Posted: 12/4/07
County flood victims to receive over $16,000 in tax abatements
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Houston County residents who sustained substantial damage to their property have received financial help in the forms of grants and low-interest loans from the state and federal governments. On Tuesday, Nov. 27 the Houston County Board approved a resolution that will give those property owners a little more help....in the form of property tax abatements.
County Assessor Tom Dybing explained the state had approved a program that will refund second half property taxes to commercial and residential property owners who sustained 50 percent or more destruction due to the August flash floods. Dybing's staff spent considerable time this past fall inspecting damaged homes and commercial buildings to determine the extent of damage incurred by the floods.
According to the assessor's office, 30 different properties in the county sustained between 50 and 100 percent damage and are eligible for abatements totalling $16,480. The state program will reimburse the county for the lost property tax revenues.
Dybing added the state's flood disaster recovery program also provides tax relief in 2008 for homestead properties that incurred at least $10,000 of damage. For non-homesteaded properties, the program will cover all that had at least a 50 percent loss due to the floods.
"If persons have any questions about possibly being eligible for this program, they should contact our office," Dybing said.
Other flood-related issues
EWP application reviewed
Root River Soil and Water Conservation District Manager Ralph Tuck provided an Emergency Watershed Protection program evaluation for the Geraldine Pizzini home, located on the west edge of Hokah. The Pizzini property suffered considerable damage when a large section of the yard washed away during the August floods.
The EWP program is funded 75 percent by the federal government, through the NRCS, and 25 percent locally (divided up between Houston County, Root River SWCD, and the property owner). Tuck added he has applied for state funds for the local share through the Minnesota Recovers Task Force for community assistance. If the project would be approved by the state, the only local match would be 6.25 percent, paid by the property owner.
According to the engineer's estimates, the Pizzini project would cost approximately $220,000, which shocked the county commissioners.
"I really wonder if taxpayers' dollars would be properly utilized spending $220,000 just to repair a lot in Hokah," Commissioner Larry Graf said. "That house sits on a sand hill, which was eroded on three sides. What if this happens again? Will the government spend another $220,000 to repair it again? I question if this was well thought out."
Several commissioners wondered if money would be better spent purchasing a different piece of property and moving the house.
"This is a bad building site. I don't feel the engineers who put this evaluation together addressed site defensibility," Graf added.
Tuck replied the site was inspected by government engineers, who felt it was a workable project.
"I'm just concerned about the liability here," Commissioner Dave Corcoran said. "What if something happens again? Would the county be liable because we approved it and also helped pay for it?"
Commissioner Larry Connery asked Tuck if the county's share would be a secured loan. Tuck did not think it would be, but added the state may be picking up the 25 percent local share.
"We were required to work the evaluation up to this point first, and then apply for federal funds," Tuck explained. "Once this project is approved on the federal level, we would apply for the state match. If that comes through, the county wouldn't be paying for any of it."
"But we don't know if the state will agree to pay 25 percent," Corcoran said. "And there are many people out there with big problems. If we go ahead with this, and many other cases, we could be strung out for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"I'm not picking on this project, or the program," Corcoran continued. "If the government has the programs to help people, that's great. But we need to have more facts before we can move forward with this."
Tuck agreed with the commissioners, but added his department was required to complete the evaluation first, and then work from there.
No action was taken on the Pizzini EWP.
County water management
plan is reviewed
The Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources requires each county have a water management plan. And with the August flash floods, a review of Houston County's plan was requested by the state office.
A sub-committee of the county's water plan committee noted several issues in the implementation schedule have been or will be delayed due to immediate needs caused by the storm event and lack of available qualified staff. Because of this, the county requested the following considerations:
ïWaive the two-year grant period on WCA and feedlot funds for 2008 and 2009.
ïWaive the match requirements as staff time does not allow for in-kind match and budgets are tied up with flood relief.
Staff will be reviewing needs of stream bank erosion control and stream debris removal and recommended changes and/or additions to implementation plan in the upcoming months.
Cost share for septic systems damaged by floods should be added as a priority issue. Funding is needed for this item.
Houston County will be assessing the long term effects of the flood as time allows, and may need to revise the plan at some future date.
Help for septic systems
and feedlot damage
County Environmental Services Director Rick Frank was notified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture that Houston County is eligible for low-interest loans to be used to repair or replace septic systems, drain fields, and feed lots damaged in the August floods.
The state has budgeted $750,000 to be used for flood-related projects and repairs. The interest rate for this program is 3.5 percent.
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