GENERAL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 6, 1999

Crowne Plaza, Madison

President Robert Lorier called the WAAO business meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. with 111 members attending today’s program.

SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT

Joan Spencer

The minutes from the September 15, 1999 general meeting were approved as printed in the December 1999 AVOW issue.

TREASURER   The operating account balances total $17,094.89, with $5,892.72 in the Education fund, for a total balance on hand of  $22,987.61.

GENERAL MEETING   Ticket sales for the September Institute raffle at the Marriott in Middleton totaled $1161.00. There was a cash donation by CLT for $100.00. Raffle prices cost $299.00 and there were 4 cash prizes awarded for $25.00 each. The net proceeds added to the Education fund totaled $862.00.

MEMBERSHIP   At the present time, forty-three members from last year have not returned this year’s membership dues. We’ve added 56 new members that had not been affiliated with WAAO in prior years. The current roster stands at 576. The annual membership mailing will be mailed after processing is completed and committees are finalized.

COURSE REPORT    Receipts for the Land 201 Course held last October totaled $8265.00. Disbursements totaled $8,098.58, leaving a net difference of $166.42.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

AVOW

Tina Bizub reported the deadline for the next AVOW issue is January 28th. She thanked the members for submitting articles by email to tbizub@ci.mil.wi.us timely.

IAAO

Wayne Ballweg thanked the WAAO members for their contribution toward his expenses at the IAAO Conference.

Note: $500 was allowed in the operating budget the by WAAO Executive Board to help cover some of the costs for WAAO representation at the annual IAAO Conference.

Education is the primary goal of IAAO. Training topics suggested at the League Institute include: classes for beginning assessors, finding and retaining qualified staff,  the revaluation process,  and WCTC’s reinstatement of the assessor training curriculum.  The IAAO Rep acts as the liaison between WAAO and IAAO. Wayne would like to work the Education and Training Committee to possibly coordinate training opportunities.

Members interested in IAAO membership or that have questions concerning IAAO should contact Wayne - (608) 524-6404 or wballweg@mwt.net.

Mary Reavey announced the City of Milwaukee is bidding to hold the 2006 IAAO Conference. WAAO officers and members are encouraged to support Milwaukee in its bid to hold that Conference.

NCRAAO

Steve Miner explained that NCRAAO is the North Central Regional Conference of Assessing Officers, and all WAAO members are automatically NCRAAO members. The 2000 NCRAAO Conference will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa June 10th thru 13th. A great deal of planning is going into the Conference, and it’s hoped Wisconsin will be well represented.

RESOLUTIONS

The WAAO Executive Board unanimously approved the following resolutions. Mary Hlavinka, the Vice-President read one of each of the resolutions as President Bob Lorier awarded them. Awarded in appreciation for meritorious service for their commitment in working with WAAO hospitality for the past several years at the League of Municipalities Assessor’s Institute:

·    Melvin Springer, Appraiser

·    Robert Ashe, Appraiser

·    Wayne Schneider, Appraiser

      (All from the City of Wausau.)

Outgoing directors awarded resolutions for their commitment and work to foster a continuity of purpose that provides for the betterment of the Association include: 

·   Craig Lake, Appraiser II

City of Waukesha

·   Andy Berkhout, City Assessor

City of Manitowoc

·   Patrick Chaneske, Former Assessor

City of New Berlin

·   Julie Penman

Former Commissioner of Assessments

City of Milwaukee

For their time commitment and the diligent work required to propose revisions to Chapters 7-8-9 of the Wisconsin Property Assessment Manual, the following members of the 1999 Real Estate Committee were awarded resolutions: 

·   Sharon McCabe, Commercial Appraiser

City of Madison

·   Laura Smiley, Appraiser IV

City of Milwaukee

·   Kathleen Isleb, City Assessor

City of Wauwatosa

·   Thomas Brandt, City Assessor

City of Watertown       

·   Timothy Drascic,

Property Assessment Practices Specialist Wisconsin Department of Revenue

·   Robert Behling, Assessment Supervisor

Wisconsin Department of Revenue

·   Douglas Milius, Supervisor of Equalization

Wisconsin Department of Revenue

·   Arthur Liddicoat, Assessor

Town of Somers

·   Patrick Chaneske, former Assessor

City of New Berlin

·   Anthony Lockly, Property Appraiser V

City of Milwaukee

Also serving on the Committee was current WAAO President, Bob Lorier.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Reed Johnson reported the Committee met November 30th, and was joined by Joyce Frey from the Rural Concerns Committee to discuss some of their educational concerns, resulting in a positive exchange of ideas. The committee discussed possible instructors and courses for the 2000 League Institute. Members with ideas, or considering instructing a program should contact Reed as soon as possible. The October Land Valuation Course was attended by 25 members, and was felt to be successful. Although there are 28 persons already interested in attending a course next October on Income Approach II (202 or 112 depending on the numbering system), a hand survey was taken indicating 10 members would also be interested. Since there appears to be an influx of new people in the business, a hand count was taken to determine interest in Course I Fundamentals of Real Property Appraisal. Fifteen hands were counted, although if the course were held on 5 consecutive Saturdays the hand count narrowed to 0.

