Mankato council approves reduced special assessment for Grace Lutheran after appraisal review

The Mankato City Council on Jan. 27 approved a revised special assessment of $47,615.84 for parcels related to the Fourth Street reconstruction project tied to Grace Lutheran Church, following a continued public hearing and a staff recommendation to adopt the lesser of the city’s policy-based assessment or an independent appraiser’s special-benefit determination.

Members of Grace Lutheran and the church’s representatives urged the council to reduce the assessment, saying the work did not increase the church’s property value and that the original feasibility-based charge of $82,092.96 exceeded the special benefit. "The special assessment cannot exceed the amount by which the property benefits from the improvement," said Sheena Jewison, who read a letter from church members and said the sidewalks were narrower after the work and that building damage occurred during construction.

City staff told the council they hired a certified appraiser to measure special benefit for the affected parcels. In one example staff cited, the appraiser estimated a special benefit of…