Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, August 15, 2013

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STAR PARTY VISITS

TONASKET FFA ALUMNI BBQ

EDEN VALLEY GUEST RANCH

Dessert auction to support national qualifying team: Thursday, 6 p.m. at Rodeo Grounds

See Page A3

SERVING WASHINGTON’S

OKANOGAN VALLEY

SINCE 1905

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Reappraisals of Tonasket properties begin New assessments based on sales from last four years BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR

OKANOGAN – Okanogan County Assessor Scott Furman announced that the process for physical inspections and reappraisals of all taxable property in the Tonasket School District, approximately 8500 parcels, has begun. This process involves physical inspec-

tion by real estate appraisers from the cal appraisal zone will be notified, in assessor’s office and will take about 10 writing, of their assessment by the end months to inspect and value all of these of May, 2014. This assessment and reproperties, accordappraisal process ing to Furman. The will have an effect last revaluation on taxes paid in affected taxes paid “The assessment and reap- 2015,” Furman in 2010 and were said in a recent praisal process will have an press release. based upon sales that occurred prior Okanogan effect on taxes paid in 2015” to Jan. 1, 2009. The County was Scott Furman, new assessments will approved to move Okanogan County Assessor be based upon sales to an annual form that have occurred of revaluation by in the past four years the Property Tax ending Dec. 31, 2013, he said. Division of the state Department of “All property owners within the physi- Revenue for assessment year 2010 (2011

ACA state exchange opens in October

taxes payable). By law, annual revaluation allows for the county to be split into six physical inspection zones while also allowing for statistical updating of other areas of the County, if the market warrants. All 39 cvounties must be on an annual form of revaluation by 2014. “Now that Okanogan County is approved as an annual revaluation county, other areas of the county may receive new revaluation notices as well. That process is dependent upon the real estate market in that particular area,” said Furman. “The Okanogan County Assessor’s Office is continually tracking closed real estate sales and comparing them to cur-

rent assessments to determine whether an adjustment is warranted, added Furman. All property owners have the right to appeal their assessed valuation by July 1st of each year or 30 days after the date of mailing of the notices. The Assessors Office encourages anyone who has questions regarding their assessment or any other questions regarding the office or the processes involved to contact them at (509) 422-7190, said Furman. The office also has website that can be accessed by going to www.okanogancounty.org, the county’s site, and following the links to the assessor’s site.

Oroville discusses alleyway vacation

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Calico recognized for 25 years of service to city

NVH Board votes to proceed with geothermal system BY BRENT BAKER

BY GARY A. DEVON

BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

TONASKET - Regardless of the hue and cry on a national level, pieces of the Affordable Care Act (commonly known as Obamacare) are moving into place. North Valley Hospital District CEO Linda Michel detailed what some of that will look like in her written report submitted to the NVH Board of Commissioners during a Monday, Aug. 5, special board meeting that took the place of what would have been the regularly-scheduled session on Aug. 8. Michel detailed that the Washington Healthplan Finder this state’s “health exchange,” as it is referred to in the national debate - will open online and by telephone in order to register the uninsured, as of Oct. 13. Some states opted to join the national exchange, but Washington moved to set up its own. Michel said that people will be able to sign up on the state website, or dial up a call center in Spokane if they need assistance. “Eligibility is based on income limit,” she wrote. “No assets are included. The registration process will ask for your name, address, Social Security Number and income.” The sign-up should take as little as 15 minutes. The Internal Revenue Service will verify the reported income, as well as levy penalties through individuals’ tax filings if they do not have health insurance of some kind. Coverage through the exchange will begin Jan. 1, 2014.

MCKINSTRY PRESENTS, BOARD APPROVES

Mark Barglof and Casey McGourin of McKinstry presented their three-phase Energy Service Proposal - a plan for replacing the hospital district’s aging boiler system with a geothermal heating and cooling system. One of the hospital’s three boilers - all of which are more than 50 years old - failed completely about three months ago and the district has been seeking to get at least the beginnings of a replacement plan underway before cold weather sets in. Following the presentation, the board voted unanimously to

SEE NVH | PG A4

MANAGING EDITOR

Top, Fire broke out after a lightning strike hit Eder Mountain Friday evening. The fire continued to burn in rocky terrain, eventually taking out power to the airport beacon at at the at 10:50 p.m. Left, the fire flared up Saturday afternoon, moving down and southward along the west flank of Eder Mountain. The fire, which is under the Department of Natural Resource’s jurisdiction, flared up again Monday night and a helicopter was enlisted to drop water on it. “We’ve been lucky so far; all the fires around Oroville have been the DNR’s,” said Oroville Fire Chief Rod Noel Photos by Gary DeVon and Brent Baker

OROVILLE – Brad Calico with the Oroville City Crew, was recognized for 25 years of service with a certificate presented by Mayor Chuck Spieth at the city council’s Tuesday, Aug. 6 meeting. “We thank you for your service,” said Mayor Spieth in making the presentation to Calico. The meeting was also scheduled as a public hearing on a request for an alley vacation in Block 25. Those who petitioned the city for the right-of-way vacation are Victor and Heather Rodriguez, Justin and Jessica Helm and Mark Hancock – all have property abutting the alley. City Superintendent Rod Noel reported that beside the three existing businesses, there is also one lot where another could be built. He said eliminating the alleyway would be eliminating access to the back of all those commercial businesses. Petitioner Justin Helm said that Hancock, owner of 823 Central and the adjacent lot, has a documented easement for the adjoining property, although the property has been fenced and it has a gate. The petitioners had requested the vacation because people had been walking through the alley and there had been thefts. Several issues were discussed including whether the easement

SEE COUNCIL | PG A4

Oroville back on top for new construction Methow Valley drops to second, Tonasket is third BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR

OKANOGAN – During the boom times of Buckhorn Gold Mine and Veranda Beach and other vacation home building, Oroville knocked the Methow Valley off it’s long held perch for most new construction – well, Oroville’s done it again thanks to the Reman and Reload company.

OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 109 No. 33

The Okanogan County Assessor’s Office recently completed physically inspecting and valuing for property tax purposes new construction that has occurred throughout the County in the past 12 months. A total of $45,057,200 in new assessed value was picked up for assessment year 2013, taxes payable 2014, according to a press release from Okanogan County Assessor Scott Furman. This amount is a nine percent increase compared to the $41,328,500 that was valued in 2012. There was a total of $37,417,700 in new construction was valued in 2011. “The most new construction

occurred in 2007 and amounted to $80.7 million,” said Furman. This process involves the office’s four real estate appraisers going out and physically inspecting the improvements and determining the value of the improvements based upon a number of criteria including square footage, quality of construction, quality of materials used and architectural design. According to the assessor’s office, 71 percent of this new construction can be attributed to residential construction with the remaining 29 percent commercial construction. This compares to

SEE ON TOP | PG A4

Gary DeVon/G-T file photo

Oroville Reman and Reload recently made $10 million in upgrades, pushing Oroville back on top in new construction in the county.

INSIDE THIS EDITION

CONTACT US Newsroom and Advertising (509) 476-3602 gdevon@gazette-tribune.com

Valley Life A2-3 Letters/Opinion A5 Community A6-7

Obituaries A7 Classifieds/Legals A8-9

Real Estate A9 Cops & Courts A9-10


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