By Sara StrongRock County and Gold’n Plump agreed to settle a property valuation and tax lawsuit Tuesday.Just more than a year ago, Gold’n Plump filed a petition in Minnesota Tax Court claiming its property had been assessed at a value greater than it was due, resulting in the company paying higher taxes.Rock County Assessor Tom Houselog worked closely with the company through the process of reaching a settlement.Gold’n Plump paid $20,398 in 2002.Houselog said the 2002, 2003, 2004 tax valuations have been adjusted. Before this settlement, the 2001 taxes were already collected. Because of that, Gold’n Plump dismissed the claim for that year, and Rock County won’t have to pay back any difference.Gold’n Plump is scheduled to pay $15,304 this year, based on the property’s court stipulated value of $443,800. The 2003 (payable 2004) assessed value of $568,100 will be adjusted to $458,600. Of course, in 2004 and 2005 if there are additions or expansions on the property, the value will be reassessed.Previously, the Assessor’s Office used a formula based on a value of $9.60 per square foot, but will now start with $7.50 per square foot for the 2003, and $7.75 per square foot for 2004 and 2005 assessments.In other tax items, Rock County is part of a state-wide tax petition to reduce property tax payments to all counties in which Northern States Power (Xcel Energy) owns property. In Rock County, that is $22,607, but it’s much less than many counties collect.Tuff Village is also disputing its 2003 property tax bill, which is $20,540 including assessments. Tuff questions why it didn’t receive an exemption as an institution of Pure Public Charity.Feedlots privateIn a unanimous vote, the Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday asked for legislation to get feedlot information classified as "security information."Currently, feedlot permits must go through a public process, or at least be a matter of public record. The vote came on the heals of a similar Nicollet County resolution.In Nicollet County, the reasoning behind the resolution was to protect producers from bio terrorism from animal rights activists.Highway DepartmentResident address signs will be installed this summer, following last summer’s installation of street signs.Even though residents will have house number signs early on, the county isn’t finalizing the addressing system until the entire county is signed. People will get letters telling them their new address, at which time they will be able to formally change their address with the Post Office. Then, the postal system will honor both old and new addresses for a year. The Rock County Highway Department is installing the signs, which will be made by Lyle Signs, Eden Prairie, for $15,332.88.Address sign placement in front of properties will depend on conditions such as trees or electrical lines. Rock County Engineer Mark Sehr said he is willing to work with homeowners on places they’d prefer the blue and white signs to be posted.Rock County roads also got approval for improvement Tuesday.Three miles of County State Aid Highway 4, from the city of Luverne to CSAH 11 will be completely reconstructed. That project was awarded to Central Specialities, Alexandria, with the low bid of $1,340,014.79.Central Specialties was also awarded the low bid for milling and overlay of existing pavement on various other roads in the county. That bid was for $1,181,235.
