Allen County commissioners told County Counselor Alan Weber Tuesday morning they would be receptive to a grace period for property owners to be included in Iola’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program. Weber will discuss the issue with Chuck Apt, city attorney.
Consideration of a grace period surfaced after Val and Carolyn McLean purchased a house built by Homes for Iola, a non-profit group, at 216 S. Colborn. The McLeans were told the house was eligible for property tax breaks through the program. They later found out paperwork wasn’t filed with the city. Advantage is rebate of 95 percent of real estate taxes the first five years with the taxes phased in at 20 percent a year the next five years. The county retains 5 percent for administrative costs.
The idea is to encourage improvements, including new home construction.
Dick Works was more dogmatic than commissioners Gary McIntosh and Rob Francis, noting that he thought the program was meant to be an incentive and that he had “a hard time providing a tax break after the fact.” Francis chimed in, saying he, too, thought after-the-fact tax relief wasn’t appropriate, but probably would go along with a grace period proposed by the city, provided it “wasn’t open-ended.”
McIntosh was more receptive, and said he was fearful if the McLean’s backed out of the sale contract because the tax break wasn’t made, Homes for Iola “would have a difficult time building another house.”
To get full benefit, all local taxing entities, which includes USD 257 and Allen County Community College, must sign on with the city and county. The two school boards already have conceded the McLeans the tax break, acknowledging failure to meet program guidelines was an oversight.
BY 2018, all signs posted along Allen County roads must meet federal standards for retroreflectivity, a measure of a sign’s ability to reflect light from vehicle headlights. Sooner, by Jan. 22, 2012, Allen and other counties are required to have in place an assessment method.
Bill King, director of Public Works, told commissioners about the mandate Tuesday morning and said he would begin steps to meet federal regulations.
Allen County has about 11,000 signs, which cost $30 to $35 each to replace.
King didn’t mention a specific plan for replacement, rather told commissioners so they could be prepared to deal with the financial obligation. Signs are replaced periodically, and the federal regulations may quicken the process.
A REQUEST was heard from the Allen County Fair Board for it to receive $11,000 from the county’s 2011 budget. Commissioners said they would consider the request.
The fair board has received $11,000 for several years. Becky Robb, board member, said $5,500 went to a building fund for repairs, construction and maintenance; $500 for open class premiums; and $5,000 was forwarded to the Extension Council for the 4-H portion of the fair.
