Dickinson commission keeps 2023 Menards assessment after appeal

The Dickinson City Commission on Jan. 6 voted to uphold the city assessor’s recommendation and leave Menards’ 2023 assessed value unchanged.

City Assessor Mr. Dickinson told the commission that revaluation work done by Vanguard adjusted several commercial assessments in 2024–25 and that staff recommends no change to Menards’ 2023 assessed value. Jim Dahl of Ryan LLC, speaking for Menards, said sales for comparable big‑box properties are sparse and argued a cost‑approach result and a lower per‑square‑foot figure better reflect market value; he said his client was willing to compromise around $23.28 million (about $130 per square foot) from an earlier offer near $20.6 million.

Commissioners pressed both sides about how Vanguard’s revaluation changed land and improvement allocations and whether earlier informal review opportunities were missed. Several commissioners noted that the 2024 revaluation produced large changes after several flat years and questioned the underlying data and notes used in the revaluation. Assessor Dickinson said staff had not received objective materials that would justify changing the 2023 assessment and asked the commission to follow staff’s recommendation.

Commissioner Frederick moved to follow staff’s recommendation and leave the 2023 Menards assessment unchanged; the motion passed on a voice vote with all commissioners recorded as voting in favor.

The commission’s action affects only the 2023 assessment that was before them; representatives indicated they may pursue discussions or abatements for later assessment years.