HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-12-18 Community Investment � � d
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W PEACE S
1865
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
KAREEMAH FOWLER,CITY CLERK
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FEBRUARY 12, 2018 3:55 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Regina Williams-Preston, Oliver Davis, Will Smith(citizen
member)
Committee Members Absent: Gavin Ferlic
Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Jo M. Broden, John Voorde, Dr. David Varner
Karen White
Other Council Absent: None
Others Present: Kareemah Fowler, Bianca Tirado, Graham Sparks, Bob
Palmer
Presenters: James Masters
Agenda: Bill No. 18-05-Petition for Waiver to late file Tax
Abatement Application for 5015 Masthead Court
Committee Vice-Chair Regina Williams-Preston called to order the Community Investment
Committee meeting at 3:55 p.m. She introduced members of the Committee and proceeded to
give the floor to the presenters.
Bill No. 18-05-Petition for Waiver to late file Tax Abatement Application for 5015
Masthead Court
James Masters, 5015 Masthead Court, stated, Good evening. It is my pleasure to speak to you all
tonight on behalf of one (1) of my most favorite people in the world, my wife. A year ago in
January 2017,my wife and I bought a new home in the City limits in the farthest northwest
corner of the City. In fact our backyard goes up to the City-County line. We are three quarters of
a mile from the Michigan border so whenever you see the weather forecast and they talk about
the storms in Berrien County,they hit us right there. One (1) of the attractions to building in the
villas at Lake Blackthorn in that subdivision is, some number of years ago I believe it was
November 2013,the Council passed a resolution granting five(5)year tax abatements to build
there. This passed and in that November when I was getting ready to file the new forms you have
to file for a new house, I submitted the application for the tax abatement. The County Auditor
bounced it back and said it was filed late and pointed out it had to be filed within thirty(30) days
455 County-City Building-227 W.Jefferson Boulevard-South Bend,Indiana 46601
Phone 574-235-9221 -Fax 574-235-9173-TDD 574-235-5567-www.SouthBendfN.gov
JENNIFER M.COFFMAN BIANCA L.TIRADO JOSEPH R.MOLNAR
CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK
OPERATIONS
from when the Assessor sends you the Form-11 Notice of Reassessment. The problem is that
notice doesn't comply with State Law because State Law requires that notice to tell you that you
have to file the abatement application within thirty (30) days because it is unlike every other
application to file. This must happen often enough because you have the vested authority to wave
this. I ask your approval of this petition.
Committeemember Oliver Davis requested someone to reach out to the Assessor's Office to be
made aware of this issue.
Committeemember Will Smith stated, There is the option to change the abatement schedule on
these. I thought this was rather confusing and I would just like to remind Council that we can do
that.
Committee Vice-Chair Williams-Preston then opened the floor to members of the public wishing
to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. There were none. She then turned the floor
back to the Committee for further comment or main motion.
Committeemember Davis made a motion to send Bill No. 18-05 to the full Council with a
favorable recommendation. Committeemember Smith seconded the motion which carried
unanimously by a voice vote of three (3) ayes.
With no further business, Committee Vice-Chair Williams-Preston adjourned the Community
Investment Committee meeting at 4:01 p.m.
Respectfully S bmi d,
t-pvg_�
Re 'na Williams-Preston, Vice-Chairperson
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