WAAO Executive Board Minutes

Meeting Date: July 11, 2005	Meeting Place: Raintree Resort, Wisconsin Dells
Voting Members Present (Officers & Directors): Mark Schlafer, Mel Raatz, Jim Siebers, Pam Hennessey, Joan Spencer, Eric Miller, John Meyer, Reed Johnson, Kathee Isleb, Rocco Vita, Mike Muelver, Wes Little, Jim Young					Absent: Bill Adams, Mike Higgins
Chairs & Representatives Present: Bob Lorier, Pete Krystowiak, Pete Weissenfluh, Nan Giese, Kathy Romanak					Absent: Mary Reavey, Steve Miner, Hugh Harper, Dave Krolicki, Mike Kurth, Mike Patnode, Michelle Cullen
Others Attending: Jolene Plautz
Secretary	Pam Hennessey
Minutes Approved	Approved
Treasurer	Joan Spencer
Membership Count	599 (to date have processed 396 renewals for 2005-06). Reminder notices will probably be sent in late July.
Operating Balance	$23,532.42
Education Balance	$ 7,503.96
IAAO Host Balance	$ 762.06
General Meeting Count	113 for March 7, 2005 quarterly meeting
General Meeting	Revenue: $3,450		Expense: $3,631.90			Net: $ (181.90)
Education Fund	Revenue:		Expense:			Net:
Course Name	Convenience Store Valuation			# Attending: 90 paid receipts
Course	Revenue: $8,700.00		Expense: $9,622.92			Net: $ (922.92)
Course Name				# Attending:
Course	Revenue:		Expense:			Net:
President	Mark Schlafer
Correspondence
DOR Communications	Mark received a letter from Frank Humphrey, asking for appointment of WAAO member to the DOR assessor continuing education committee. Mark is reappointing Pete Weissenfluh.
Association Activity
Committee Reports	Reported By
Auditing	Dave Krolicki—no report
Awards / Resolutions	Mike Higgins gave Mark his report. Pete W. commented there is still time to make nominations for awards, we have received few to date.
Nominating	Mike Higgins sent the nominee list: Kathy Romanak for VP; Shannon Krause, Scott Winter, and William Briggs for Directors. Jerry Prellwitz contacted Mel with interest in serving on the board; Mel will let Jerry know the time is past for this coming year and we will keep his name in consideration for the following year; however, Jerry should be aware that it is possible to be nominated from the floor at the quarterly meeting. Joan needs a list of the nominees to send to members who do not have e-mail.
Planning & Management	Mark Schlafer reported the committee met May 26^th in Madison. They discussed several issues: --Looking into overlapping duty problems between Membership Services and Education & Training committees. Mark and Joan will meet with the committees before the Assessors’ Institute --Discussed payments for our lobbyist --The 2006 March winter thaw status due to the upcoming IAAO conference in Milwaukee --Quarterly meeting locations, particularly an alternative Milwaukee-area location which might be more accessible --Technical college assessor education programs --Board of Review training for assessors and for Board of Review members.
Ad Hoc SLF Liaison	Bob Lorier reported they are meeting later this week. Nothing to report at this point, please contact Bob if you have issues which should be brought up.
IAAO Representative	John Meyer reported Mary just returned from the IAAO headquarters in Kansas City. She met with most of the new staff. Next year IAAO will be concentrating on membership and that they add value to members. The president-elect, Wayne Trout, will be coming to Milwaukee in October. Contact Wayne Trout or Mary Reavey if you are interested in helping with the conference. There are scholarships available for assessors from small jurisdictions for reduced-rate first year IAAO memberships.
IAAO Endorsement	No report
IAAO 2006 Host Committee	John Meyer reported the committee is continuing to meet, and plan to have a Harley Davidson cycle in Anchorage for photo ops. Re: fundraising, Pete Weissenfluh reported the hired fundraisers are working hard and are working on getting key mayors’ names on the letterhead which will be used for pleas. They are working on developing a list of key donors around the state. Letters are going out next week with follow-up visits planned. John Meyer thanked WAAO for the past support, but now is asking WAAO to contribute $5000 to help get the fundraising going. Donors seem to be willing to attach money to specific events, so perhaps some of the other expenses will be left wanting, and a WAAO donation at this time would help to get things going. We already committed to $5,000, which has been transferred at $1,000 per year. (see board action below)
NCRAAO Representative	Bob commented that several attended the conference in Moline, IL. We did not have very many Wisconsin assessors in attendance. Next year the conference is in Grand Forks and we’ll need to try to boost attendance as we begin to promote the 2008 Wisconsin conference. The Grand Forks’ conference will be in late June instead of early in the month. Steve Miner will be nominated for VP of NCRAAO. The nomination will be made at Grand Forks. (see board action below). Wes attended the Moline conference and received a scholarship from the Illinois Assessor’s Association. Wes suggested we consider awarding one or two scholarships for Grand Forks.
