Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Assessments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fall River County Board of Equalization records mostly ‘no action’ on 2024 property appeals; one dissent noted
Summary
At its April 22, 2025 meeting, the Fall River County Board of Equalization reviewed the assessment books, took oaths of office, and considered numerous property appeal motions; most motions were recorded as “no action,” one motion carried with a dissent by Les Cope and several parcel adjustments were approved as noted in the minutes.
The Fall River County Board of Equalization met April 22, 2025, reviewed the county Assessment Books and took Oaths of Office before hearing a long series of property appeal items. The board opened at 9:00 a.m.; Deb Russell gave an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Board procedure and voting responsibilities were reviewed: the minutes note that only commissioners vote on tax-exempt properties, owner-occupied changes filed by the March 15, 2025 deadline, elderly/disabled freezes, and veteran exemptions. Other entity representatives vote only on appeals within their jurisdictions; the minutes record that David Levey abstained on items outside his jurisdiction.
The board then considered a sequence of motions on individual parcels and stipulations. Many motions were procedural “no action” votes leaving assessed land and building values unchanged; these were frequently moved by Deb Russell and seconded by Joe Allen, among others. Examples recorded in the minutes include no-action decisions for parcels including 75340-00705241-00 (Hannah, Ryan & Stacy); 65163-00000006-00 (Burgess, Dean & Joni); multiple Dake Living Trust parcels; the Feist Revocable Trust parcel (11000-00705222-22); and multiple Merrill parcels. The minutes state that all motions recorded in the minutes were passed by unanimous vote unless otherwise indicated.
One motion carried with a recorded dissent: a motion by Russell, seconded by Joe Falkenburg, to take no action on parcel 11000-00705142-32 (Randy Luallin) passed with Les Cope voting no and all other members voting yes. On items where the minutes record approved adjustments rather than no action, the board approved valuation changes for parcel 75440-00900003-00 (Whitman, Anthony Dale & Molly Sue) and for parcel 65295-00000026-00 (BDH Properties LLC), with the recorded original and adjusted values shown in the minutes.
The board recessed for a brief break at 10:00 a.m., then for lunch at 11:23 a.m., and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. Toward the end of the session Robert Torres attended and asked for an appeal but had not filed a formal appeal; the minutes record that no action was taken on that request. Chairman Joe Falkenburg declared the meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
The minutes list the attendees as Joe Allen, Les Cope, Joe Falkenburg, Deb Russell, Deb Johnston (City of Hot Springs council member), David Levey (City of Edgemont council member) and Auditor Sue Ganje; present from the Director of Equalization were Lily Heidebrink (Director of Equalization), Morgan Erickson (Certified Assessor) and Heather Shaffer (Certified Assessor). Sandra Wahlert was absent. The minutes do not list separate recorded vote tallies for each motion other than noting the Cope dissent on the Luallin parcel and the general statement that motions were unanimous unless otherwise stated.
