County discusses solid waste protests
Appeals process will not include meetings with taxpayers
When Marion County Commissioners were setting up procedures to handle protests on solid waste assessment they never intended to hold hearings with each individual taxpayer filing an appeal.
Commissioners decided Monday they would not allow taxpayers to be present while County Clerk Carol Maggard and Transfer Station Manager David Brazil researched the appeals.
The decision came after Commissioner Bob Hein said he had been contacted by an unhappy taxpayer who wanted to be present when Maggard and Brazil reviewed his appeal.
Commissioner Leroy Wetta said he thought that was a precedent the county wouldn't want to start.
"It was never built into our assessment process that we'd meet with every taxpayer who made an appeal," Maggard said.
Brazil said if necessary he could contact the particular individual both before and after the appeal was studied.
"If it's a commercial property we have to determine if the number of units (they've been assessed for) is correct," Brazil said. "And if it's a residential property, the question is: Does it produce trash?"
Maggard said "a stack" of protests were filed, and knew some would involve situations where a house may be located on a particular property, but is sitting vacant and not producing trash.
"But if a family is there, or the house is occupied, we assume trash will be generated," Maggard said. "But going into this we had no way of knowing whether or not these houses were habitable."
Commission Chairman Howard Collett questioned what happens if the appeal is denied.
"Does he get another chance to appeal?" Collett asked.
"If there's trash there, we won't just take it off their assessment because they don't want to pay," Maggard replied.
"If you start responding to squeaky wheels then you'll hear a serenade," Wetta added. "Let the system take its path."
Commissioners also:
— approved a $2,000 disbursement to Kansas Legal Services, Emporia. That amount is $1,000 less than the organization initially requested.
— appointed Keith Gossen to fill an unexpired term as treasurer of the East Branch Township Board.
— approved the purchase of a computer system from Great Plains computer at a cost of $1,306 which includes processor, keyboard, mouse, flat display monitor, and a zip drive. The purchase was requested by Maggard who said the system will be used for election information. All but $56 of the purchase was encumbered from the 2002 budget.
— reviewed a report from Jeannine Bateman, county treasurer, that the county had $7,546,810.32 on hand as of Jan. 31. That money does not all belong to Marion County, because it also includes funds which have not yet been disbursed to other entities.
In comparison, at the same time in 2002, the county had a Jan. 31 balance of $7,263,855.09; and in 2001, $7,079,679.41.
The report further noted that 381 delinquent tax letters had been mailed. Commissioners also learned the treasurer's special auto fund has a current balance of $1,296.89.
— gave Brazil permission to seek bids to update the rest rooms in the transfer station.
Wetta suggested a shower stall be included in case of contamination or some other accident.
"This would not be used as a routine, but in an emergency," Wetta said.
Brazil reported a floor drain was already located in the area and installing a shower would not be difficult.
Commission Chairman Collett directed Brazil to get obtain bids both with a shower, and without a shower.
— heard from Noreen Weems, Marion County Department for Elderly director. Weems reported Senior Citizens of Marion County, Inc., had approved several budget requests. They included $2,000 to repair the leaky roof at the Peabody Senior Center; $200 for Durham seniors to repair the hot water heater in the community building; and $500 to the Florence Senior Center to be applied toward the purchase of a new pool table. Keith Holtsclaw, president of the Florentine center, will donate a painting to be sold with the proceeds going toward a new pool table.
— heard from Dianna Carter, county appraiser, that the state had granted the county an extension until April 1 to mail valuation notices pertaining to real property. The county is required by state statute to notify each taxpayer of the classification and appraised value of real property.
