Larry Mosley was nominated to the position of Chairman at the beginning of the meeting, replacing District 1 Supervisor Carl Bailey. Mosley warmly accepted the position, and said that it was “an honor and a privilege” to serve Lee County in such a dynamic way.
However, infuriated Lee Countians did not make Mosley’s transition into Chairman an easy one. Many residents attended Tuesday’s meeting to express their anger concerning the recent reassessment of all property within Lee County.
County resident D.J. Barker was the first to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“I see that the Board of Supervisors has a contract with the Commonwealth Real Estate Appraisal Group of Virginia. The only problem is that company is not listed. You have a company that is not even listed as a company,” declared Barker. “Are you all aware of that?”
Chairman Mosley simply stated, “No, sir.”
County Administrator Dane Poe then addressed Barker’s concern.
“Whether they’re a Virginia corporation or not, I can’t say. I think they have an office in Tennessee,” Poe explained. “Their company name and the appraisers, or assessors, were submitted to the Virginia Department of Taxation for certification, and they certified it.”
Barker then asked the board, “Have they asked for an extension on that appraisal?”
He added, “They were suppose to have this done by the 31st of December, 2009. It’s not done yet.”
County Administrator Poe responded by saying that the Board of Supervisors were aware of the delays.
“Their contract is not out until the process is complete, and that includes the process of the Board of Equalization,” Poe explained. “Their contract will continue through that entire time.”
Poe, again, assured Barker that the board submitted their credentials and qualifications to the Virginia Department of Taxation and they certified them as competent to do the appraisal.
“Well, I think some of this stuff needs to be investigated myself,” proclaimed Barker.
According to Poe, the Commonwealth Real Estate Appraisal Group, LLC, is registered with the State Corporation Commission in Virginia. He said that the two assessors, Matt Tumlin and Rex McCarty, are also licensed by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation as Certified Appraisers.
Judy Combs, a Lee County resident for over 60 years, then approached the board to express her concerns in regard to the county land reassessment. She stated that she didn’t understand why her land is being appraised by individuals from Tennessee.
“I think if we are going to have our land appraised, then it should be by people that live in Virginia,” Combs maintained.
“There is something wrong with what’s been done. I have made the comment that I would not want to be in your shoes at all, and what I say is for the good of everybody in Lee County,” Combs added.
Combs then stated that to her knowledge no member of the Lee County Board of Supervisors has ever farmed.
“Do you know what kind of work that is? That’s hard work. It is no fun to sit on a tractor all day, which I have, and mow hay. Or haul in hay until twelve o’ clock at night. Or work in tobacco,” claimed Combs. “We farmers cannot pay what this assessment is going to be.”
Combs then explained to the board that the farm where she resides has been in her family for six generations.
“How sad is it that we cannot pay the taxes. Just remember, you have to sleep.” said Combs.
“I am very, very disappointed,” Combs concluded.
Chairman Mosley promptly addressed the concerns of the citizens. He stated that there is a proper procedure that one must go through if that individual is unhappy with his/her land appraisal.
“You must make an appointment with the appraisers. After that, if you’re not satisfied, then you can go before the Board of Equalization. If you’re not satisfied there, you can go to Circuit Court with it,” explained Mosley.
“There is really nothing we can do,” stated Mosley. He asserted that Lee County is required by law to have a reappraisal every six years for cost savings.
“If we did not do that, we could lose funding in the school systems and social services,” Mosley maintained.
County Administrator Poe further explained that process of land appraisal:
“Property appraisal is universal. It depends on the area that you are in, and the appraiser has to take that into consideration. That is one of their responsibilities: To take in the local conditions and local values. I am not saying that in defense of Commonwealth. I would say that for any appraiser that came in to do this job.”
Lee County resident Doug Ball then addressed the board about the appraisal controversy. He asked the board if there were any alternatives out there.
“If there are so many people that are really upset, and don’t think they got a fair shake, I would think the board could say ‘you know maybe this guy didn’t do the right thing here and maybe we need to do a reappraisal,’” declared Ball. “Even if it costs us money, it sure isn’t going to cost us as much as what it does now.”
Poe explained that it would cost the county around $300,000 to conduct another reassessment, and the board must comply with state code through appropriate procedure.
He then spoke with Ball about his concerns with the county tax rate.
“No one will know whether their taxes up or down — compared to last year — until the Board of Supervisors sets the new tax rate,” claimed Poe. He explained that tax rates would not be set until June of 2010.
“I don’t care. They can raise mine up to a million dollars if they want to, but it is up to you guys to keep the taxes down,” stated Ball. “If everybody’s property is going up, then I think taxes should go down. I understand that the county needs money to live on, but so does people. And I think you need to take that into consideration quite a bit when you decide how much you’re going raise or lower them.”
Chairman Mosley addressed the angered audience.
“I think everybody is kind of putting the wagon in front of the horse here, as far as this appraisal. What you need to do is go through the procedure. I didn’t make up these rules, and this board didn’t, but it’s state law. We don’t have any options but to have this.”
Citizen Bobbie Littrell then came before the board to express her concern for the county.
“I am in the winter of my life. I come on behalf of my son and my grandson. We owned a farm, but we gave it to our daughter. We couldn’t afford to pay taxes and insurance on it,” said Littrell. “I have been high up and I have been way down. I have worked like a dog for 48 years.”
Littrell then asked, “How does property keep increasing when there is no work in the county?”
Mosley responded, “It’s based on what the sells of property in the county is.”
Concerned citizens are encouraged to call the following phone numbers for any information relating to land reassessment in Lee County: (276) 346-7725, (276) 346-2818, (276) 346-4629, or (877) 309-2463.
The board then discussed and/or approved the following items:
• Claude Ray was appointed to the position of Vice-Chairman.
• The board set the third Tuesday of every month for regular-called meetings. Meetings will begin at 5 p.m. and will take place at the General District Courtroom.
• Adopted Rules of Procedure as presented.
• Approved the decision to issue a Special Use Permit to Carl Krell to construct a recreational vehicle park in an A-1 (Agricultural Zone).
• Approved to grant an easement on county property for the construction of the Pennington Gap Greenway.
• Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Engineer James Parsons followed up on a few items from the previous meeting including county roadway conditions and VDOT layoffs.
• Approved the minutes of December 15, 2009 regular-called meeting.
• Approval of disbursements, payroll, supplemental appropriations, and monthly appropriations.
• Noel Hall was appointed to the Social Services Board.
Adam Young is a Staff Writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted by e-mail at ayoung@middlesborodailynews.com.
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