MINUTES # 02-08
The Columbus, Georgia, Board of Tax Assessors met Monday, January 14, 2008
at 9:00AM with Chairman William Braxton, Assessors Lawton Grantham, Richard
Stallings, Assessor Ann Grantham and Pat Hunter present. Also present was Chief
Appraiser Betty Middleton.
Assessor Ann Grantham made the motion to approve Min#01-08; Assessor Richard
Stallings seconded the motion; motion carried unanimously.
The Board reviewed and approved VA letters of application for VA homestead
exemptions for 2008 (see list attached).
The Board also approved the request for non-taxability for Parcel ID 185 006
006 for the year 2008.
Met with Mr. Drew regarding his personal property account # 06923091 for 2007.
Mr. Drew stated he intended to start a business for his sons, but the cost to
ship merchandise from California was too expensive, so the business was never
started. He said he used an office at the Bi-City Service Co. where he is
employed. After discussion Assessor Lawton Grantham made a motion to reduce the
value to $7,499; Assessor Richard Stallings seconded it, motion carried.
Met with Mr. Scarborough and Mrs.Cottle representing REC Ministries, Inc.
requesting non-taxability for property located at 5935 Veterans Parkway (Parcel
ID 187 017 011). Mr. Scarborough stated they purchased the property March 2007
and business relocated in mid December. The building was then converted for
their use, which is a meeting room for chapel services and class rooms. He said
they had dedication services of the site on December 31, 2007. He said on
January 1, 2008 it was being used for Christian ministry and seminary. Assessor
Lawton Grantham made a motion to grant tax exempt status for 2008; Assessor Ann
Grantham seconded the motion; motion carried..
Met with Mr. Hill regarding his personal property account # 06809701. Mr. Hill
stated he opened his business at 18 4th Street on May 10, 2005 and that he
moved it to his home in Cataula in November 2005, but retained the office space
until June 2006 when his lease expired. He said his business was a technical
support for computer software. Mr. Hill said he had not closed his business
license. After discussion Assessor Lawton Grantham made the motion to leave
2006 value unchanged and reduce the 2007 value to zero; seconded by Assessor
Ann Grantham; Assessor Lawton Grantham and Ann Grantham voting yes; Assessors
Richard Stallings, Pat Hunter and Chairman William Braxton voting no. Motion
failed. After motion failed there was further discussion and Assessor Richard
Stallings made a motion to adjust the value to $7,000 providing Mr. Hill closed
the business license. Assessor Pat Hunter seconded the motion; Assessors
Richard Stallings, Pat Hunter and Page 2
Min#02-08
William Braxton voted yes; Assessors Lawton Grantham and Ann Grantham voted no;
motion carried. Later Mr. Hill furnished a copy showing he closed his business
license.
Met with Residential Division Manager Bob O?Brien, reviewed and approved the
following:
2008 Map Split: 3
2007 Map Split: 1
Met with Commercial Division Manager Linda King, reviewed and approved the
following:
Map Split: 1 Value Adjustments: 2
Appeals: 8(NC)
Tax Return: 1(Restored)
Met with Personal Property Division Manager Oliver Juhan, reviewed and approved
the following:
Assessment Corrections: 6(-)
The Board reviewed By-laws and Articles of Incorporation for Parcel Ids 063 012
017, 088 051 029 and 046 002 017. The Board was concerned with the wording
regarding how salaries and payment for services are paid. The Board requested
Chief Appraiser Betty Middleton to obtain an opinion from City Attorney Clifton
Fay.
The Board wants to establish a formal request made to GIS to create a tax map
layer separate from map layer to enable Tax Assessors? staff to identify and
value each approved parcel in jurisdiction.
Adjourned 11:25AM.
BETTY J. MIDDLETON
Secretary
APPROVED:____________________________________
__________ ______________ ____________ _____________
_________
W B Braxton L E Grantham Jr R L Stallings A C
Grantham P B Hunter
Chairman Assessor Assessor
Assessor Assessor
Attachments
No attachments for this document.