DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Board of Review met March 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

I. Call to order: Meeting called to order at 9:03 am.

II. Roll call : Roll call taken to show all present.

Ill. Review Agenda for Approval/ Amendment: John moved to approve as submitted. Brian second motion. All in favor, motion passed.

IV. Approval of minutes from last meeting: John moved to approve Feb 24, 2021 minutes to reflect correction of 2020 year to 2021. Brian second motion. All in favor. Motion passed. Brian moved to approve Mar 10, 2021 minutes as submitted. John second motion. All in favor, motion passed.

V. Public Comments: None

VI. Non-Homestead Exemption Hearing at 9:30 am

a. Hinckley Public Library District - 15-15-429-008: Hearing began at 9:30 am with chairman, Dan Cribben asking for representative introductions and then from Board Members. Dan informed representatives the purpose of hearing is to make a recommendation to IDOR only. Dan asked Ms. Roubal to give a brief statement of library history to recent request of this exemption. Ms. Roubal began stating after multiple expansions of library at previous location they had ran out of space. In 2008, a consultant was hired to assist with expansion and relocation if and when opportunity presented itself. In December 2020, Dr. Marwaha donated property address of 142 & 150 W Lincol~ Hwy to the library district. The buildings are being cleaned out by an auction company l\was a medical building prior. They have hired an architect who will design a floor plan for best use with construction cost and hope to remove adjoining wall, opening the building into one space of 6,000 square feet, from the two addresses. A building fund was established years ago with funds dedicated to building expenses. They also plan to apply for a State Construction Grant that covers approximately 50% of expenses and then will establish and rely on a donation fund for future costs: As local school libraries are small and limited, they do work closely with the school districts for projects, programs, and materials. The library has the strongest internet connection for the community and provides 8 computers for public use and will have fiber optic cable internet within the new location. Dan opened floor to questions from other Board members. John asked about adjoining community of Big Rock vs Hinckley with boundary lines and school districts as pertains to library use. Ms. Roubal stated as legislation dictates one must be within tax district to receive free services of library. Anyone may use the library; however, non-eligible persons would not be able to take items from library unless they were to pay an annual fee to be a member. They do collaborate with Big Rock Library in services and programs. As the two communities are so intertwined, John suggested contacting local state representatives to conjoin the two communities on such services. There is no target date for library opening as of yet. They meet with their architect again March 29. Dan thanked them and explained the options of recommendation to !DOR, stated he felt they met all requirements for exemption, and asked for a motion. John made a motion to recommend approval of exemption to !DOR, to which, Brian second motion. All in favor, motion passed.

VII. Work Load:

a. Review to Approve / Deny Disabled Person Exemptions: After review from Board, Brian moved to approve 3 New HEPD and 45 HEPD renewal applications. John second motion. All in favor, motion passed . See attached list.

b. Review to Approve / Deny Disabled Veteran Exemptions: After review from Board, Brian moved to approve 1 New SHEDV and 65 renewal SHEDV applications. John second motion. All in favor, motion passed. See attached list.

c. Review to Approve / Deny Senior Exemptions: After review from Board, Brian moved to approve 9 new Senior applications. John second motion. All in favor, motion passed. See attached list.

d. Review for Recommendation to IDOR for Non-Homestead Exemptions: After review from Board, John moved to recommend for approval to !DOR, one Non-Homestead application. Brian second motion. All in favor, motion passed. See attached list.

e. Review, Prepare, and Make a Recommendation for PTAB Appeal :

i. A PTAB Hearing for 2018-04071, Breese Family LLC; parcel 08-24-105-010 was held virtually on Mar 2, 2021. Bridget updated Board of the case was settling during the hearing with a stipulation of $167,246 accepted by all parties. Bridget spoke with Judge afterwards, to which, he complimented staff on job well done as all are new to process and gave pointers for future hearings.

ii. Bridget informed Board that the 11- 2017 files that had fallen into default have been rescinded by PTAB and evidence received will be considered.

iii. Bridget updated Board on status of open 2018 PTAB for 2018-04093 Hall Street Lofts, parcel 19-36-133-009. Bridget recommends a stipulation of $296,637, as 2019 BOR complaint appeal was lowered by BOR at hearing. After further discussion, John made a motion to offer such stipulation . Brian second motion. All in favor, motion passed.

iv. Bridget gave a brief update on remaining open PTAB files and stated a possibility of 3 going to a hearing. She and Board are in accordance to handle the cases as soon as received and will reach out to attorneys in hopes to resolve sooner.

VIII. Other Business:

a. Board of Review Rules will be added to April 14, 2021 Agenda per Dan's request.

b. John commented he very pleased to hear that the CCAO position should soon be filled with appointment of Bridget Nodurft. It will need to pass the County Board Committee of the Whole and then will go before the County Board on March 17, 2021.

c. Bridget stated there are 2 open BOR positions, to which, she has informed County Board Chairman our current BOR members have worked well together and done a good job over the last year.

d. Bridget will attend a training which covers mock PTAB hearings and how to defend case. She will also be taking a training on Income Approach which will help when handling the 2021 commercial BOR appeals.

IX. Adjournment: Brian moved to adjourn; John second motion. All in favor, so moved. Meeting adjourned at 10:42 am.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/min21-bor-0310.pdf