Ad Hoc NCRAAO 2008 Host	No report
Ad Hoc Communication/Tech	No report
Education & Training	Pete Krystowiak reported on the last committee meeting: 1) WAAO sponsoring IAAO Course 101. There is a site selected in Milwaukee, Oct. 10-14, and we will need 15-16 people to break even. 2) December quarterly meeting topic, looking at waterfront valuation. If you know of anyone who would be a good participant for this topic, please let Joyce Frey know. 3) USPAP class--interest is not sufficient at this point to arrange a class 4) Winter thaw 2006 status (see board action below). Pete will contact Indianhead assessor’s association to discuss cooperative educational opportunities. 5) Mentoring program and introduction letter; the committee was going to come up with a list of potential mentors across the state which could be included in our initial letter from WAAO. Joan does already include this basic information. 6) The committee’s role in encouraging people to enter assessment profession will be on the committee’s next meeting agenda to discuss different options. 7) Chair of committee for next year—with Mike Higgin’s new additional duties, and a pending revaluation for the City next year, Pete Krystowiak needs to step down as chair. He will remain on the committee.
Membership Services	Nan Giese reported the last class was well-received. The committee met recently about the upcoming Institute. Nan will share the list of potential donors with Pete Weissenfluh. The raffle will be held Wednesday at the end of the banquet. The hospitality room will be Thursday evening (we’ll have to pay $150 for the room this year). There will be another raffle at the hospitality room Thursday. The December quarterly meeting will be at the Crowne Plaza in Madison on Dec. 5.
Public Relations	No report
AVOW Editor	Steve Miner				Deadline: 7/15/05
Legislative Committee	Pete Weissenfluh reported they have been monitoring the budget bill, which does not contain any major property tax issues. They are monitoring the trespass and s. 74.37 bills. Jolene commented we seem to have a higher profile in the Capitol, legislators are calling Jolene asking for assessor input. Sheryl Albers has a new proposal separating the bundle of rights for property. S. 74.37 has been redrafted and Jolene and Pete W. will review it soon. The trespass bill underwent a dramatic change--it went from misdemeanor to criminal trespass. Al Ott will be the lead in the Assembly, we will find a lead for the Senate. Jolene raised the issue again of having an assessor day at the Capitol, probably 50-100 assessors. Maybe a light lunch with a speaker, and perhaps individual meetings with legislators. Next year late January or early February would be good. Pete Krystowiak asked about the exemption of restaurant equipment, and Jolene said it is now a bill, but not in the budget. Pete W. commented Jolene has been a tremendous asset for our organization.
Property Tax Exemptions	Pete Weissenfluh reported the Legislative Council proposal has not gone to committee yet. The WAAO legislative committee will work with the exemption committee to ensure we have people to testify when the time comes.
Rural Concerns	Mel Raatz said the committee has not met recently. Ag use values: they are using shared rent (crop share) in the formulas. They will not yield negative numbers with the changes made in formula assumptions. Now the annual increase/decrease will be tied to the statewide equalized value economic change. There is no change in the requirement to send Notices of change. The Towns Association conference is coming up October 17-18 in Stevens Point. Mel is trying to arrange a session on pole buildings, another on software, another on land classification (code 7 vs. code 1), and perhaps a follow-up class on billboards.
Real Estate Standards	Kathy Romanak reported the committee met in June. They were to look at the subsidized housing assessment practices. They are going to expand the discussion in the WPAM. Sharon McCabe attended their meeting to give some background court case information. The committee forwarded comments to Kathee Isleb for the Certification Review committee. Kathy received 34 Board of Review survey responses from the membership and will have those published. Kathy needs to step down as chair, but will remain as a committee member, and will continue as chair until a replacement is named.
