By Clara Osten,
clara@wayneherald.com
Members of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, acting as the Wayne County Board of Equalization, listened to a request to change the valuation on a number of properties in Wayne County on Tuesday.
The board had a total 21 properties that owners were protesting the change in valuation.
Lee Brogie came before the board and discussed reasons for adjusting the valuation on 18 of the 27 properties she and her husband own. She said while there were differences in the increase in valuation on these, there was up to a 27.3% increase on one of these.
Brogie said "market price and market value are not the same" and asked for adjustments to these valuations.
County Assessor Dawn Duffy was part of the meeting and shared information on how valuations are determined.
Following a recess until the afternoon, the board accepted the recommendations of the County Assessor and did make adjustments to several of the properties on the protest list.
Copies of the decisions made will be mailed to the respective property owners.
Jill Brodersen spoke to the commissioners on the bids received for the Courthouse Office blinds.
She said she had reached out to four different entities looking for bids. Several were not able to provide bids for this project.
Following discussion, board members approved a bid of $36,102 from Carhart Lumber. Brodersen will check to make sure the blinds do not conflict with the building's historic designation.
Board members approved Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau Committee recommendations for the following events:
Henoween - Wayne America, Inc., The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Little Red Hen Theatre, A Touch of Brass - Little Red Hen Theatre, Disney's Beauty and the Beast - Little Red Hen Theatre, Fair Book printing - Wayne County Agricultural Society, radio advertising for Wayne County Fair - Wayne County Agricultural Society, Wayne Chicken Show - Wayne Area Economic Development, Bressler Fest - Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Wakefest - Wayne Community Club, Fools by Neil Simon - Wayne Community Theatre.
Commissioner Terry Sievers asked if the events taking place in Wakefield were also funded through the Dixon County Convention & Visitors' Bureau and was told this is the case.
Commissioners received an update from Wayne Public Library Director Heather Headley and Winside Lied Public Library Director Lara Lanphear.
The two spoke about programs taking place at their respective libraries and popular items at the library. These include children's books and on-line materials.
Mike Pommer was at Tuesday's meeting to discuss what services he is able to provide to the county in regard to preparing the upcoming fiscal year's budget.
He told the commissioners the county "is in a pretty good financial situation" and will be putting together information on both revenue and expenses.
He said this will be brought back to the commissioners to "see if this is going to work for your end goals."
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 9 a.m. in the Wayne County Courthouse.