IAAO will officially sponsor an education session on the “Valuation of 1-4 Family Income Properties” on Tuesday March 7th at the Ramada Raintree in Wisconsin Dells (608) 253-4386. Registration will be handled by the IAAO for that Course. Forms are available to sign up for the Course. The Course fee is $99 for IAAO members and $129 for non-IAAO members. The IAAO will do a mailing in January to WAAO members for this educational opportunity. There is a block of rooms available at $52 per night. WAAO will hold a quarterly meeting on Monday, March 6th with an afternoon training session.

Future issues will include getting the basic curriculum on-line, and also targeting recruitment training and retention of personnel.

LEGISLATIVE

Peter Weissenfluh reported the committee last met in September before the WAAO Executive Board meeting. The budget bill passed with several assessment and exemption related issues, as reported in the last AVOW as well as at the Assessor’s schools. Members are reminded to review the Board of Review changes that become effective January 1, 2000. The notices should be reviewed, and the confidentiality ordinance regarding the income/expense information should be effected.

Shannon Krause and Hallie Wendorff were added to the Committee.

AB 186 (regarding the manufacturing assessment process) has been supported by WAAO with its amendments. This bill:

·      Codifies the March 1st filing date

·      Allows for 5-year payment installment refund

·      Changes the interest payment.

A public hearing was held in the Senate November 16th, although the proposal was not voted on. Representatives from the DOR will be meeting with interested Senators to explain the bill. The Farmland Advisory Council recommended that the Department of Revenue eliminate the phase-in of the use value assessments and go immediately to full implementation for the year 2000. The WAAO Executive Board has taken a position to Oppose the elimination of the phase-in.

Early last month the plaintiffs in the Ag-Use litigation filed a petition for Review to the Court of Appeals. The defendants (DOR) filed a response brief. No word has been received on how long it will take before the Supreme Court decides whether or not to accept the case. The governor’s task force to study the problems with benevolent retirement homes for the aged has scheduled its first meeting for December 15th. Gregg Hagopian, Peter Weissenfluh and Dave Huebsch are serving on the task force.

Although several members of WAAO have met with Secretary Zeuske regarding changes to the biennial exemption forms, no word has been received on the adoption of updated reporting forms.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

The committee met October 5th to plan today’s program and raffle. The program for March 6th at the Ramada Raintree will be on Home Inspections, and  the Committee will also hold a second  white elephant raffle March 6th.

PERSONAL PROPERTY STANDARDS

John Meyer reported a concern has recently been bought to their attention by leasing companies that the wording change on the PP blotter might cause some confusion between lessor and lessee accounts. A project the committee will be undertaking is to re-visit the WAAO guidelines and look at the recommended classifications of personal property versus real estate.

COMPUTER ASSISTED

Marty Goldstein reminded members to send in employment adds to the web site. Committee Chairs are reminded to send minutes and agendas to Marty by email. Commercial sales are also needed. The Committee met November 16th and the minutes are on the web site.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Tim Kosteretz reported that although the committee hasn’t met, he and Shannon Krause met to discuss goals and strategies. The Committee will meet December 14th.

RURAL CONCERNS

Hallie Wendorff reported several new members have been added to the Committee: Hugh Harper, Mel Raatz. Gil Vandergalien, and Ron Jacobson. Rural Concerns sponsored a booth at the Towns Association Conference in October in conjunction with the Public Relations Committee. A committee goal for the next year is to try and attract more interest from rural assessors in WAAO. The Committee will continue to advocate professionalism, and work to develop a list of basic education topics which focus on the needs of rural assessors.

OLD BUSINESS 

Bob Lorier reported the RFP’s are out for the bidding process for updating the Wisconsin Property Assessment Manual. The cost will be shared by Assessors that sign assessment rolls.

NEW BUSINESS

Mary Reavey reported the City of Milwaukee has agreed not to send out a tax bill this year for their YMCA, although the City is maintaining the right to assess the property. The YMCA’s are currently seeking legislative exemption for their facilities. Milwaukee’s final decision will depend on what is proposed and what happens in the legislative process between January and May. It’s anticipated they will be seeking an unequivocal exemption for all Y facilities. Mary Reavey explained the Deutschesland case stressed that each property should be looked at individually. She felt assessors should familiarize themselves with individual Y operations, and make their own decisions regarding assessability.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The City of Wausau is in the process of recruiting for an Appraiser position. Harry Sayles can be contacted for more information at (715) 261-6605. More information is available on the position on WAAO’s web site. The City of Green Bay is recruiting for an Assessment Technician, Appraiser I and Appraiser II. Russ Schwandt can be contacted at  (920) 448-3066 for more information.

Meeting Adjourned!

Respectfully Submitted,

Joan Spencer, Secretary/Treasurer