Robin's Blog for Dauphin Island

Message From Bill Harper

Dear friends,

The Architectural Committee reported the building pace is still slow; it is issuing only several permits a month. Tom Howes, the chair of the committee, reminded us that in year's past the committee always had a few Board members on it, and we agreed that this is a good idea. Board members Charles Gaba and Robin Linn have consented to join the committee.

On the legal front our three cases are slowly moving forward. As part of the Corp lawsuit and settlement, a public hearing will be held at our Club building this coming Wednesday, July 16, at 3:00 pm til around 7:00 pm. We sent out the agenda to members last week. Also, we are attempting to do a internet audio feed of the hearing. We will let you know if we can pull it off. The West Surf Beach Resolution lawsuit trial will be Tuesday, September 2, 2008. Graddick’s decision could spell the fate of our Association for some time into the future. The Pitts covenants case is still in the deposition stage.

All the best,

William (Bill) Harper

Friday, July 11, 2008
By DAN MURTAUGH
Staff Reporter

Mobile County officials today will send property tax valuation notices to more than 200,000 land owners.

Property owners who dispute the new property values will have 30 days to file an appeal with the county's Board of Equalization, said Marilyn Wood, Mobile County revenue commissioner.

The new values will be reflected on the 2008 property tax bills, which are due Oct. 1.

In Baldwin County, where owners of more than 22,000 of the county's 135,000 properties appealed property values last year, officials don't expect to send out notifications until this fall.

Property values in Mobile County increased about 5 to 6 percent, Wood said. Areas that saw the largest increases include waterfront property, historic neighborhoods and new subdivisions, she said. Some areas in Mobile County have decreased in value because of rezoning and property conditions in depressed areas, Wood said.

Anyone who wants to appeal the property value can download a form from the revenue commissioner's Web site, www.mobilecopropertytax.com.

The form can either be faxed to the Board of Equalization at 574-8591 or mailed to the Board of Equalization, Mobile Government Plaza, Mobile, AL 36644-1103.

During an appeal, appraisers consider information such as property maps, photographs of the property and similar ones in the neighborhood, sales prices of comparable properties and appraisals from recent mortgage refinancing if available, Wood said.

After the review is complete, appraisers will decide whether to change their recommendation. If the property owner accepts that decision, the value is final. But if the owner rejects the recommendation, the Board of Equalization holds a hearing to set the fair market value.

Wood said any property owner who does not receive a valuation notice on all property they own by July 18 should contact the Mobile County Revenue Commissioner's Office at 574-8545 or 574-8530 between the hour of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by fax at 574-4788 or 574-4841, or through its Web site, www.mobilecopropertytax.com.