Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

From now on, Washington County will be in charge of determining home values in the City of Forest Lake.

The Forest Lake City Council Monday night voted to contract with Washington County for assessing services as of April 1.

The assessing discussion as prompted by a March report in St. Paul Pioneer Press which pointed to reports from Washington County citing errors in the work done by Ken Tolzmann, who has done assessing for the community for more than 20 years, and other assessors working in the county.

In March, the city council voted unanimously to suspend assessing duties of Tolzmann until the matter was studied.

In a memo prepared on Tuesday, April 5 and presented to the city council on Monday, City Administrator Chip Robinson said he ìconcluded that the City of Forest Lake must make a change in its current assessing processes. The investigation has proven to me that there is a significant problem with the database that generates values for the property taxes. I do not believe that under the current assessing arrangement this problem can be resolved.î

All properties in the city will be assessed, Robinson said.

ìThe current assessment needs to be reviewed in totality,î he said. ìThe values for 2005 are OK, itís the 2006 values that weíre concerned with.î

Tolzmann, though not present at Mondayís meeting, submitted a letter of resignation to city hall on Monday.

ìI do not want to stand in the way of progress here, rather work with it. If the city feels it would be in their best interest to contract with Washington County for assessment services, I fully understand and support such a decision,î Tolzmann wrote.

He added the city has grown and changed a great deal in his years of service.

ìWe have seen the growth in this city increase from approximately 4500 parcels in 1982 to approximately 9000 parcels today,î he said. ìGiven the present rate of growth I fully understand the concerns the city has taken into consideration here in the administration of its property tax assessment.î

The county will be physically reviewing all improved properties within the city over the next two years, Robinson said.

Robinson said the city would be paying the county $94,000 for assessing services for the remainder of this year, $122,000 in 2006 and $94,750 in 2007.

Councilman Dick Tschida, who has expressed concern over fairness in assessing before, came to the meeting with a stack of papers listing various homes for sale throughout Washington County all valued about $1 million with varying tax bills.

ìMaybe the current assessor should have been given some guidelines. When you go to the county are you getting anything better,î Tschida asked.

Councilman Rick Ashbach recalled the reason the city first went with Ken Tolzmannóbecause it wasnít happy with the service from Washington County.

ìMy struggle is the assessment lawsóI donít know who can do a good job,î Ashbach said. ìWhat can we do to be sure we have some adequate controls.î

Robinson said the addition of Kevin Corbid, who serves as director of assessment, taxpayer services and elections in Washington County is a positive change.

ìI truly believe heís making a difference,î Robinson said.

The city accepted Tolzmannís resignation and agreed to go with the county. The city will consider a contract with Washington County for assessing services at the next meeting.

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Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
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