CC BOARD OF REVIEW MINUTES 04221986

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-2- last onsite inspection had been made in November of 1984 and his office had been • unable to schedule an onsite inspection with Mrs. Bakke prior to this hearing, the Assessor reported. Mrs. Bakke responded by saying she works until 4:.00 P.M. every day and it is almost impossible for her to get home before 4:30 P.M. which is too late for the assessors to make an onsite inspection. However, the homeowner reiterated, whenever an inspection had been made .in the past, her valuations had been lowered. Mrs. Bakke said she wasn't "protesting having to pay taxes in St. Anthony" because she perceived "they are worth being able to live in the Village" . However, she said she had been very surprised to get such a large raise as compared to her neighbors' . The Mayor told the property owner he perceived the new computers had enabled the assessors to categorize_certain types of homes which needed to- have their valuations raised to match the market, but he perceived Mrs. Bakke mi.ght be better satisfied if an onsite inspection could be scheduled at a time mutually acceptable to both parties. The listing of homes sold in St. Anthony the last year had been provided Council members and Mr. Hanscom pointed out a 1 ,040 square foot, 1-1/3 story expansion home built in 1953, which he perceived was very similar to the Bakke home, which had sold for $78,000. Mrs. Bakke questioned whether the 90 percentile mentioned earlier had been applied to her valuation and was told that would have been the case if the county had 200 similar sales .which came within that percentile of their assessed valuation, one-half of which fell above and the other below the 95 percentile. When he inspects Mrs. Bakke's home, Mr. .Hanscom assured her, he would only estimate what. the house • would sell for today and not be concerned about meeting any percentages. Councilmember Ranallo told -the homeowner the Council would be happy to request the onsite inspection if that is what she wants but he wanted her to realize there had been cases in the past where the onsite. eval.uation resulted in a higher valuation than was being protested in the first place. He related an instance several years ago where a homeowner had asked for a reevaluation of his property and after he. had received an increase, had refused to speak to the Councilmember, even in church, ever since. Mayor Sundland commented that with the computers the assessors now have available to "enhance the valuation game", they are able to. make instant com- parisons of similar sales from all. over. , the metropolitan area. Mrs. Bakke indicated she would be willing =to take her chances on a reevaluation. Motion by Councilmember Marks and seconded by Councilmember Enrooth to request the Hennepin County Assessors to make arrangements with Naoma Bakke to schedule an onsite evaluation of the property at 2616 - 31st Avenue N.E. Motion carried unanimously. Roman and Elsie Seide, 3117 Stinson Boulevard were present to discuss .how the assessors had arrived at a lower valuation for their home after an onsite inspection. Mrs. Seide said she particularly wanted to know whether a home on a heavily traveled street like Stinson Boulevard "would be taxed at the same mill rate as a home on the back streets". She was told that the "mill rate would remain the same but the valuation would probably reflect the fact that the home was on a busy street which • could bring theproperty values down" and that Mr. Hanscom -would write to the property owners to let them know the reasons for the reduction.