Supervisors hear appeals on appraisals
The Marshall County Board of Supervisors heard appeals from a number of entities on the 2025 property appraisals at the August 4 meeting of the board.
Tax assessor Barbara Belfoure brought business before the board.
She recommended and the board approved renewal of a contract with Robert Box to do county maps.
Belfoure said over 9000 homestead applications were received this year and only 31 applications were corrected.
A mobile home repossessed in 2023 was taken off the roll.
A bill was generated for tax service in Byhalia that recently moved into the county.
Removal of a 2024 penalties attached to the 2024 bill for renditions of barber shop not entered in the tax assessor’s computers was approved.
A Christian radio station was approved to be exempt for taxes for year 2024.
A tax exempt status for a city-owned property leased by Aurora Iron Works was put back on tax exempt status.
A public hearing was opened to hear appeals of the 2025 tax assessments of several properties.
Amazon appealed assessments of a half million square foot warehouse and a million square foot warehouse.
The hired appraiser, Herring Appraisal and Computer Services, was not present so the hearing was rescheduled.
Greg Gresham presented several properties at Kirkwood National for appeal of appraisals and his property on the downtown square.
The board took the appeals under advisement because the appraiser was not present and the public hearing was closed.
Van Beasley brought in price increases for fees to use the Marshall County Fairgrounds facilities.
District 4 supervisor George Zinn III asked if fees for use by religious groups should be free.
Beasley asked to move a fan to the announcers stand. He said events will pick up in September when barrel races will resume. And he thanked the board for setting up Internet service at the facility.
The board approved the fee schedule and payment of costs to move the fan.
Representatives with Affordable Employee Benefits insurance group explained their health insurance program, particularly outlining the Blue Cross plan.
“We are going to do what is best for our employees,” District 5 supervisor Ronnie O’Neil Bennett said.
District 2 supervisor Johnny Walker asked Austin Bynum how the agency can save county employees money on Blue Cross.
“Basically, you can keep benefits the same for a lower price,” Bynum said.
Walker said he has not had a single employee ask or complain about the price of the county’s policy.
Representative Shannon Cooper said they were just asking to quote.
County administrator Tim Powell explained the group was explaining its service.
“You don’t have to do anything,” he advised the board.
Bennett said there are some employees who are sick.
“This board has looked at this recently,” said board attorney Amanda Whaley Smith.
Zinn said he has “no problems with the company that serves us.” The board tabled the discussion until executive session.
Property clean-ups
David Johnson presented several properties under cleanup orders.
A property at 413 Waterford Mountain Road has made some progress on clean-up, he said. The owner has removed a recreational vehicle he was living in.
“The RV is gone but it’s still a mess out there,” said Bennett. “There is a half million dollar house right across the road.”
Smith said the focus has been on the habitation in the RV, but the board can proceed with clean-up. “This has been going on over a year,” Bennett said.
The board approved a motion to waive a permit for construction of an awning to hide a water tank at 141 Quinn Road in Barton.
Other actions
The board approved claims for $478,465 and for travel of two deputy tax collectors to attend fall conference.
The board approved required training for emergency management director Jason Motz and for travel of Adam Stone to attend mandatory training for fire administrators in Batesville.
The veterans service officer was approved for travel to fall training in September.
The board pre-approved a burn ban, should one be issued by the state.
Invoices for engineering work submitted by county engineer Larry Britt were approved. An invoice for work on the Hyline Drive sewer project for $36,266 was approved for payment and an invoice for work on Project Poppy for $83,668 was approved.
The board approved a request to close Drew Road in District 2.
William Mills, architect for construction of Medic Station #1, reported on bids received.
The lowest bidder Thunder Construction withdrew it’s bid of $868,914, Miller said. Barnes and Bower bid $1,096,000.
Powell said there was $750,000 put in budget but the price of materials is going up. District 2 supervisor Johnny Walker asked if there is a way to trim the project down.
Mills said the size of the footprint could be downsized.
“There’s nothing special about the building,” he said.
“The only way to save money is to downsize it,” Walker said.
Powell said the building was designed to house two ambulances and the coroner’s vehicle and coolers.
The Medic Station #4 in Chuhaloma is a two-story 60 by 80 foot building. The proposed Medic Station #1 is 50 feet by 100 feet, single story.
“So what do we do?” asked Walker. “Do we wait to get the money? If it goes up, the only thing we can do is cut out one of the bays.”
Powell said the county is expecting the budget to increase next year.
“But, we don’t know that,” he said.
“If you cut it down, we are going to be adding on later. Marshall County is growing,” said Simpson Stroupe. “You could cut the coroner out of it.”
Powell said the state has said property taxes will increase by up to 30 percent.
“So, we will have money,” he said. “Grinder Taylor is the other builder.” The board approved Grinder Taylor as contractor but Smith cautioned that it was the highest bidder and the board would have to justify why it will go with the highest bidder.