Fillmore County has let Rushford Village know it’s on the list for 2023 property assessments. At the May 2 city council meeting, Clerk Mary Miner clarified that assessors are not expecting a tour of properties. Still, they do want to get inside as many as possible. “They just want to step inside to do a quick look,” she added. “They do ask that you let them in. It didn’t sound like it would be very invasive at all.”
County Assessor Jason McCaslin’s team will send out two assessors to review as many properties in the city as possible. They expect to begin this month. The assessor’s office typically reviews properties every five years. The city website, Chamber of Commerce communications, and the local cable access channel will notify property owners about the assessments.
At previous municipal meetings in the county, McCaslin has noted that what they’re looking at in the interior is the house’s structure, including visible framing and any noticeable updates or lack thereof. Assessors will knock and discuss intentions with property owners. If assessors cannot make contact, they will leave a note on the door. All building exteriors will be measured and documented, possibly with exterior photos. However, assessors will not be going into any outbuildings.
“They were here about a year ago when the new assessor came on board and explained the process,” added Councilor Mike Ebner. “They’re doing every town and township in Fillmore County. They’re actually behind schedule from what he told us.”
In other news, the new digital water meter installation is going quickly. Public Works had installed 78 meters at the time of the meeting and is averaging 15-17 per day. Information from the installed meters is already coming into city software. There have been very few issues with homeowners, except for scheduling, which has been variable. Public Works is attempting to meet with homeowners at designated times.
All meter setups are documented and photographed. Only a few valves have needed replacement, and there have been a few grounding issues. The city will include the documentation and mapping with the Environmental Protection Agency’s ongoing Lead and Copper Rule, which aims to find lead sources in the public water supply and remove them.
The maintenance shed project continues. The village has drilled water out to the building utilizing directional drilling. Public Works’ Supervisor Trenten Chiglo and employee Jeff Michel cleaned out the back end of it in preparation for the next steps. The fuel barrel still needs to be moved, but the city will contact R&R Construction to begin the concrete portions of the project. STS Plumbing & Heating will work on getting water into the building once the sewer work is ready. The village is still waiting on the sewer permit from the county.
Public Works has graded all gravel roads, and Miner noted they are in good shape. However, the department did attempt to get the gravel reclaimer out to reach further into the ditches to salvage rock.
The citywide spring clean-up will be Saturday, May 6, from 8 a.m. to noon at the village maintenance shed.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at the village hall. The city council and staff will gather at 5:30 and partake in the annual road tour before starting regular business.
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