Council OKs three‑year property tax exemption for local consolidating business

The Moorhead City Council on June 23 approved a property tax exemption for Senerson Holdings (application filed as Stephenson’s Holding LLC in the public hearing notice) to support construction of a new headquarters in the city’s original industrial park.

Planning staff member Derek Lapointe told the council the project would consolidate multiple Foss Inc. locations into a single 60‑by‑120‑foot light‑industrial building with reception, office and wash bays. The applicant, Aaron Senerson, was present to answer questions. Lapointe said the city assessor preliminarily estimated the new building value at about $645,000; under the city’s commercial/industrial property tax incentive policy that new value would be eligible for a three‑year exemption on the incremental value created by construction.

Lapointe said the company plans to retain 11 full‑time employees who earn more than $20 an hour. Construction was estimated to begin in August 2025 with completion in November 2025. Lapointe noted that the policy exempts only the value of new construction; existing land value remains taxable.

Council member Heather Niesemeyer moved to approve the exemption; Council member Deb White seconded. The motion carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition in the transcript.

Speakers at the public hearing included Derek Lapointe and Aaron Senerson; no members of the public spoke against the application during the hearing.

Speakers and material facts are drawn from the council packet and public hearing testimony and are presented here without additional inference about the applicant’s future operations.