 3224440001, R23 32 24310001, R23 3224320001, R23 3224330001, R23 3224340001, R23 3224430001, R23 3224 120001, R23 3224 13 0001, R23 322421 0002, R23 3224240002. Submitted in writing an appeal of the taxable valuation of the aforementioned parcels. Winslow Holasek stated that the agricultural value of his property did decrease but he is still appealing the valuation of the properties as he believed the value should be even lower. He submitted written correspondence into the record explaining the reason for his appeal. He believed the assessed tax valuation of $2,652 per acre should be reduced to $1,500 per acre. Mr. Dagastino stated that because of all the changes to the green acres policy, the County has designated one staff member to handle those properties. He advised that the value per acre is actually set by the State and explained that the Board could forward the properties to the County but the price was already set by the State. 0 Mr. Holasek advised that there are three grades of agricultural properties ranging from high value, A, to the poorest value, C. He reminded the Board that he came before them the previous year with his appeal and they lowered the value of his properties to $1,500 per acre. He advised that the Anoka County Assessor appealed the valuation of the Board and the valuation was changed, by the County, back to the original amount. He advised that a soil map was reviewed during the County process in order to value his property. He advised that the remainder of his concern are noted in his written correspondence. Acting Mayor Trude confirmed that in the previous year the Board set the value of the properties at $1,500 and the County restored the original value. She was unsure that anything could be done by this Board and believed that the applicant would be best served by moving on to the County with his appeal. Councilmember Jacobson questioned if corn is being grown on the property. Mr. Holasek advised that he is limited in what could be grown on the property because of the poor soil and stated that he is not currently growing corn. Councilmember Jacobson stated that the Board attempted to lower the valuation of the properties the previous year and the County restored the original valuation. He felt that if the Board attempted to lower the valuation by the requested 50 percent that the County would not agree with the value. He also did not believe that sufficient facts had been presented to support a 50 0 percent decrease in the valuation. rc Andover Board of Review Meeting Minutes - April 22, 2010 0 Page 3 Mr. Dickinson explained that the Board is able to review the market value of Mr. Holasek's properties and could make modifications to the market value. He advised that the market value of the first listed PID is $224,800, while the taxable value is listed as $15,800 because of the green acres classification. He advised that Mr. Holasek receives a significant exemption from market value for property tax purposes. Mr. Dagastino stated that the applicant is requesting to change the value of his properties separate from every other agricultural property in the state, as the value of green acres property is set by the State. Councilmember Bukkila stated that she did not support a change in the valuation of the property and suggested that the applicant proceed with his appeal to the County. Councilmember Jacobson stated that even if additional information were presented to him, he did not believe that he would support a 50 percent decrease in the valuation. Motion by Councilmember Jacobson, Seconded by Councilmember Bukkila, to enter into the record a letter written by Winslow Holasek in regard to his objection of the 2010 market and use values of his property, and forward to the County without recommendation for review at their meeting. Motion carried unanimously. 0 Motion by Councilmember Jacobson, seconded by Councilmember Knight to adjourn the Board of Review meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p_m. Respectfully submitted, Amanda Staple TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. 0