Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION

Tuesday, JUNE 17, 2024

The Pope County Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting duly noticed for June 17, 2024 was called to order at 6:30 PM by Board Chair Paul Gerde with the following members also present: Paul Gremmels, Larry Lindor, Gordy Wagner, and Paul Wildman.  Also in attendance were County Administrator Kersten Kappmeyer Auditor/Treasurer Designee Sara Wersinger, Assessor Mike Wacker, and Assessor staff Bonnie Lay and Amy Albers.

After introductions, Chair Gerde called upon Assessor Wacker to begin with the appeals, which were heard and discussed as follows:

David & Stephanie Frentzel – Parcels 07-0274-401; 07-0274-402; 07-0274-403.  The Frentzels presented information regarding a Comparative Market Analysis done by local real estate agent Anja Carlson, noting the uniqueness of the property, but using similar comparables and maintaining the price per square foot user in the Assessor’s valuation recommendation was too high. They also cited the rise in valuation between the 2022 appraisal years through the present, noted some utility room differences, and presented a packet of information on their arguments to the Board.  Appraiser Amy Albers gave a report to the Board on her recommendations after visiting the property, noting that the property consisted of three parcels, one each for each twin home, and one of the surrounding 3 acres of land, which made the property unique from comparables that instead had home parcels with the surrounding land in HOA common areas. Based on discrepancies found during the site visit, her appraisal was updated to recommend a reduction in total valuation from $565,600 to $503,200, reflecting no change in land value and a reduction of $62,400 in building value. Further discussion from the Board was held on the real estate agent opinion, and age and updates to the structure. On motion by Lindor, seconded by Wagner, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the Assessor’s recommendation to reduce the building value $62,400, for a total value of $503,200 on these parcels.

Further Assessor recommendations on other properties were presented and determined as follows:

Morten Arneson – Parcel 11-0137-000. Motion by Wagner, seconded by Gremmels, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the land value by $3,600, for a total value of $956,800 as recommended.

Morten Arneson – Parcel 11-0138-000. Motion by Lindor, seconded by Wildman, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the land value by $9,700, for a total value of $950,700 as recommended.

Bruce Halls – Parcel 08-0081-001. Motion by Wildman, seconded by Wagner, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the building value by $1,500, for a total value of $33,100 as recommended.

Randal & Lynne Reese – Parcel 15-0109-000. Motion by Lindor, seconded by Gremmels, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the building value by $8,200, for a total value of $790,700 as recommended.

Dale Winter – Parcel 10-0191-000. Motion by Wildman, seconded by Gremmels, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the land value by $43,600, for a total value of $142,700, and reclassify the first 10 acres of the parcel from Agricultural to Seasonal Residential, and adjust most of the tillable value to meadow/pasture as recommended.

Kevin & Marlys Day – Parcel 02-0040-109. Motion by Wagner to reduce the building value by $29,400, for a total value of $634,500 as recommended, failed for lack of a second. Motion by Lindor, seconded by Wildman, the Board voted as follows to reduce the building value by $9,400, for a total value of $654,500: Ayes: Gerde, Gremmels, Lindor, Wildman; Nays: Wagner.

Beverly Anderson – Parcel 02-0514-000. Motion by Lindor, seconded by Gremmels, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the building value by $167,800, for a total value of $693,500 as recommended.

Ronald & Sheryl Tvedt – Parcel 20-0023-002. Motion by Wildman, seconded by Wagner, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the land value by $1,600 and building value by $23,100, for a total value of $400,500 as recommended.

Larry Meyer – Parcel 12-0013-002. Motion by Lindor, seconded by Wildman, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the building value by $21,000, for a total value of $72,300 as recommended.

Dwight Aitchison for the Janis Aitchison Trust – Parcel 02-0375-000. Motion by Wildman, seconded by Gremmels, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the building value by $6,700, for a total value of 363,700 as recommended.

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:35 PM.

Kersten Kappmeyer,

County Administrator

Paul Gerde,

Chair of the Board

July 8