Supervisors discuss property tax issues, bridge projects in pair of regular sessions

by Bob Beach

Due to the Labor Day holiday Monday, September 3, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors held its regular weekly meeting last Tuesday, September 4 and reconvened Monday, September 10.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
During its meeting last Tuesday, September 4, the Board met with Central Point of Coordination (CPC) Administrator Jan Heikes to discuss an existing 28E agreement with Winneshiek County, under which Heikes’ salary, benefits and other costs associated with her position are divided equally between the two counties.
Supervisor Lennie Burke said he believes that the 28E agreement should be amended to divide the costs on a per-capita basis. Heikes said that about half of her time is spent on duties that benefit both counties and that the difference in the remaining time is “negligible.” Supervisor Sherry Strub calculated that amending the agreement to divide the costs based on population would save Allamakee County approximately $8,000 annually. The Board agreed to pursue an amendment of the agreement with Winneshiek County.
County Attorney Jill Kistler, County Treasurer Lori Hesse and County Assessor Ann Burckart were present for a discussion with Mary Schulte regarding a partial tax abatement on her property in Waukon. The Board had recently approved an abatement for the 25-foot portion of Schulte’s property that was moved forward into the street after a survey determined that the property lines had been incorrectly drawn based on a mistake made in 1899 or 1900. Hesse said that after the abatement was approved a new tax statement was mailed to Schulte but that she had refused the abatement and instead paid the full amount. Schulte said that she had been overcharged for 30 years and did not feel inclined to accept a refund for only one year, adding that she had not asked for the adjustment.
Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that the Board had done all that it can legally do under the circumstances and Kistler agreed, telling Schulte that District Court is the proper place for her to seek a resolution to her dispute. With regard to the partial abatement, Hesse told the Board that the adjustment could be cancelled, a refund check could be issued or the eight dollar overpayment could be applied to future taxes. The Board directed Hesse to issue a refund check to Schulte for the overpayment.
During public comment time, Bill Munchoff of rural Lansing addressed the Board regarding his tax statement for property he owns in the Village Creek bottoms. He said that the assessed value of the property had increased by more than $40,000, resulting in a 70% increase in his tax bill, because the land had been assessed as tillable crop land even though there is no access to the property and it has never been used for growing crops.
County Assessor Ann Burckart said that the Iowa Department of Revenue is looking into making adjustments for non-tillable land but there has been some opposition to such adjustments by corn and soybean growers, so the outcome remains uncertain.
The Board also met with Veterans Affairs Director Heather Homewood, who asked for the Board’s approval to move the Veterans Affairs Office into the courthouse, switching offices with Human Services, which would then share office space with the Allamakee County Relief Office. The Board approved the change and signed a letter to the Department of Human Services requesting approval of the change, effective October 1.
In other business, the Board approved Head Custodian Mike Gallagher’s request to advertise for a part-time custodial position at the courthouse. The Board also approved a resolution for the temporary closure of Brady Drive for a bridge replacement project that Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour said would take approximately six weeks to complete.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
The Board addressed a short agenda during its regular meeting Monday, September 10, approving a contract and bond with Brennan Construction for a bridge replacement project on Mineral Creek Drive. Ridenour said construction should begin in about two weeks and should take about three weeks to complete. The Board also approved a resolution naming the County Auditor as the authorized signatory on a $10,000 certificate of deposit (CD) at Fidelity Bank for Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention.