Alice Pickering
Linwood Area ReporterWith property tax statements in hand, about 20 Linwood residents attended the town board meeting Nov. 23 wanting explanations for the large increases in taxes for 2005.
The complaints are tied to property value increases in addition to the proposed township levy.
Mark and Debbie Underdahl said their property value increased 23 percent but that their township property tax doubled.
Unlike city government where councils set levies after public hearings, township residents vote directly on the township levies at their annual meeting.
Joe Dolphy, a former supervisor, said in the past the levy was discussed in March, then, set in August, closer to the date when the levy has to be certified. This levy was $264,000 more than the town board proposed.
Questions ranged from ìhow can this be overturned?î to reasons for the large increases, to the need for police protection.
Clerk Judy Hanna said a group representing parents of Linwood Elementary students asked to be placed on the agenda earlier in the year. The group came to the meeting prepared and the motion for the tax levy increase came from the floor, according to Dolphy.
Dolphy questioned the on-going year-to-year expense for a contract officer for the township, including the need for garage for the squad car and office space for the deputy. Arrangements are being made for these spaces.
Referring to several recent police and Hennepin County attorney allegations of misconduct, Underdahl wanted to know which officer would be on patrol. He was told deputies bid for shifts and jobs, based on seniority.
Life-long resident Vernon Boettcher, said the levy is usually set in March, but recently the final decision has been postponed until the continuation of the meeting in August. Official notices of the annual meeting are always published in local papers, quarterly township newsletter, posted at various township sites and advertised on the cable channel.
ìDonít blame the town board,î for action taken by the residents at the annual meeting, Boettcher said. He said a couple years ago, the levy was lowered, so it had to be raised this year.
Levy details
The 2003 property tax levy was $1,031,677.
However, Boettcher referred to the 2004 levy when residents approved only $900,000 or $138,000 less than the amount requested by the town board.
For 2005, supervisors proposed a levy of $1,384,000. However, as a result of a motion from the floor, an additional $264,000 was added to the proposed levy to cover the cost of contract police protection and a school resource officer.
The 2005 township levy of $1,684,000 was approved by a vote of 64 to 22.
At the Oct. 26 board meeting, the police contract was approved. Because Columbus and Linwood townships and Anoka County are sharing the cost of the SRO equally this year, the township should be able to reduce its 2005 levy by $56,000 before final certification.
Pat Gunnersonís complaint is the board ìcanít impact people so drastically in one year.î When polled, it was learned none of those at the board meeting had children in school, though a few had grandchildren attending. They were supportive of education but upset by the large changes in taxes.
One place officials can consider cuts are in capital funds which are levied in anticipation of building and large equipment purchases. However, history in the township tends to be in opposition to levying for capital improvements, some residents not wanting the township to collect and hold tax money; however, there is opposition to bonding for capital purchases.
All budget meetings are open to residents.
Dave Tryon, town board chairman, said there will be another meeting at 7 p.m., Dec. 14, and comments will be considered. Further discussion will be allowed, but the entire meeting will not be devoted to levy discussion.
Supervisor Marie Holm said all the budget work leading up to setting the levy cannot be merely tossed out at that meeting. Supervisors may schedule a meeting to consider possible areas for cuts, in preparation for the Dec. 14 meeting.
The new tax levy must be certified with Anoka County by Dec. 27, 2004.
Variance denied
After long discussion, supervisors denied a request for variance of required 20,000 square feet for a building area and a variance from 11,000 square feet for house and septic site.
Jeff Pfeffer and Terrance McTeague made the request for a lot in the Fawn Lake area for a lot platted in the 1950s, which is only 10,000 square feet.
Planning and Zoning recommended approving the variance, based upon a 10-point checklist. The list has more to do with meeting setbacks than with the suitability of the site for septic systems. Language in the original developments was based on the assumption that eventually city water and sewer would be available in the area.
That has not been the case and many septic systems in that area have failed over the years. By current ordinance, the lot would not meet requirements.
Supervisor Rudi McCurdy said ìwe (supervisors) have to prove it is not a buildable lot.î Supervisor Mike Budde said, ìSeptics will fail on those 75-foot lots.î Some less than 15 years old have failed.
Allowing building on small lots set close together eliminates options to existing homes when systems fail. Holm said septic issues are more important than setbacks in this area. The area is less than half that required by the ordinance for Holm to consider granting the variance.
The vote was 4-1 against granting the requested variances.
Other topics
The final plat for Shadow Ridge Overlook, to be located on Ryan Lake Drive, was approved, contingent on all issues in engineer Craig Jochumís report being addressed. There were questions about clearing areas of the oak savanna.
Attorney Gerald Randall said the findings of fact from the environmental study should allow the project to proceed. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy had raised some opposition to some of the plans.
Richard Killian, the developer, told the board while there are plans to remove some trees for the lots, there will not be large areas cleared. The environmental moratorium suspends the 60-day rule for approval.
There were discussions of an Anoka County Conservation site protection project to keep Linwood Community and School Forest permanently a ìwild space.î Consensus of the board is the township would be more concerned about keeping the 170 acres a permanent park than the county would. The board prefers to keep it under township control. Tryon said the park ìkeeps us in touch with the school.î McCurdy said ìboard members are more concerned about the park than county would be.î
Supervisors approved up to $3300 for improvements, construction of a boardwalk, in Playful Shadows Park. Plans from the DNR are ready for the boardwalk which will connect two township parks. Work is to be completed by workers in the Sentence to Serve program, which has completed other projects for the township.
Supervisors approved development agreements for Typo Creek Ridge and Whitetail Ridge II for Steve Strandlund, subject to final review by attorney Gerald Randall.
Other business
In other business, the board:
ïApproved the final plat of Kingley Wooded Shores for David Verness.
ïBy unanimous vote, adopted the code ordinance.
ïPlaced on the agenda for the next meeting discussion of procedures necessary to change the March election to November.
ïLearned the township is still in negotiation with one property owner for a portion of easement needed for completion of the Hornsby Bridge in the eastern margin of the township.
ïVoted in support of a Neighborhood Watch proposal for 217th Ave. area. The town pays for the signs and places them at a cost of about $150.
ïUnanimously approved the 2004 recycling contract with Anoka County.
ïReferred requests for additional features in the skateboard park and another request for more four-wheeler trails to the park board.
ïLearned there is no park board meeting in December.
ïBy a vote of 4-1, approved attendance at a Work-zone seminar in January, for Budde and Ray Broadbent.
ïApproved minutes of the Oct. 12 meeting.
ïLearned of two recent complaints about animals in the township.
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