Ag land values increased by six percent, as changes to the 2019 county tax assessments were approved by county commissioners (acting as the Board of Tax Equalization) during a meeting Tuesday morning at the Pierce County Courthouse.

In a handout from Tax Director Kelsey Siegler, the reason for the adjustment is to be within tolerance with state-provided valuations.

No adjustments were to be made for residential and commercial land and structure valuations.

In 2018, ag land values were over $369 million with a mill value of $18,450.59; residential land values were nearly $157.6 million with a mill value of $7,091.71; and commercial land values were over $62.9 million with a mill value of $28,687.34.

Values increased in 2019. Ag land values were over $391.1 million with a mill value of $19,556.45; residential land values were over $159.1 million with a mill value of $7,162.82; and commercial land values were over $67.8 million with a mill value of $3,392.35.

The 2019 county commercial sales ratio median was 100.1, and the residential sales ratio median prior to any adjustments was 96.9 percent.

Commissioners approved changes in tax assessments, and in a related motion also approved the list for acres of inundated land.

Ted Mertz, who was in attendance, asked the board for a 50 percent abatement on remaining lots near Antelope Lake.

Siegler recommended keeping the lots at market value, and Chairman David Migler said he thought the board should stay with her recommendation. The board approved a motion to deny the abatement request.

Other actions

– The board accepted a $194,057 bid from RDO Equipment for a motorgrader.

– The board accepted bids for $252 for a Quincy 3-phase air compressor from Gary Rose and for $26 for a Pincor 5500-watt electric generator from Lee Wolf. The board rejected a bid from Wolf for a 1000-gallon underground fuel tank.

– The board approved a proposal from Bartsch Electric for $3,432 to put a surge protector on the courthouse’s heating panel.

– The board approved abatement applications for Marvin Michalenko and Richard & Sheri Haugen-Hoffart.

– The board approved a motion to cancel three checks from Merchants Bank and send them to the State Land Department as unclaimed property.

– The board approved a gaming site authorization for Larry’s Bar in Selz.

– The board appointed Commissioner Ashley Berg as the 2020 Census committee chair. A member from the City of Rugby and a member from the Rugby Chamber of Commerce will also serve on the committee.

– The board approved May meeting minutes, bills, financials, treasurer’s checks and Heart of America Correctional & Treatment Center bills and financials.