Winona County’s Assessor Stephen Hacken served as an interim assessor for Fillmore County for four months. A letter he sent to the Fillmore Board of Commissioners was reviewed at the board’s June 6 meeting. He began by thanking the board and employees for their support during this time.
Hacken used his time with Fillmore County to help the department’s staff and to add structure to the assessor’s office. He noted in his report that significant work needs to be done in regard to residential properties. Properties are to be viewed at least once every five years; this is 24% non-compliant. He suggests smaller townships and cities are mostly undervalued, in part due to the lack of six sales per year. He also suggests commercial properties need attention. The assessment of agricultural land is within acceptable ranges.
Fillmore County has recently sworn in their new assessor Jason McCaslin, who Hacken helped find for this position. McCaslin is aware of changes that need to be made. Some property owners may not like the changes. “However, to create a fair and equitable assessment system in the county, the assessor must to the best of his ability equalize assessments so that all taxing jurisdictions and property types are being valued and classified to one standard.”
A letter to Hacken from the county thanked him for pointing them in the right direction. Commissioner Duane Bakke suggested they hang on to Hacken’s report as a guide as to how they need to do things differently. He expects there will be some shifts and they will have to defend those shifts.
Other business in brief
•Two bids were submitted for the CSAH 5 Land Bridge project. The project was awarded to the lower bid from Icon Constructors, LLC in the amount of $1,191,290. The initial engineer’s estimate was $920,000 with the preliminary design. However, County Engineer Ron Gregg listed several additions and changes to the project design that have since been made, including 100 more feet, a narrower distance between pillars, deeper pilings, and additional storm water collection on the hill. Due to these additions and changes, the engineer’s estimate has increased to $1,328,021. Bakke noted $700,000 has already been spent to fix this problem, “It is a tough situation, hope it works.”
•Pam Schroeder and Gregg recommended the board approve contract negotiation with the winning consulting firm, SEH, Inc. in accordance with the FAA Advisory Circular for Engineering and Planning Consultant Services for Airport grant projects. Two firms were interviewed, the other being Bolton & Menk, Inc. They scored very close, both were qualified consultants, but SEH, Inc. came out on top. The board approved the contract negotiation with SEH, Inc. The contract will be brought back to the board for their approval.
•Gregg reported his equipment budget for 2020 was $425,000, which was reduced to $400,000 (proposed pick-up purchase pulled). With the recent purchase of a used drum roller they are still $50,948 below the budget proposed. Gregg said $25,000 will be needed for a pick-up next year. Bakke said the funds left become part of the reserves when they are not spent.
•A conditional use permit was approved for ITC Midwest, LLC for an Electric Substation on property in section 4, Sumner Township as recommended by the Planning Commission. An old building will be replaced at a different location on the property. There was no opposition expressed during the public hearing.
•Gerald Wolf, Spring Valley, spoke during the citizens input portion. He came to support Sheriff DeGeorge and the deputies. DeGeorge responded that they have sent deputies to other counties to help back fill. DeGeorge said he very much appreciated Wolf’s statement, adding there are a lot of good cops in Minnesota and in Fillmore County.
•The signing of the Disaster Planning & Response Compact for Southeast Minnesota Disaster Health Coalition non binding agreement was approved. Jessica Erickson, Public Health, said there is no obligation financially. The agreement is to help other counties or to get help in Fillmore County should it be needed. County Attorney Brett Corson said there may be some risk to the county, “But our insurance should cover that.”
• County Administrator Bobbie Hillery reported that June 1 was the first day the county facilities were open to the public. There has not been a rush to come into the buildings. Most department heads have discussed how to move forward and many will continue with remote workers due to COVID-19. They are still working to get sanitizer stations for each of the entrance areas.
• The Association of Minnesota Counties board meets weekly. Staff has been working from home. Bakke noted that Secretary of State Steve Simon wants to go to total mail-in ballots for 2020. Bakke does anticipate there will be a lot of mail-ins. He reported that in 2016 there were 88 requests for absentee ballots, in 2018 there were 173 requests for absentee ballots, and in 2020 there have been 36,880 requests for absentee ballots.
• The next county board meeting will be held June 9. The meeting may be joined via WebEx or by telephone 1 (408) 418-9388 — Access Code 146 621 8006.
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