July 19, 2021

The Gasconade County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel at the Courthouse beginning with Pledge of Allegiance. Attendance: Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, Present; Commissioner Jim Holland, Present; Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, Present.

BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

Commission will serve today as voting members of the Board of Equalization along with Vincent Klott, Surveyor, Rustin Colter, Peoples Savings Bank, Chris Lenauer, Pioneer Truss Co. Also present, but not as voting members are Assessor Paul Schulte, Deputy Assessor Julia Baker and County Clerk Lesa Lietzow. All voting members signed an oath to fairly and impartially equalize the valuation of all real estate and tangible personal property taxable by the county.

The only appointment scheduled today is John and Kara Grady, 2405 Hwy. K, Hermann, MO regarding their parcel ID No. 10 1.0 02 1 02 007.000; Grady began by stating that since 2017 he has received an increase in value from Schulte every year. He had scheduled an appointment on the BOE in 2019, but was unable to attend due to unexpected surgery so no action was taken at that time by the board, much to his disappointment. When he tried to discuss the subject with Schulte, he was told by the Assessor, that if he came back out to the property he could come inside and do a more thorough assessment, but that Grady probably would not like the results; Grady took that as a threat and started doing some research on his own. He looked up records on Schulte’s home property and found that his assessed valuation had gone down during these same years that Grady’s had gone up; further research of Holland’s home property and Lairmore’s home property showed the same decrease in value over the same time frame. Both Commissioners were able to show Grady their records from the Assessor’s office that clearly show they neither one received a decrease in value, in fact, they received increases; when they asked Grady where he got his information from he said from the internet, specifically Zillow, who says they get their information from the Courthouse. Regarding the value placed on Schulte’s home, that is done by the State Tax Commission, not by Schulte himself. All members of the board clearly recommend Grady needs to get his information directly from Schulte’s office to which he agreed that must be the case, but thought the county should do something about updating the information within Zillow; furthermore, he feels with the confrontational relationship between the two of them, Baker will provide Grady any public information he is entitled to.

Miskel asked two questions of Schulte to move the proceedings along, the first being “Do you follow state statutes as it relates to your office duties?” and “Has Mr. Grady’s property been assessed according to those same statutes?” and Schulte’s answer to both was yes. He further explained the formulas provided every year by the State Tax Commission govern the process from year to year; when Grady asked for an audit of Assessor’s work from 2017 to current, he was informed that the State Tax Commission continually monitors the Assessor’s office data to determine whether Gasconade County is in compliance, whether the market is in an upward trend or a downward trend. Another point Grady wanted to make that over these years when his property taxes are raising, he is not being adequately served for his tax dollars; he explained that in 2019 when he had personal property stolen from his place, neither the Sheriff’s Office or Prosecutor’s Office provided any leads or help in recovery of the items or bringing charges against those who took the property, which is nothing this board has any jurisdiction over.

While it is obvious to Grady the results of his appointment before the BOE will produce no change in the value of his property, he feels he might as well withdraw his complaint and file with the State Tax Commission;  Lenauer encourages Grady to go to the Assessor’s office today while he is here and get the accurate information he was lacking and work with Baker as he believes him to be better served by that office than the state and all Commissioners agree with that. Miskel went on to say, that if his research shows Schulte is not in compliance, then he would like to know himself; he then asked Grady if he was officially withdrawing his complaint and Grady said yes based on today’s proceedings.

After Mr. Grady left, BOE moved onto other changes that Schulte needed their votes on before the changes could be made; those are as follows:

Bed and Beans LLC
100 Schiller St., Hermann, MO
Parcel ID No. 02 7.0 25 3 06 001.010; Assessed Value before BOE Res $7,820/Comm $54,460; after BOE Res $21,900/Comm $30,750 due to upstairs being living quarters, not a business.
APPROVED BY BOE VOTE: Miskel YES, Lairmore YES, Holland YES, Klott YES, Colter YES, Lenauer YES

Richard Steven Butler Revocable Living Trust
2357 Clifty Road, Hermann, MO
Parcel ID No. 07 4.0 20 0 00 003.000; Assessed Value before BOE Res $18,160/Agr $4,940; after BOE Res $16,930/Agr $4,700 due to shed over valued.
APPROVED BY BOE VOTE: Miskel YES, Lairmore YES, Holland YES, Klott YES, Colter YES, Lenauer YES

Dierberg Educational Foundation Inc.
600 James S. McDonnell Blvd., Hazelwood, MO 63042 2302
Parcel ID No. 01 9.0 30 0 00 001.031; Assessed Value before BOE Comm $347,840; after BOE Comm 0 due to building moved to Hermann Farm under Dierberg Educational Foundation.
APPROVED BY BOE VOTE: Miskel YES, Lairmore YES, Holland YES, Klott YES, Colter YES, Lenauer YES

Missouri Vacation Rentals LLC
P.O. Box 1052, Union, MO
Parcel ID No. 02 7.0 35 1 12 004.000; Assessed Value before BOE Res $2,630/Comm $2,910; after BOE Res $4,360/Comm $6,780 due to computer error caused improper breakdown between Res/Comm.
APPROVED BY BOE VOTE: Miskel YES, Lairmore YES, Holland YES, Klott YES, Colter YES, Lenauer YES

James A. Holland Trust
2276 Boy Scout Road, Hermann, MO
Parcel ID No. 02 7.0 26 4 11 008.000; Assessed Value before BOE Res $5,560; after BOE Res $4,080 due to fire destroying one structure on property.
APPROVED BY BOE VOTE: Miskel YES, Lairmore YES, Holland ABSTAIN, Klott YES, Colter YES, Lenauer YES

John T. Grady II and Kara Grady
2405 Hwy. K, Hermann, MO
Parcel ID No. 10 1.0 02 1 02 007.000; Assessed Value before BOE Res $14,410; after BOE Res $14,410 due to NO CHANGE.
APPROVED BY BOE VOTE: Miskel YES, Lairmore YES, Holland YES, Klott YES, Colter YES, Lenauer YES

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to adjourn commission until July 22, 2021. Commissioner
Jim Holland seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.