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Gadsden County Value Adjustment Board denies two valuation protests, keeps $20,000 attorney fee
Summary
At a meeting of the Gadsden County Value Adjustment Board, the panel denied two property valuation protests — including one involving Walmart — approved prior minutes and voted to maintain a $20,000 attorney fee for board counsel.
The Gadsden County Value Adjustment Board denied two property valuation protests, approved minutes from a previous VAB hearing and voted to keep a $20,000 annual attorney fee during a public meeting recorded in the transcript.
Board members first approved minutes for the Oct. 7, 2025, VAB hearing after a motion and second. The board then considered individual valuation protests, including one filed by a Mr. Wachowski and a petition related to a Walmart property.
The county attorney told the board that Wachowski “did not present any physical evidence” and that the property appraiser had presented a valuation of $406,066, which the attorney said met the appraiser’s burden of proof. Board members moved to deny Wachowski’s petition; the motion carried on a voice vote.
On the Walmart matter, the appraisal presented to the board valued the property at $5,799,027. Walmart did not appear at the hearing, and the board moved to deny that petition as well.
After the denials, the board discussed payment for legal services. A member noted that the prior year’s flat fee for counsel — identified in the transcript as $20,000 for Mr. Baptiste and $10,000 the year before — had been used as a guide. The board voted to keep the attorney fee at $20,000. Finance staff said a signed W-9 form and an invoice would be required before payment was processed.
No additional dates or actions were recorded in the transcript for follow-up; several items were handled as motions on the floor and decided by voice vote.
(Votes at a glance) - Approval of Oct. 7, 2025 VAB hearing minutes: motion passed (voice vote). - Petition of Mr. Wachowski (challenge to valuation): motion to deny passed; appraiser valuation noted as $406,066; petitioner did not present physical evidence. - Walmart property petition: motion to deny passed; appraisal value stated as $5,799,027; Walmart did not appear. - Attorney fee for board counsel (Mr. Baptiste): board voted to maintain $20,000 annual fee; finance to require W-9 and invoice before payment.
No statutory citations or external deadlines were recorded in the transcript; the board’s actions were limited to the motions and votes recorded in the meeting excerpt.
