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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/03/11 Assess delinquent accounts OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT LEVY HEARING MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2011 6:30 P.M. Roll Call /Pledge of Allegiance Present: Mayor Peterson, Council member Williams Council member Nawrocki, Council member Diehm, Council member Schmitt Public Hearing on Proposed Special Assessment Roll and Special Assessment Levy for Delinquent Accounts Identified with the Following Project Numbers: P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -001 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -002 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -003 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -004 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -005 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -006 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -007 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -008 P.I.R. 2011- AIS -30 -009 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -010 P.I.R. 2011- NIS -30 -011 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -012 P.I.R. 2011- MS -30 -013 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -014 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -015 a. Presentation by City Staff providing background information. Joseph Kloiber, Finance Director, stated this is assessments for various delinquent accounts and includes one single large assessment for 3930 University. That property has gone tax forfeit and will not be sent to the County. It is included to keep track of delinquent accounts. When the property goes back on the market, we will be able to reassess the costs. There are other assessments from previous years that are also against this property. b. Questions /Comments from City Council and the Public. Diehm questioned the notification for non - payment of utility bills. Kloiber stated the time periods given prior to assessment of delinquent accounts. Nawrocki questioned the process after the utilities are shut off. Kloiber indicated different scenarios. Nawrocki stated there are 400 properties on the list and asked if they are all without water. Kloiber stated this includes miscellaneous abatements from the fire inspections department, tree removal, sidewalk snow removal, etc. Fehst questioned how they are notified of this hearing. Kloiber stated they received a mailed notice of the hearing. Prior to water shut off, they receive three notices and a door tag. Residents can pay the delinquent account at the city up to November 15 before it will be sent to Anoka County to be placed on the property's taxes. Kloiber stated surprise at the number of accounts on the list this year as the foreclosure rate has gone down this year. This may be due to more turn over in rental units. Nawrocki stated there are people in the community that are in hardship. Schmitt indicated that many properties on Circle Terrace are included. c. Motion: Motion by Schmitt, second by Williams, to close the Public Hearing and waive reading of Resolution 2011 -113 there being ample copies available to the public. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Schmitt, second by Williams, to adopt Resolution 2011 -113 being a resolution to adopt an assessment roll and levy a special assessment for delinquent accounts. Motion to amend by Nawrocki to charge an interest rate of 4 percent on delinquent accounts. Kloiber indicated that assessments of differing amounts would create an additional charge from Anoka County to assess. Peterson called for a second. Motion died for lack of a second Motion to amend by Schmitt, second by Diehm to include a 5 percent interest rate on delinquent assessments. Fehst stated that we do not want to be financiers and want people to pay their bills. Kloiber stated that if the interest rate is set at the same amount, assessments can be processed together at the same time. Williams stated that this money is not bonded and costs us more; we should charge more. Diehm questioned the cost from the County if the interest amounts are not the same. Kloiber indicated and estimate of .2 percent. Nawrocki questioned if there was a penalty fee. Kloiber stated that water bills have a late fee until the water is shut off of 5 percent of the unpaid portion. Schmitt stated that some properties are delinquent on purpose, but some cannot help it and requested to keep the interest rate at 5 percent. Upon vote: Schmitt, aye; Williams, nay; Diehm, aye; Nawrocki, aye; Peterson, aye. 4 ayes — 1 nay. Motion carried. Upon vote of the original motion: All ayes. Motion carried. Adjourn Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 6:53 p.m. atty Muscovitz, CMC City Cler 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2011-113 ADOPT AN ASSESSMENT ROLL AND LEVY A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS WHEREAS, one or more services required by city ordinance, including water, sewer, refuse, weed cutting, tree removal, stopbox repair /replacement and abatement of nuisance/hazardous, and numbered as Projects P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -001 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -002 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -003 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -004 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -005 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -006 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -007 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -008 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -009 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -010 P.I.R. 2011-MS-30-011 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -012 P.I.R. 2011- MS -30 -013 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -014 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -015 have been provided to and benefited the properties listed in the assessment roll below; and, WHEREAS, the charges to said properties for said services are unpaid and delinquent; and, WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, met at 6:30 p.m. on the 3th day of October 2011 in the City Council Chamber 590 40 Avenue N.E. Columbia Heights, Minnesota, being the time and place set when and where all persons interested could appear and be heard by the Council with respect to the benefits and cost of providing the services described below, a notice of such hearing having been heretofore duly published as required by law, and a notice mailed to each property owner of record, stating the proposed amount of the assessment; therefore, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HEREBY RESOLVES: Section 1. That this Council does hereby adopt the assessment roll below known and described as "Assessment Roll for 2011 Delinquent Accounts ". numbered as P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -001 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -002 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -003 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -004 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -005 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -006 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -007 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -008 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -009 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -010 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -011 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -012 P.I.R. 2011- MS -30 -013 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -014 P.I.R. 2011 -MS -30 -015 Section 2. That this Council hereby finds and determines that each of the parcels of land enumerated in the assessment roll was and is especially benefited by the services provided. The Council further finds and determines that the proper cost of these services to be especially assessed against each parcel of land is the amount of unpaid delinquent charges for said services. Section 3. That said assessments may be paid in part or in full without interest on or before November 2, 2011. Section 4. Payments will be accepted at Columbia Heights City Hall, 590 40` Avenue N.E. Columbia Heights, Minnesota, on or before November 15, 2011. Any amount unpaid after November 15, 2011, will be certified to the Anoka County Auditor for collection with the real estate taxes as a special assessment beginning with the taxes payable in the year 2011. The annual principal installments, together with 5% interest are due and payable with the real estate taxes for a period of one year or less. Section 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage.