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Board reopens recruitment for county appraiser amid high parcel workload and mobile-assessor debate
Summary
County officials approved reopening recruitment to hire an appraiser after low initial applicant response; assessor's office presented parcel load data showing high parcels per appraiser and said mobile tools will speed work but not replace the need for another appraiser.
Koochiching County commissioners agreed to reopen recruitment for an appraiser position after the assessor's office reported insufficient qualified applicants during an earlier hiring effort and presented state Department of Revenue data showing a high parcels-per-appraiser workload.
County appraiser staff told the board the county handles more than 55,000 parcels when taxable and exempt properties are combined and said that, with current staffing, each field appraiser would be responsible for well above the statewide average parcels per appraiser. The assessor's office said tax-exempt parcels (churches, schools, state land) must still be inspected and valued on the same standard as taxable parcels, which increases workload.
Commissioners asked whether new mobile assessor tools and contracting out commercial appraisals could reduce staffing needs. Appraiser staff replied the mobile system will increase efficiency and reduce duplicate trips but would not remove the need to hire another appraiser because of the county's parcel counts and the state-mandated five-year inspection rotation.
After discussion the board voted to reopen the recruitment and to ask HR to re-contact prior applicants and advertise again. Staff said entry-level applicants without licenses may be hired and then supported through the state-required licensure process; state rules require appraisers reach a licensed level within five years.
Commissioners also discussed contracting options and local-appraiser models; staff cautioned that other counties' experience with local appraisers has drawn Department of Revenue scrutiny when inspection and permit tracking fell short.
The motion to reopen recruitment passed unanimously; staff will restart outreach and report back on applicant numbers.
