(Spirit Lake)– Representatives of Historic Arnolds Park, Incorporated were at Tuesday’s Dickinson county board of supervisors meeting requesting assistance on a valuation and property tax issue.
Fred Dowden, a former board member of Historic Arnolds Park, Incorporated, and Dick Ramsey, a current member of the board, requested the supervisors do something to assist in the matter.
The issue stems from a state order that mandated a 13 percent increase in valuation on all commercial properties in Dickinson county. Dowden says Arnolds Park should be exempt from the increase due to an agreement several years ago following the “Save Our Park” campaign in which the park’s valuation was frozen. Dowden says the order will result in Arnolds Park having to pay an additional 13-thousand dollars in taxes over the next two years.
He and Ramsey requested the supervisors direct County Assessor Pat Dodds to issue an order of erroneous assessment to the state in an effort to get the additional taxes reduced. Supervisor Mardi Allen said they have no authority to do that. After further discussion, the supervisors directed Assistant County Attorney Lonnie Saunders to meet with Dodds, Dowden and Ramsey regarding the matter.
