Property values in county hold steady after dip

Carroll County News

CARROLL COUNTY -- The quorum court heard an update on a county-wide reappraisal.

Phillip Scott, with CAMA Technology, said state law requires re-appraisal every three years. He said his firm has handled this process for the last six years here.

During the current three-year period, CAMA has been checking records, removing buildings which have been torn down, and adding new buildings. The company has also been keeping up with property values and tracking the sales market.

Scott said although property values in the county declined a little in 2008, the county will see an overall increase in value, especially because of new construction in the Beaver Lake area.

Berryville and the eastern half of the county have experienced very little market change in the last three years, Scott said.

Any property owners whose appraisal has increased will receive a notice, Scott said, with an explanation of the changes and phone numbers for anyone questioning the valuation.

"We will have our appraisers who were involved in this project answering the phones," he said. "We have six people who live and work here year round, and we'll bring in extra people as needed." 

The state sets the value of agricultural and timber land, and Scott said that value may rise this year from $110 an acre to $120 or $130.

He also explained the appraisal of a principal residence can only increase by five percent per year. Assessments are frozen for those 65 and over. Commercial property can rise by 10 percent per year.

Assessor Jo Ann Harris also reminded the court that residents of the Green Forest school district will see increases in their property taxes this year, because of a millage increase passed last year.

Leatherwood bridge

Tim Weaver, city attorney for Eureka Springs, asked for help from the quorum court in an effort by Eureka Springs to annex property including an old bridge across Leatherwood Creek.

The state has built a new bridge on U.S. Hwy. 62, and plans to tear down the old bridge. The state is willing to allow the county or the city to take the property and maintain the bridge, and Weaver said the county has no interest in the bridge, but the city does.

The bridge adjoins property which is already annexed into Eureka Springs. Weaver said the bridge connects Lake Leatherwood park with the city's ballfields, and anyone going from the park to the ballfields would otherwise have to go onto the highway instead of taking the shorter, safer route across the old bridge.

Weaver said the county would have to pass an ordinance to allow the city to annex the property. He also asked for county assistance in paying for a survey of the property.

He estimated the survey would only cost a few hundred dollars, because the state has performed a lot of survey work in that area for the new bridge project.

The quorum court gave tentative approval, but asked Weaver to return with more detailed figures concerning the cost of the survey and the amount the county would be asked to pay.

David Davis property

Justice of the Peace Ron Flake suggested the county could buy the David Davis property on the east side of Berryville, as a potential site for a new courthouse. He said the property is in foreclosure, and would be available for about $700,000.

The 12-acre property includes a building with 16,000 square feet.

Flake said it could be used to replace the eastern district courthouse, and the building would have room to consolidate some other county offices which are now in rented space.

Although the building would need a lot of remodeling to serve the county's needs, Flake said it would still cost less than new construction.

JP Frank Renner said the county already owns property next to the jail, as well as a vacant lot next to the existing courthouse.

Part-time position

In a very close vote, the JPs approved a part-time secretarial position for the office of the county judge.

Barr said having a part-time secretary will make it possible to keep the doors of his office open at all times, and provide more personalized service to the public.

Flake said the court has already voted against raises for existing personnel this year, and a new hire would conflict with that policy.

"I am absolutely opposed to creating a new position in this county," he said. "It would be short-sighted and very foolish of us to authorize a position." 

With one JP absent, the table voted 5-5 on the question, and the judge broke the tie with his vote. The position will cost $6,600 in wages and benefits per year.

Miscellaneous

* JP John Howerton, who is also the assistant fire chief for the South Carroll County Fire Department, accepted a check for $15,000 to be used toward a new substation at Dry Fork. Barr credited State Sen. Randy Laverty for obtaining the funds.

* Mike Tisevich was approved for another term on the Carroll County Equalization Board. Renner read from state statutes that seemed to limit board members to two terms, but Prosecuting Attorney Tony Rogers said the county should accept him as the representative of the cities in the county.

* Chuck Olson was confirmed for a position on the Western Carroll County Ambulance District.

* Bill Carmichael was confirmed for a position on the Mundell Heights Subordinate Service District.

* The court heard two proposals for the county's insurance, one from the existing agent, and another from a Harrison agency.

* This meeting was moved up a week, to avoid a conflict with the county judges' meeting in Eureka Springs June 17-19.