Personal Property Standards	No report
Ad Hoc Prop. Tax Awareness	No report
Ad Hoc Billboards	No report
Computer Assisted	No report
Ad Hoc Commercial Sales	No report
Ad Hoc Certification Review	John Meyer reported the committee had its inaugural meeting. To proactively review the current certification process and potential changes to improve the certification process and to raise the minimum standards for assessors. Assignments will probably be made to other committees to help do legwork. The expectation is to have work done before the end of the year. Mark would like reports be made at October Executive Board meeting. Should an Assessor II certification be required to sign an assessment roll? Changing the temporary certification from the current 100 days to 6 or 12 months. What changes would rural assessors see as appropriate? How have things evolved since the breakdowns were originally developed? What legislative restrictions might there be to this process, or potential changes. Is there too much emphasis placed on the exam vs. experience? Who monitors and enforces any changes in the structure? How often are the exam questions changed? How do USPAP standards figure into this? What do other states require? The committee is not looking at any grandfather clause, so this would impact everyone right away. The Committee plans to report back to Executive Board, and also bring recommendations to the general membership, but time is going to be very short. What about the issue of appointed vs. elected? John is asking the other committees to discuss this at their next meetings and give feedback to the Certification Review committee. The Real Estate Standards has already discussed it and given some feedback. John will e-mail the minutes from the Review committee to all the committee chairs. The following committees in particular should be involved: Real Estate Standards; Rural Concerns; Legislative; and Education & Training. John should make certain there is an article in the next AVOW.
Old Business
Brought Up By
Concern
Brought Up By
Concern
New Business
Brought Up By	Mike Muelver
Concern	Mike suggests we need a written policy on how we will approve tuition grants for attending conferences. Mark will put it on the agenda for the next Planning and Management committee meeting.
Brought Up By	Pete Krystowiak
Concern	Planning & Management or the Executive Board is going to have to look at the issue of the amount of time necessary to chair committees, especially with diminishing local budgets. Planning & Management will discuss this issue at their next meeting.
Items Of Discussion
Membership Services and Education & Training committees’ overlapping duties. Some of the issues have been smoothed out and either in-person meetings or e-mail conference will be scheduled to continue work. Mark asked that this be done prior to the Assessors’ Institute. Joan said we’ve had very positive comments on the types of education and training we’ve had. In the past there was a problem finding someone to take on the chair of the program committee because of the large amount of responsibilities, so the duties were split. Joan needs a lot of the information (counts, contacts, etc.) and she can act as a liaison between the two existing committees.
2006 March winter thaw. There has been more discussion since the last Executive Board action, that many of the northern or western or rural areas may still be interested in holding a March education session. The Indianhead group does put on a small conference and perhaps we can piggyback on that in order to offer educational sessions for members. Joan suggests the June meeting be the one, if any, to be eliminated since it’s usually in conflict with the NCRAAO conference, a time when the assessment roll work is very busy, as well as open book and Boards of Review, and is not as well attended as the March thaw. Mike Muelver said with the continuing bad weather in March in the northern areas, many times it is a good time to attend a meeting. Nan suggested Membership Services survey the membership at the Institute, but Rocco said by that time his budget is already done. Wes questioned whether the northern/rural assessors traditionally attend the March meeting. Pete W. suggested that we reach out to Indianhead Association to assist them with putting on courses. Mark asked that Education and Training work with Indianhead. (see board action below)
$5,000 donation request for the IAAO 2006 Milwaukee conference. John anticipates needing about $20,000 in expenses for the Alaska conference, sending the key volunteers and promotional booth for 2006. Wes believes it’s a good opportunity for WAAO to promote professionalism and expose Wisconsin assessors to international educational opportunities. Mark expressed confidence in the job the Milwaukee and committee people have been doing to develop this conference. Mel asked how much we might be asked for next year, John hoped none, other than volunteer help, since the fundraisers will have had a year of work and outreach. Concerns were raised about whether to take money from education fund or operating funds. (see board action below)
Jim Siebers sat down with his staff and attempted to input a Real Estate Transfer Return electronically on the website. They ran into problems and have reported those as well as made suggestions. Jim suggests others try it.
Joan brought up the membership survey that is taken every several years to see what direction the membership wants us to go. We need to do that this year in LaCrosse. Mel and Jim Siebers will work on putting that together; it should include the March thaw and June meeting issues.
Mark commented on the golf tournament at the Institute, and if you are interested, please contact Pat Burns of his office to make tee times and receive golf outing information. Contact info is in the League Conference mailing earlier this month. Nine holes with lunch, cart, and prizes: $33.00.
Board Action
Motion By: Jim Siebers		Second By: Kathee Isleb
Motion: Affirm the motion made at the March Executive Board meeting, that the March thaw be cancelled, but not the quarterly meeting and the 3-hour education session, for 2006 and 2008.
Approved: yes		Failed:
Motion By: Mel Raatz		Second By: Wes Little
Motion: That we donate $5,000 to IAAO conference for 2006 and take it out of the operating fund
Approved: yes		Failed:
Motion By: Mark Schlafer		Second By: Joan Spencer
Motion: Recommend Steve Miner as NCRAAO Vice President candidate for next year.
Approved: yes		Failed:

Minutes Taken By:	Pam Hennessey
Date Approved By Executive Board: