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Resident seeking lake-tax exemption told to file for board of equalization hearing; commissioners schedule BOE timeframe
Summary
A resident, identified as Diana Hartwig, said an exemption letter filed in 2022 was lost and asked the board to resolve a lake-tax exemption and halt impending tax foreclosure. Commissioners and staff advised her to refile during the public-notice window for the Lake Management District board of equalization hearing, expected Dec. 2.
Diana Hartwig told the Okanogan County Board of Commissioners that she filed a lake-tax exemption letter in 2022 and was later told the county had no record of it. She said she is facing tax foreclosure and asked the county to resolve the exemption because she said she had received no benefit from lake management and was suffering property and personal-health harms she linked to conditions around the lake.
"I filed way back in 2022 when I was told to. And somehow, the commissioners lost the letter and said I didn't have it," Hartwig said in public comment. She asked the county to "address this issue" and said she had not heard back after submitting a new letter to planning staff.
County staff told Hartwig the process for the relief she seeks is a board of equalization hearing under the Lake Management District. Staff asked her to re-submit her paperwork during the public-notice period that will appear in the newspaper; they said staff would bring forward materials Hartwig already provided and that she should watch for the public notice. A county planner (Pete) told the board he would bring the submitted material forward and that the BOE hearing notice will run in the newspapers this week.
Staff and commissioners said the BOE hearing would be scheduled to accommodate Hartwig's medical treatment schedule when possible; staff mentioned the BOE for the lake management district is expected to meet around Dec. 2. County staff committed to contact Hartwig by phone/email to confirm next steps.
The board did not take formal action on the exemption at the Nov. 8 meeting; staff advised Hartwig on the procedural steps required to petition the Lake Management District board of equalization.
