About Pickens County progress. (Jasper, Ga.) 1899-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 2019)
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 10. 2019 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 3A “This is clogging my docket up,” judge says of eight-year tax battle with county By Angela Reinhardt Staff writer areinhardt@piekensprogress.com The fact that Appalachian Superior Court Judge Mary Elizabeth Priest said she left the bench more confused is a clear indicator of the com plexity of a property value dispute that stretches back eight years. The arguments last Wednesday were the latest in an ongoing back-and-forth between property owners Jack and Annette Williams and the Pickens County Tax Assessors Office. The Williamses, who own a large home on Firetower Road, have filed appeals on their property value every year since 2011. It took seven years for their first appeal to be heard in court, which hap pened last November. The property owners be lieve state codes show the value set for one year should apply to a span of three years, but the county does not agree. On, Oct. 2, legal counsel for both sides’ were in court to see if they were going to handle it a single year at a time or if the 2011 appeal already heard will apply to 2012 and 2013. But, in the long and wind ing case, even this matter couldn’t be settled with the judge admomishing both sides that this issue could tie up the local court calendar for years. Among other issues, At torney Jane Range of Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar - who repre sents the county along with attorney Phil Friduss - dis cussed statue changes in tax law since the Williamses first appealed their value in 2011 that further complicate the case. These include changes to the frequency of when a tax payer can appeal their property taxes. The Williamses have ac cused the county of wasting tax payer money by dragging the issue through court in hopes of wearing them down financially, but they have told the Progress they will con tinue to pursue the appeals. Last week, Judge Priest was adamant that both sides find a way to expedite the cases as she only has a few civil trial weeks every year and the sheer volume would ‘■‘bottleneck” the docket. “I don’t have eight years to try these cases,” Priest said. “We’re going to have to come up with something.” Priest said looking ahead she wants to have each ap peal heard in two days, and by utilizing pre-trial hearings and other means hopes to get the entire matter settled in a year and a half. After arguments were complete, Judge Priest said she would need more time to review briefs because of the complexity of the issue. A memo file with the Pickens County Clerk of Court said the court will issue a decision on the motion for a summary judgement 10 days from the Wednesday hearing. The Williamses’ 4,981 square-foot home, the 22 acres it sits on, and other structures on the property were originally appraised at $1.5 million when it was built in 2005. Property own ers argue their home was built at the height of the real estate boom when values were at a peak. After the economy went south in 2010 the couple provided the Pick ens County Board of Asses sors with an independent appraisal that showed it val ued at $ 1.25 million and were able to get the assessed value lowered to $1,277 million. They later had other inde pendent appraisals performed that showed the value be tween $850,000 and $1,085 have not successful with other appeals to the Pickens Board of Equalization, which they have appeared in front of at least nine separate times. When the 2011 appeal fi nally reached superior court in 2018, it took four days for a jury to reach a verdict. The jury set a value halfway be tween Williams’ appraisals and amount of the tax office assessment, which gave the home a value of $1,083,157 million. The Williamses still have appeals against the county for all other tax years up to the most recent year. The Williams’ are repre sented by Michael Bray of Bray & Johnson. Talking Rock sets millage rate and looks at the budget By Ralph O. Dennis Contributing writer The Talking Rock Council got a first look at the pro posed budget for the next fis cal year. The council will hold a public hearing on it on November 7 as part of their regular meeting. The council approved the millage at three mils with a two mils rollback. This effec tively keeps the tax bills the same as they were this year. The council reviewed a request for a zoning variance for Shadow Creek. They will hold a public hearing on No vember 7 at 6:30 p.m. prior to the regular meeting. Mayor Randy Banks brought several items to the council to consider and to re view. The first was the pur chase two tons of gravel to repair 2nd Street. The council allotted up to $200 for the purchase. He also told the council that the walkway at the park was in bad shape. It has been recommended that granite dust be utilized to re form the path. The granite dust will harden and make a good walking path. He will bring cost estimates to the next meeting. Mayor Banks also said the grass in the park is dead and needs work. More picnic tables are needed. The council discussed selling or donating some of the town’s surplus equip ment. Included in the surplus is the old playground equip ment. They were trying to figure out a date in October to have a yard sale. Hope fully it will be before Her itage Days. Look for an ad in the Progress. Any items not sold will be donated to the thrift store or a deserving or ganization. The council discussed the rental or leasing of the rail cars to businesses. The town will be responsible for fixing the outside and the tenant would remodel the interior. For the remodeling, the coun cil agreed to allow rent re ductions to cover the cost for the renter. Several inquiries have been made already. The city attorney will begin writ ing a lease agreement and bring it back to the council for approval. The council approved building a fence around the dumpsters and recycling bins. They also approved a pay raise beginning in Janu ary for the individual that handles the recycling. There was also a discus sion about the town’s fire rat ing. The rating came back at a 10 which basically means that they have no fire depart ment. The county has not given assistance to the town as of this time. For the town to receive a lower fire rating, they must have a fire depart ment that can respond with four qualified fire fighters. The county has told the town that if they would deed the property adjacent the First Baptist Church to the county, they would build a fire sta tion and lease it back to the town for $1 a year. The town hall right now serves as a fire station also. The station has one fire engine but not enough manpower to meet the necessary needs. The council will work more with the county in hopes of resolv ing this issue. The town has been considering using the property for a waste treat ment location. Heritage Days on Oct. 19- 20 is just around the comer. Council member Cheryl Sams reported that there are 31 vendors already signed up and more will come as the weather predictions come in closer to the event. She also reported that sponsorships are up. This year’s Heritage Days Festival is shaping up to be a good one. ow to our 2019 Hoedown sponsors WiiA yowi Jvelp,, u/z/ie, JveJlpiruj, owi o&mtnusuty, <j&t fvwMJiuw, g ?o*t6Uju, Enteera O dam BANK iPERJj r j Piedmont Mm IMTAlMCinC MOUNTAINSIDE |gmrnmiit) faf °f ‘Picfgns County • Individuals • Dr. Ken & Margo Austin Jim & Leigh Garrett David & Verlia Gower Gary & Camille Hammond Brad & Beth Herren William Hickman Gene & Angie Higgins Susan Kumnick Sally & Tim Long John & Lisa Schellack Keith & Robin Sievers Pat Smith • Businesses • Anytime Fitness •* crain i urn RENASANT BANK Appalachian Gun Range Bent Tree Golf Club Beth Whitehead Big Canoe Golf Club Big Canoe Marina Biguns BBQ BodyPlex Buffalo Luke’s Clock Tower Gifts & Boutique Collett Creek Cabins Crystal Falls Golf Club Day’s Chevrolet Deb’s Bakery Fainting Goat Winery Fatz Ferguson’s Meat Market Garner Ace Hardware Gibbs Gardens Home Depot Home Restaurant IGA Foothills Inspire Fitness Boutique Last Catch Lollidrops Sweet Shoppe Meredith Rose Pottery Natural Marketplace New Beginning Therapeutic Services Ole Mulehouse Restaurant R&R Trikes Rocco’s The Lunch Box Southern Appalachian Folk School Tom’s Awesome Seafood Trout’s Beverage Twins Car Wash Wilton Place • In-Kind Sponsors • Boj angles Encounter Life Church First Baptist Church of Jasper Kyle Waters Auction Company Sacketts Ml. Good Samaritan goodsamhwc.org 706-253-4673 HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER Restoring Health. Saving Lives.
