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ZEBULON - The Board of Assessors met on March 7, 2024. Members present were Tim Ingram, Gary Hammock, Lyn Smith, and newly re-appointed member Christopher Tea. Chief Appraiser Greg Hobbs-acting secretary, Appraiser Emily Morris, and County Attorney Rob Morton were also present.
There were many people in the audience including Randy Davis, Lynn Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Manley, Linda Smith, County Manager Brandon Rogers, County Commissioner James Jenkins, Heather Bell and Angela Blount from the County Commission Office, and Pike County Times Editor Becky Watts.
I. Call to order - 11:35 a.m.
II. Approval of the Agenda - Approved 4-0.
III. Invocation
IV. Pledge of Allegiance
V. Approval of the Minutes – February 20, 2024. Approved 4-0.
VI. Public Comment
Becky Watts, Pike County Times.
Tax Assessor Secretary. I asked Chief Appraiser Greg Hobbs if he was still taking his own minutes. He said yes but that Appraiser Emily Morris was helping him. I said that I don’t like that because your hands are full and suggested the Board vote to make Emily the secretary and have her take minutes. [Note from the Editor: I suggested at the last meeting that Greg ask someone from his office to come to the meeting to take the minutes because he is directing the meeting, and it is difficult to direct a meeting and write down what is going on too. And with the meetings being at 11:30 am rather than 4:30 p.m., it should not be difficult for someone from the office to take minutes. The change of time to 4:30 p.m. is why Appraiser Emily Morris resigned as secretary in a previous meeting.]
CUVA Law. I asked what our ordinances say, and what does state law say? People have told me that they have been told that they cannot have a piece of property in CUVA in Pike County unless they have 10 acres, but that is not what state law says. And then there is one on the agenda today that is less than 10 acres. (I have only been attending meeting for 6 months so I don’t know and asked them the question.) Rob said that we can do that later in the meeting. [Note from the Editor: This is discussed in depth after the motion to adjourn so I can let readers know what policy is. Thank you to County Attorney Rob Morton for making sure that this happened.]
New Member Training. I asked Greg how training works with new members? Greg advised that all members are required to attend training within 180 days.
VII. Invited Guests [Note from the Editor: People were invited to speak at specific times in the meeting.]
VIII. Chief Appraiser Report
Thank you to Christopher Tea for accepting the position on the Tax Assessor Board.
• Appeals
48 active
107 sent 30 day notices
952 resolved
212 waived
5 withdrawn
14 forwarded to the Board of Equalization
• Homestead and Conservation renewals, continuations, and new applications
Dusty and Brian have been busy with field work. They have visited the conservation locations, and Brian has visited each location in the City of Zebulon.
• Budget. The budget has submitted to the county. The Tax Assessor Meeting with the County Manager will be on March 18 at 1 p.m.
• Performance Review. The Department of Revenue’s Performance Review will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 11. I look forward to that review.
IX. Old Business
a. Approval/Denial of CUVA Wilson Family. Staff recommends approval.
Greg said that there was a lot of confusion at the past meeting. The estate has the option to end or continue this covenant. That didn’t happen. The problem is when they engaged a surveyor on that property to divide a 10 acre tract and join the 5 acres to an adjoining 27 acres and gave 3 acres to a relative. It wasn’t sold. It was given to a relative. You can’t take one covenant and add it to a second covenant.
First order of business is to end the covenant. The executor of the estate has notified the Assessor’s Office by letter to end the CUVA. Motion to end the covenant. Approved 4-0.
Second issue to address is the surveyor. Randy (the surveyor) said that he gets caught up between the Tax Assessor’s Office and the Planning and Zoning Office on a regular basis. The executor spoke and said that she talked to Melissa, and Randy Davis surveyed the two smaller acres and made a survey to combine the two CUVA lot. Said, I want to make this right. We cut the hay off of these less the 3 acres that she gave to her son.
Discussion. The 27 acres was a 2022 conservation. You can’t add the 5 acres to another CUVA. Giving away the 3 acres is a problem too because it creates a lot with no access. Planning and Zoning is not going to approve this because this creates a parcel that has no access. Morton. Dealing with property in a covenant and what state law allows versus the creation of lots and subdivision of lots that could possibly create a breach. Morton has not been given this to look at this. If the covenant had been ended first, this would not be as big of a problem. Our new zoning requirements say that we can’t provide a lot that as no access. Said that he needs the information in order to review this and make a recommendation.
2. Personal Property: None.
X. New Business.
a. Approval/Denial Exempt property questionaire Christ Chapel. Staff recommends approval.
Motion to approve the exemption. Approved 3-1 with Ingram opposed.
2. Real Property.
a. Approval/Denial of deleting 064-022 (English) and correcting acreage and mapping for 064-019B and 064-019C. Staff recommends approval.
Melissa showed the issue on paper. The small piece needs to be deleted and added to the big lot so it maps out correctly. Motion to delete and correct. Approved 4-0.
b. Approval/Denial
Greg explained this. It’s been 161 acres for years, but a survey was done and it is now 82 acres. The 82 acres is what we filed. Christopher asked about title search of surrounding properties. There is no CUVA exemption on the property. We are going by the plat. Motion to go with the plats that were in the member packets. Approved 4-0.
c. The house burned on February 24. It was on the books at the first of the year. Morton suggested that this go before the commissioners. You need to follow your policy. Motion to refer this matter to the Board of Commissioners for 2024 and remove it for year 2025. Approved 4-0.
d. This used to be the golf course. Motion to change the classification from commercial to agricultural. Approved 4-0.
e. We did 2023 in the last meeting. It needs to be for 2022 and 2023 because we can’t charge her twice. Motion to remove for 2022. Approved 4-0.
f. Motion to approve the 31 renewals. Approved 4-0.
g. Motion to approve the 5 new applications. Approved 4-0.
h. Motion to approve 32 CUVA continuations. Approved 4-0.
i. Motion to approve the 19 revisions. Approved 4-0.
j. Motion to approve the 15 waivers. Approved 4-0.
k. Motion to remove CUVA. Approved 4-0.
l. Motion to approve homestead exemptions. Approved 4-0.
2. Personal Property
a. 2018 Silverado. Paid $9,000 for it with 240,000 miles. No tag receipt. Need to postpone.
b. 5,000 with 180,000. 10,433 is the average price. Motion to set it at state price of $10,433. Approved 4-0.
12:06 p.m.
Back in Session. 12:16 p.m.
Public Comment
Executor spoke. On item k, that was my aunt who died in June of 2023. I went and asked what I needed to do. Was told that it came out of CUVA at her death but needed to wait until the first of the year to handle that. Went back in first week of January of this year. Took documentation that was told to bring in. Then brought in a surveyor who told them that they had breached the covenant and there would be $18,000. Was not told to write a letter back there. Am I still responsible for these penalties and fines? Hobbs said no. Hobbs asked for a copy of the paper that the surveyor found. If this sale goes through, are we just responsible for the property taxes? Hobbs. You are not going to have a penalty. The law changed in 2016 to allow the family to continue or end it. She passed away in 2023. It will go through 2023. This has been ended, but you will not be responsible for this. The property record card will reflect that the CUVA has been removed.
Board Member Report: None.
County Attorney Report: None.
Motion to adjourn. 12:22 p.m.
[Note from the Editor: I asked for this information so I can put it out to the public. That you to Attorney Rob Morton for explaining the specifics on CUVA/conservation properties. I've heard so much over the years that I did not know what was correct and what wasn't.]
Asked a question about CUVA with acreage less than 10 acres, etc.
If less than 10 acres, you can apply but if you have less than 10 acres, you have to give additional documentation like a forestry management plan, receipts to show agricultural use, etc. Need to give additional documentation to prove.
Is there a minimum acreage?
If there is a house on the property, there is a 2 acre minimum by state law to pull it out per state law. But anything over that 2 acres can be in conservation.
What is addtional documentation?
Morton. Additional documentation. Photos, receipts, plans, profit and loss, etc. to show ag use. There is an IRS form for agricultural use that is also acceptable as well.
There was a CUVA tract that was 1.69 acres from earlier. This is being attached by not combined to the other property until the other property CUVA expires. New covenant with the same year as the one that they want to attach it to.
Click here to read: "BREAKING NEWS: Commission Votes to Appeal Fine and Request a State Review of the Board of Assessors" http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BREAKINGNEWSrequestforreview2.2.24.html
Here are links to past meetings that Pike County Times has attended.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - February 6, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor2.6.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - January 18, 2024 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor1.18.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - January 4, 2024 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor1.4.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - December 19, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor12.19.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - December 5, 2023 - 11:30 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor12.5.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - November 9, 2023 - 11:30 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.9.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - October 17, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor10.17.23.html
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