City valuation increases by 12 percent

City Assessor Kristy O’Connor shared news of growth with the New Rockford City Commission Monday. She presented to city leaders during their annual tax equalization meeting, held in conjunction with the April 1 regular meeting.

“Growth reflects increase,” O’Connor noted, referencing the many new businesses that have started in the community in the past five years.

The projected taxable valuation for the City of New Rockford in 2024 is $3,217,665, an increase of 12 percent from last year, O’Connor said.

According to her report, there were 22 residential properties sold in New Rockford last year, down from 25 last year. The average sales price was $99,800, nearly double last year’s average and the highest of the past seven years. In addition, six commercial properties and one vacant lot were sold.

Commercial properties represent 31.9 percent of the value, and the other 68.1 percent is in residential properties.

The city issued 24 building permits in 2023, totaling nearly $1.7 million invested in properties within.

To remain within the parameters required by the state, O’Connor made adjustments to commercial property values. As a result, she sent out 31 notices of increase to commercial property owners in the city.

Owners of 10 properties who completed improvements, as well as 6 properties reassessed due to the sales market and seven lots reassessed, also received notices.

Although a couple of property owners had spoken to O’Connor in the days prior, no one was present at the meeting to discuss or dispute the tax assessment she prepared.

Aware that it may be possible there were citizens who hadn’t yet addressed their concerns, president Stuart Richter encouraged residents with concerns to approach city leaders for explanation and discussion.

“If you’ve got an issue, please call,” said Richter. “Don’t talk about it downtown. Bring it here.”

The city received two written citizen complaints. President Richter addressed the first directly. The complaint came from Justin Stanton, a property owner concerned that the chip seal put on the streets is coming loose and creating a mess on the boulevards. It needs to be cleaned up, redone and resealed, Stanton surmised

Richter said he discussed the matter with Interstate Engineering. The reason for the chips is to protect the oil, not the rocks. More is better for the street, but requires more clean up, he added. The mess was created from snow removal, and now it must be cleaned up, on both the streets and the boulevards.

“We just gotta keep sweeping,” Richter said.

“He’s not situated any different than anybody else,” city attorney Travis Peterson added. “It’s part of being in a community and being a property owner.”

Public Works Superintendent Bruce Hirchert, who was absent, offered positive news in his written report. He noted that the water treatment plant seemed to be running much better recently. Particularly, the reverse osmosis filters they used to replace every 6 or 7 days are now lasting 60 days, which is what they expect.

City officials intend to advance plans for renovating city hall. “If we’re going to move forward, we better start with the roof,” Richter noted. In addition to the leaking roof in the city hall offices, there is also a hole in the shop roof and similar issues in the fire hall.

The heating system is obsolete, Richter said. He and auditor Andrew Presnell will seek estimates for commissioners to review next month.

The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, May 6 at 9 a.m. in city hall.