County appraiser urges formal policy for solid-waste exemption criteria

County Appraiser Truette McQueen asked the Ottawa County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 18 to adopt a written policy or resolution that lays out criteria for solid-waste fee exemptions.

McQueen outlined potential criteria staff could use when making exemption recommendations, including whether a property has running water, regular trash pickup, is "livable," or lacks a structure altogether. He said the practical test should focus on habitability: "if it's livable, they need to pay the solid waste fee," McQueen said. He told the commission that properties with no structure would not be charged, and that properties determined to be unsound could qualify for exemption.

Commissioner Carla Grund asked what effect a recently passed exemption for boats and other recreational vehicles might have on county valuation; McQueen said he would provide valuation impact figures when they become available. Treasurer JoDee Copple added that the county's last tax sale occurred "two or three years" ago and that a property must be three full years past due before the treasurer initiates a tax sale process.

The commission did not adopt a final policy at the meeting; McQueen recommended drafting a resolution or administrative policy to capture the criteria and directed staff to return with the valuation impact of the recreational-vehicle exemption.