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Editor Becky Watts: Phone # 770-468-7583 editor(@)pikecountytimes.com
This online news website is owned and operated by Becky Watts. The Editor can be reached at 770-468-7583 or at editor(at)PikeCountyTimes(dot)com. Pike County Times is a website for citizens to keep up with local events and stay informed about Pike County government. It began on November 13, 2006 as a watchdog on county government and has turned into an online newspaper.
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ZEBULON - The Pike County Board of Tax Assessors met on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the EMA Building located at the front of the Public Works property. Present were: Vice-Chair/Acting Chair - Hugh McAleer, members Gary Hammock, Lyn Smith, Kristen Cudnohufsky, Chief Appraiser Greg Hobbs, Appraisers Emily Morris and Danyeal Smithey to take the minutes, citizen Tim Ingram, and Becky Watts from Pike County Times.
[Note from the Editor: Go to the county website www.pikecoga.com and click on Resources/the three lines on top of each other, then on Meetings and Agendas, and then scroll down below the place where you can input dates and times because each meeting will be listed by date and type below it. If you download the agenda for the meeting, you can see a lot of information prior the meeting.]
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 11:00 am.
II. Approval of Agenda
• Approval of Agenda-(O.C.G.A.-50-14-1-1(e)-Staff recommends approval.
Approved. 4-0.
III. Invocation - Chief Appraiser HobbsIV. Pledge of Allegiance
Vice Chair Hugh McAleer was the acting Chair at this meeting because Jessica Rowell, the prior Chair of the Board, tendered her resignation on October 12, 2023. The letter read as follows: "Dear Pike County Board of Assessors,
Please accept this as my formal resignation from the Pike County Board of Assessors
effective immediately. I’m no longer able to serve to the best of my ability. I am
refocusing my time and attention towards other various priorities. I appreciate the
experience this opportunity has afforded me over the past three and a half years. I wish
you all the best.
Many Thanks,
Jessica Rowell"
V. Approval of Minutes
• Approval of October 3, 2023 Regular Re-scheduled Minutes-Summary- Staff recommends approval.
Approved 4-0.
VI. Public Comment (w/5 minute time limit per person)
None.
VII. Invited Guests. None.
VIII. Chief Appraiser Report
The county is now under 300 appeals.
Chief Appraiser Hobbs said that he has a conflict with the November 7 meeting, and it will need to be scheduled when Attorney Rob Morton can attend.
For those appeals that are still pending, if they check the Board of Equalization box and that is where they want to go, the appeal will go to that board. Once an appeal is sent to the Board of Equalization, the hearing must be held within 20 days and not more than 30 days out.
Computers for $2,000. Appraiser Danyeal Smithey is working on an old computer. Documents have to go from one computer to another. It will need to be replaced. It doesn’t have One Drive and is on its last legs. This will make everyone have a computer that is 2 years old or less.
Hobbs said that he has spoken to a person who wants to work here, but there is an issue that the attorney needs to address.
IX. Old Business. None.
X. New Business.
1. Approval/Denial of 2023 Appeals with Fair Market Value Revision(s)
1. Real Property
1. Approval/Denial of (51) 2023 Appeals with Fair Market Value Revisions. (Staff recommends approval.)
Approved with one exception. They missed a house and have to notify the one person. The adjustments have been made on the rest. 3-0-1. Cudnohufsky abstained due to lack of knowledge about the topic.
2. Approval/Denial of (8) 2023 Waivers with Fair Market Value Revisions. (Staff recommends approval.)
The people have agreed to stop their appeals. 3-0-1. Cudnohufsky abstained due to lack of knowledge about the topic.
3. Approval/Denial of changing Exempt Map #68-204 (Lee) to Taxable Classification for 2023. (Staff recommends legal opinion.)
Motion to postpone until Rob is here. Approved 4-0.
XI. Personal Property1. Approval/Denial of 2023 Appeal County #620 (Bob's Auto Salvage) revised fair market value - $19,245. (Staff recommends approval.)
3-0-1. Cudnohufsky abstained due to lack of knowledge about the topic.
[Note from the Editor: It was obvious from noises in the back of the room that there was some staff member disapproval each time Cudnofusky abstained from votes. Besides the fact that this behavior is blantantly unprofessional and should not occur in future meetings, it should be noted that there is an obligation for those who have been appointed to county boards to be knowledgable about what they are voting on. Members of the Board of Commissioners, Planning and Zoning, Water and Sewer Authority, Library Board, etc. are all presented with information (both on paper and from those working with the board) that they are expected to to read information prior meetings so they can make informed decisions in called meetings. Why should this board be any different? A lot of information is being placed online prior to meetings, but everything was not online prior to the last meeting. I have to point out that this board has come a LONG way in a VERY short time with being transparent and putting things online so I am praising them for their hard work while pointing out that I don't think it's too much to ask for members of ANY board to read through what is given to them ahead of time to ensure that they make an informed decision on our behalf.]
XII. Public Comment. None.
XIII. Board Members Report
Question about personnel. Need to wait until the attorney is here.
Cudnohufsky asked about moving mooney for the new computers. Hobbs said that he wanted the board to make any suggestions for spending money. Suggestion to communicate and come up with something to suggest to CM Brandon Rogers to move that money for the computers.
Vice Chair Hugh McAleer read his resignation onto the record saying that it was effective after today’s meeting.
"Dear Pike County Board of Assessors, I am announcing my formal resignation from the Pike County Board of Assessors effective after today's meeting. I am no longer able to serve to the best of my ability due to personal reasons. I appreciate the experience this opportunity has afforded me and wish you all the best. Signed, Hugh McAleer."
McAleer then moved the meeting to adjournment. He noted that there were no attorney comments and asked for a motion to adjourn, and the meeting was finished.
[Note from the Editor: As the acting Chair of the meeting, it would have been a good idea to allow the remaining three members an opportunity to appoint someone to act as Chair of the next meeting. Leaving this board with only three members could cause problems with future meetings if anyone gets sick or has an emergency too.
However, the Clerk of the Board of Commissioners acted very quickly to get these two appointments advertised in the Pike Journal Reporter so maybe possible problems can be avoided if people apply and the commissioners are able to make appointments at Wednesday's meeting. One is to fill an unexpired six year term set to expire on December 31, 2025 and the other is to fill an unexpired term set to expire on June 30, 2027. PLEASE NOTE: The deadline to apply is TOMORROW - NOVEMBER 3 at 5 P.M. You can pick up an application at the Pike County Board of Commissioners office located at 331 Thomaston Street in Zebulon. ]
XIII.Attorney Comments: None
XIV. Approval to Adjourn
Meeting was adjourned at 11:13 a.m.
(AGENDA SUBJECT TO REVISION)
Here are links to past meetings that Pike County Times has attended.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - October 3, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor10.3.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - September 19, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor9.19.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - September 7, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor9.7.23.html
[Note from the Editor: If you appreciate being able to read information from county meetings for free on Pike County Times, please make a donation to Pike County Times through the PayPal link at the bottom of the page or by check to Pike County Times at PO Box 843, Zebulon so I can justify the amount of time that I am spending away from family. It may not seem like much but sitting in a meeting and then typing it up takes a lot more time than you might imagine! Thanks for reading Pike County's only FREE newspaper.]