Laserfiche WebLink
Wasnmittee,See/tell: <br /> The May 10,2004 meeting of the Residential Neighborhoods Committee was called to order by <br /> its Chairperson,Council Member Charlotte D. Pfeifer at 4:45 p.m. in the Council Informal <br /> Meeting Room. <br /> Persons in attendance included Council Members Dieter,Pfeifer,Kelly,Puzzello, Varner, <br /> Kuspa, Coleman,Kirsits and White;David Wigstrom,Darlene Murdick,Penny Hughes,Jim <br /> Foster, Gladys Kopola, Terry Bland of the SSoutk Bend azind2e,and Council Attorney Kathleen <br /> Cekanski-Farrand. <br /> Council Member Pfeifer noted that the members of the Committee included Council Members <br /> Dieter,Kuspa,Coleman and herself. <br /> Council Member Pfeifer stated that the meeting was called to receive additional information <br /> form the Michiana Income Property Owners Association(MIPOA)with regard to their concerns <br /> related to property taxes. <br /> Mr. David Wigstrom, a member of MIPOA and concerned citizen passed out a copy of a <br /> "Resolution of the Board of Directors and Members of Michiana Income Property Owners <br /> Association, Inc.", a letter from Vicki Black entitled"St. Joseph County Tax Reassessment <br /> Appeal",one-page summaries from the St. Joseph County Public Library website setting forth <br /> information on Portage Township,Mishawaka,and Penn Township(copies attached). <br /> Darlene Murdick, Vice-President of MIPOA;Penny Hughes, Secretary of MIPOA; and Jim <br /> Foster,a member of MIPOA then introduced themselves to the Committee. <br /> Mr. Wigstrom read the attached resolution. He noted that they want relief,especially in the <br /> inner city. He stated that MIPOA does not represent slum landlords and take pride in providing <br /> quality houses for rent. <br /> Darlene Murdick then reviewed the attached comparisons and passed around two(2)houses one <br /> which was a rental which has a tax obligation of$3,230 and the other being owner-occupied <br /> which has a tax obligation of$1,219;with both houses being substantially the same otherwise <br /> and both being built in 1950. She expressed concern especially for the disabled and the elderly <br /> who would be unable to pay the increased costs averaging of at least$100 per month. <br /> Penny Hughes notes that households in South Bend have decreased by 5.8%in the past 10 years <br /> and by 13.5%in the past 20 years,while Mishawaka and Penn Townships have had their <br /> household increased. <br /> Dr. Varner noted that some of the increases reflect the building of apartments,while expressing <br /> the need for people to stay in South Bend and raise their families here. Dr. Varner noted that <br />