Meeting Minutes for May 12, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Deputy Mayor Olsen with the following members present: Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, and Deputy Mayor Olsen. Absent members included: Curt Piri and Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Deputy Clerk; Rick Vidmar, Real Estate Appraiser for St. Louis County; and Bob Wiinanen, Real Estate Appraiser for St. Louis County.
The Deputy Mayor said that the purpose of the meeting was to review the property valuation and classification of property in Mountain Iron.
Mr. Wiinanen informed the City Council that there were no percentage changes in valuations in terms of increases or decreases. He said that the final ratio was around 90%, so there was no state adjustment. The only changes made by the St. Louis County Assessor’s Department this year were for new construction.
The following residents appeared before the Board:
Ed Roskoski, 5 North Court, Mountain Iron, Parcel Code 175-0069-00900, purchased property at the tax forfeited land auction several years ago for $3,300 for three lots and the present value is $5,500.00. He said that the property was reviewed at the 1997 Board of Review meeting and was reduced then. He said that there is about four to five feet of peat on the property that would have to be removed to build. He said that the property has limited accessibility and has a gas line running through the south side of the property. The St. Louis County Assessor compared his parcel to a similar parcel on South Court in Ann’s Acres valued at $3,200. The Assessor made no recommendation regarding the parcel. It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to reduce the land valuation of parcel 175-0069-00900 from $5,500 to $4,500. The motion carried.
Clinton Iverson, 24 Greenwood Lane, Mountain Iron, Parcel Code 175-0055-01050, he felt that the valuation should be decreased because the house needs a new roof and repairs to the basement wall. The Assessor said that the Board can make reductions to the value for basements rendered unusable. It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to reduce the improvement valuation by $2,000 making the total valuation $36,900 on parcel 175-0055-01050. The motion carried.
James Johnson, 4919 Voss Road, Mountain Iron, Parcel Code 175-0071-04030, wants the valuation of his property reduced because the poor condition of the neighboring property devalues his property. The Assessor said that the Board could lower the valuation and have the City approach the neighbor to have him clean up his property and review Mr. Johnson’s parcel again next year for changes. It was moved by Olsen and supported by Matanich to change the site classification from average to fair, due to the condition of the neighboring property, and reduce the value by $1,500 making the total valuation $82,700 on parcel 175-0071-04030. The motion carried.
John Rappuchi, 1002 21st Avenue West, Virginia, Parcel Code 175-0069-00110, he said that the tractor trailer traffic on 9th Street is devaluing his property and the entire area. He said that the truck traffic is damaging the road and is not aesthetically pleasing. He also said that there are safety issues to consider and a truck route does not belong in a residential neighborhood. The Deputy Mayor recommended that Mr. Rappuchi appear before the Council to make his concerns known. It was moved by Olsen and supported by Skogman that there be no change in the assessed value of parcel 175-0070-01110 and to have the City Council look into the tractor trailer traffic on 9th Street. The motion carried.
Ed Roskoski, 5 North Court, Mountain Iron, Parcel Code 175-0012-00160, he said that this parcel is a vacant lot with a two-stall garage on it. He said that the valuation had been $11,400 for many years and now it was increased to $14,100. It was moved by Olsen and supported by Matanich that there be no change in the assessed value of parcel 175-0012-00160. The motion carried.
At 7:42 p.m., it was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
