Barbara Bell is waiting for a verdict after her assessment appeal board hearing concluded last Wednesday, Nov. 3 at Athabasca Town Hall.
Is Bell’s house in Hees Estates livable or not? Was it livable in 2010? Those are some of the questions that were asked at the hearing and will be answered when Bell receives the verdict about having to pay taxes on her property.
Bell’s stance is that because she cannot live in the house, she should not be required to pay taxes on it.
“We were put on the street like dogs,” she said. “If there was any way I could live in the house, I would.”
Last Wednesday the second half of Bell’s hearing took place. The first half was held on September 22, and was adjourned because there was evidence Bell had not included in the disclosure package.
“The purpose of the hearing is to allow the board to hear the presentation and the facts,” board chairman Jim Woodward said on September 22.“There were some things both parties agreed upon.”
Six things were added to the list of already agreed upon facts; a retaining wall needs to be built; there are cracks in the basement, the garage floor slopes to the house, the land outside slopes to the house, and the bowing of the basement wall.
Assessor for the town Ian Ferguson’s presentation was short and to the point.
“I feel the property has a value higher than $0,” he said. “The cost of repairing the property is $100,000, so the house is worth $285,000.”
Bell rebutted that comment with the fact that she cannot live in the house, and she can’t sell it. She also stated that since the house is unsafe it is not livable, and not salable either because of the condition it’s in.
After an hour and a half the hearing was adjourned and the appeal board has 30 days to reach a verdict.
