County valuation up by $106 million

Gage County property owners can expect to receive their final valuation notices at the end of May, County Assessor Patti Milligan told the Gage County Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting Wednesday.

In addition, the County Board Wednesday heard from retired Beatrice City Administrator Jim Bauer, who urged the board to take what he called a “less confrontational” approach in seeking information from Gage County Economic Development.

Milligan said overall it appears the county’s valuation has increased by about $106 million, which included about $17 million in growth from such items as new houses and garages. The Beatrice Biodiesel plant and tax increment financing property would not be included in that total, she said, although the base value of the land itself was included.

She also said Darrel Stanard, Stanard Appraisal Services president and owner, would give a report to the County Board soon about the recently completed reappraisal of Beatrice residential property, which concluded a five-year program to reappraise all property in the county.

The Beatrice reappraisal was the assessor’s first interior inspection of Beatrice homes in about 20 years.

The County Board Wednesday also voted unanimously to have Board Chairman Rex Adams request copies of all documents pertaining to the agreement between the Beatrice Business Campus owner and GCED.

The original agenda item called for instructing County Attorney Randall Ritnour to request the same documentation.

Bauer, however, said he was concerned that an “adversarial relationship” has been developing between the county and GCED and a strong economic development effort requires cooperation between all parties.

He also said he thought having Ritnour request the information �” which is public information with the city of Beatrice �” could send the wrong message to GCED.

“If you ask the county attorney, it sets up some kind of intimidation factor,” Bauer said. “It’s something you could do through the County Board chairman.”

Bauer then suggested Adams could contact Beatrice Mayor Dennis Schuster about the documents.

Supervisor Allen Grell said he thought Bauer had a good idea and the city and county should “sit down and talk a little bit more.” Adams also said he thought Bauer’s suggestion would be a “softer touch” than going through the attorney’s office.

In other business:

Virginia school site status: Instructed Highway Superintendent and Zoning Administrator Marlin Kliewer to contact William Inness of Tecumseh, owner of the former Virginia school building, about the status of cleanup efforts at the location.

The County Board in 2006 ordered Inness to remove debris from the property and in October 2006 narrowly passed an Adams motion for a county crew to move debris at the school site into a pile and then surround it with a fence to keep out trespassers. The cost for the work was to be taxed to the property.

The school, constructed in 1918, was nearly destroyed by a fire in December 2003. The school closed in 1974.

Kliewer said he had not heard from Inness since the 2006 discussion.

Courthouse renovation agreement: Tabled an agreement with Berggren Architects for courthouse renovation plans.

Attorney agreement: Approved an agreement with attorney William Blake for a retainer to deal with real estate purchases for the county.

Vacation policy: Tabled discussion of carryover vacation hours except for union employees and those regulated by statute.

Planning and Zoning Commission board member appointment: Appointed Jeff Frerichs to the county Planning and Zoning Commission board.