Flandreau local board of equalization recommends lower assessed values for several properties

The Flandreau City Council sitting as the local board of equalization reviewed a set of property assessment appeals and recommended lower assessed values for several parcels after owners met with Director of Equalization Deanna Burke.

The board’s actions are recommendations to the city director of equalization and then to Moody County; the director and county have final authority and owners may appeal further to state courts. The board voted, by voice, to accept recommended adjustments for multiple parcels and recorded one appeal that will be handled directly by the county because the property owners live outside Flandreau.

The board considered appeals submitted by Jean Castello, Dalton Tribbett, HW Enterprises (Grizzly Meats), Y4 Properties LLC (Brent Yost) and the Ron Conklin estate (submitted by the estate’s representative). For each parcel the meeting record shows the assessor’s original value, the owner’s requested value (or the owner’s meeting with the director), and the director’s recommended adjustment. In several cases property owners met with Director of Equalization Deanna Burke before the board meeting and reached an agreement that the board then recommended formally.

- Jean Castello: The packet listed an assessed value of $44,000; the director’s recommended value recorded in the meeting was $30,009. The board accepted the director’s recommendation. Motion to accept the recommendation was made by Alderman Parge and seconded by Alderman Bierke; the motion passed by voice vote.

- Dalton Tribbett (502 South Prairie Street): The packet recorded an assessed value of $178,021; Tribbett asked for a reduction to about $175,101 with land valued at $6,400. The board accepted the recommendation. Motion by Alderman Yeaton, seconded by Alderman Eckard; approved by voice vote.

- HW Enterprises / Grizzly Meats: The owner told the board they had met with Deanna Burke on March 12 and “went through numbers,” saying the building value felt higher than the owner expected. The director and owner agreed to a lower assessed value, and the board recommended that adjusted value. The board approved the recommendation by voice vote.

- Y4 Properties LLC (Brent Yost): The packet listed an assessed value of 169,611 for a property on East Second Avenue; the director recommended lowering it to 163,364 and the board approved that recommendation. Motion by Alderman Bierke, seconded by Alderman Allers; approved by voice vote.

- Ron Conklin estate: The estate submitted paperwork before the deadline but the owners live in Sioux Falls. The director advised the city that because the owners reside outside Flandreau the appeal can bypass the local board and go directly to the county for consideration. The board recorded the submission for the record and took no ruling; the packet noted an original assessed value of about $108,390 and an appraisal submitted to a court showing a $75,000 valuation.

Members and staff who spoke repeatedly described a year in which a number of property owners proactively met with the director rather than appearing only at the local board. Mayor Dan Yandridge said the board’s role is to make an initial recommendation, and the board noted historically that the county has often accepted the director’s adjustments after the board’s recommendation.

The board recessed after concluding the equalization agenda and the city council portion of the meeting followed. Minutes reflect that the board accepted the director’s recommended adjustments for the parcels listed above and that the Ron Conklin estate submission was recorded but will be handled by Moody County because the owners reside outside the city.

Votes at a glance Jean Castello — recommendation to set assessed value at $30,009; motion by Alderman Parge, second by Alderman Bierke; outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). Dalton Tribbett — recommendation recorded at approximately $175,101 (land $6,400); motion by Alderman Yeaton, second by Alderman Eckard; outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). HW Enterprises / Grizzly Meats — director and owner agreed to a lower assessed value after a March 12 meeting; board recommended director’s figure; outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). Y4 Properties LLC (Brent Yost) — recommended adjustment to 163,364; motion by Alderman Bierke, second by Alderman Allers; outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). Ron Conklin estate — submission recorded but no local ruling; will proceed to county because owners reside in Sioux Falls (no action by the local board).