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COUNTY RECORDER
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At Mortenson Family Dental, Dr. Chris Zimmerman, Cassandra Brutsman, left, and Niki Daugherty.
Volume 134 Number 1 © 2009 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Audit: No Boone PVA wrongdoing
By Paul McKibben pmckibben@nky.com
A state audit has concluded that computer error might have caused Boone County’s tax roll to be incorrect, validating Property Valuation Administrator Cindy Rich’s explanation of the problem. “There is insufficient evidence or documentation to support any allegation of intentional manipulation of data,” the report said. “There is evidence of programming problems within the administrative program that may have caused data to be left out of the assessment totals.” Rich said she is not surprised and the audit resulted in exactly
what she expected. “I knew that I had not done anything intentionally wrong and that there was no wrongdoing, intentional wrongdoing,” she said. Rich has said an April preliminary report showed the tax roll at $10.2 billion with commercial property increasing by about $200 million which was almost all new property. She has said the June 1 report showed commercial property down $446 million from the April report with the total roll being $9.77 billion. Rich has said Boone County Fiscal Court staff found there were about 150 commercial properties that officials couldn’t find when
they compared the tax roll to last year’s tax roll. Properties missing included the Florence Meijer store. She had blamed the mistake on computer error and has said the state was contacted before they certified the June 1 report. The tax roll was revised to $10.1 billion. Last year’s tax roll was $9.9 billion. Boone County Commissioner Charlie Kenner has doubted Rich’s explanation that computer error caused the problem. He noted the audit’s recommendation that the administrative program used to provide the annual tax roll data should be run automatically and should not have to be done by individuals
running instructional scripts to produce the tax roll. “Overall, it says the department is set up well and run well which I agree, that Cindy’s a competent individual, which I agree. (I) never said anything different,” he said, adding his concerns are still there and the program is meant to run automatically. The audit also found “the office has very few deficiencies at the time of this audit” and “the weakest link in this office is the software program that has continued to have coding problems during the 2009 tax year.” The tax roll review was part of the state’s regular bi-annual audit of the Boone County PVA office.
Theater performs ‘Charlie Brown’
It’s almost showtime for the first-ever production of the newest version of the Union Community Theatre. The organization presents “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” Oct. 1-3 at Ryle High School in Union. – LIFE, PAGE B1
Schools improve on state tests
State test results are in, and Boone County Schools continues to improve. Students scoring at the proficient level in elementary school science increased 5 percent and middle school science increased by 6 percent. Middle school mathematics, high school social studies, and on-demand writing scores also showed gains of 5-8 percent in proficiency totals. – SCHOOLS, PAGE A9
Cougars start district play 5-0
Conner has played nearperfect football in starting the season 5-0. But those five wins are less meaningful than any more the Cougars collect, as they start Class 6A district play this week. Conner plays at Simon Kenton 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. – SPORTS, PAGE A12 For the Postmaster
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PAUL MCKIBBEN/STAFF
Close-up view of a tree
Students Brooke Watts and Jacob Sandoval examine a blue spruce tree at the Boone County Arboretum at Central Park. New Haven Elementary third-grade classes had a field trip Sept. 18 at the arboretum.
Music, crafts and more at Dinsmore festival By Paul McKibben pmckibben@nky.com
With the leaves starting to slowly turn colors and fall around the corner, it might be a good time to check out the Dinsmore Homestead in western Boone County. The homestead’s Harvest Festival is noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. The homestead is located at 5656 Burlington Pike, Burlington. “It’s a festival in and around the grounds so I am struck with how beautiful it is with the trees. And everybody’s scattered around little tables and there are craft people and demonstrations going on,” volunteer Kathleen Thomas of Florence said. Florence resident and volunteer Christine Henning said, “it’s like the perfect fall family activity to spend a few hours,” noting food, entertainment, shopping, history
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PAUL MCKIBBEN/STAFF
Volunteers Kathleen Thomas and Christine Henning of Florence with the main house of the Dinsmore Homestead to their backs. The homestead’s Harvest Festival is Sept. 26-27. and the atmosphere. Festivities include pony rides, an attic sale, food, tours, games, quilt appraisals, heritage crafters
and artists and more. Thomas said she likes to hit the craft booths. “I like to see the local artists who are peddling their wares,”
she said. Other activities are: • Bonnie Strassel will be doing storytelling as Miss Julia Dinsmore at 2 p.m. Saturday. Dinsmore ran the homestead for 54 years, inheriting it from her father James Dinsmore who had it built in the 1800s. Julia Dinsmore never married and died at age 93. • The Horseless Carriage Club with its antique cars will be at the festival noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. • The band Tanner Hill performs in concert 3:3 p.m.0-5:30 p.m. both days. • Pumpkin painting and scarecrow making will be available for nominal fees. Children are asked to bring their own scarecrow clothes. Admission to the festival is $3 for seniors and Dinsmore members, $5 for other adults, $2 for youth ages 7-17 and free for children under age 7.
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