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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Residents who live along 9th avenue northwest in Valley City are upset with the city’s take it or leave it attitude when it comes to special assessments levied upon them this year following the completion of a two year reconstruction project.
Spokeswoman Gail Bresnahan said the city could have done more to ease the pain of special assessments they will have to pay from $17,000 to $40,000. They say paying the assessments over a 25 year period with an interest rate of 4.5 percent isn’t a good deal. They also believe residents along 5th Avenue N.E got a break during that reconstruction project 7 years ago.
Valley City Mayor Bob Werkhoven and City Administrator David Schelkoph provide a response to some of the charges written by these Valley City residents.
The following editorial was written by Mike & Gail Bresnahan. “A close friend, after listening to the radio informed us that the city had decided to help out the residents of 9th Ave N.W. with their recent assessments. With a bit of anticipation and significantly more skepticism we checked the rumor out.
We found the cities idea of “help” was to take out a 25 year bond so that 9th Ave N.W. residents would pay what they owed over 25 years with a 4.5% interest rate. Wow! No wonder we love this place. As some of the lucky few on 9th Ave. NW, we were thinking more along the lines of an actual reduction of what we owe (not another mortgage of $18,800 at 4.5% interest which is what we will pay.)
In determining the special assessments of individual homeowners on 9th Ave N.W. (most of which are between $17,000 & $40,000) we believe the City Commission is guilty of the following:
- Poorly researching and misinterpreting the ND Century Code which states Municipalities should assess all properties that benefit and should be applied justly. Due to this misinterpretation the amounts for this major corridor were assumed only by those residents adjacent to the reconstructed street.
- Using an assessment formula that was based on residents paying a percentage of the total bill, with no thought or concern to the actual amount and therefore no limit to what residents ended up paying.
- Inconsistent application of Special Assessments. 9th Ave. N.W. residents paid much higher amounts than those paid by 5th Ave N.E. residents whose payments were capped at lower levels. Due to this cap, the residents of 5th Ave NE whose special assessments were higher than $10,000 received a total reduction of ~$102,700 from their assessments. Coincidentally, the person who profited the most from this special assessment reduction was a city official who owned 4 properties on this corridor.
- A lack of courage to do what is reasonable, fair and right.”
Mike & Gail Bresnahan and Richard & Marlys Christ
The following editorial was written by Richard & Dianne Kohler. “City Administrators, If you lived along 9th Ave. NW. How would you feel about the burden of such unreasonable assessments? Think about that.
As Valley City citizens, we do not always agree on decisions the city administrators enforce and that is normal, but these assessments are totally out of line for those on 9th and most of all not fair across the city, as compared to when 5th Ave N.E. was done.
We put our trust in you, so think hard about this issue and make it fair for all who live here. We all use the streets across the city, as the rural people also, just some more than others, depending where one lives.
This is a serious matter for the well being of the city. Valley City is beautiful small city to live or retire in and be proud of and that’s what we want to pass on to any future citizens.”
Richard & Dianne Kohler
The following editorial was written by Christy Fliflet. “I feel the need to expand on the ‘help’ that the residents of 9th Ave N.W. received from the city. First of all it was a battle to get the city to admit that our road was a truck route and an arterial road for the city…seriously, have you seen the traffic on this road? Also because of some strife between city and county, the county was asked to help with the road and politely declined.
Secondly, that awesome 25 year bond comes with a 4.5% interest rate, which isn’t that great in my opinion.
Thirdly, I saw a city document that states when a road has been totally redone, the water and sewer charge is 2,000 each. We were billed 4,000 each…that was brought up and swiftly stifled at the public city commission meeting.
Lastly, the city called for bids on the project late into construction season, which caused us to pay premium prices as most construction work was already scheduled for that season. What was the sudden rush we asked? The city responded with silence.”
Christy Fliflet
Valley City mayor Bob Werkhoven and City Administrator David Schelkoph said the city is working to bring a consistency to special assessment projects. They also said the liner footage of residential lots along 9th avenue northwest is bigger compared to other lots and that has increased the cost. They say the comparison to 5th avenue northeast isn’t fair being the cost of construction is higher today. And they believe no one received special treatment along 5th avenue northeast 7 years ago.
City administrator David Schelkoph said the city agreed to pay 100 percent of the cost of the 9th avenue northwest pathway and retaining wall.
According to information received from Valley City auditor Avis Richter. Residents payed $123.66 per linear foot for special assessments along 4th avenue southwest. Residents along 9th avenue northwest are paying $107.14 per linear foot. Water main hook-ups were the same at $4,000 per lot. Sanitary sewer hook-up for residents along 4th avenue southwest was $5,000 compared to $4,000 for residents along 9th avenue northwest.
Werkhoven and Schelkoph said no further adjustments concerning special assessments will be made for residents along 9th avenue northwest.
Gail Bresnahan responded with a rebuttal: She said the Mayor, Bob Werkhoven and the City Administrator David Schelkoph are mistaken that no special treatment was given on 5th Ave NE. Single family dwellings on 5th Ave NE received a special assessment cap of $10,000 on their properties. For example, if a single family dwelling property special assessment was $13,000 that property was capped at $10,000 and their assessment was reduced by $3,000. These caps resulted in a reduction of $102,660.15 for the residents on 5th Ave NE whose special assessments were over $10,000. The city official whose 2 properties were capped received a total of reduction of $7,336.74.
Ninth Ave NW and 5th Ave NE are apples and apples when comparing streets in Valley City, both are corridors in and out of town to the North and both are built to high specifications due to residential and commercial traffic use. These corridors were not treated the same when it came to assessing specials, 5th was given preferential treatment.
It is disappointing to realize that our city officials are prepared to not tell the truth on a subject when it does not suit them.