Wednesday, May 29, 2013 The Montmorency County Tribune 5
by Yvonne Swager Kevin Keller, county
Staff reporter equalization director,
spoke at the regular Briley Township
meeting, May 20, about his pursuit to re-
cover money for the county from a gas
and oil company that has not been prop-
erly reporting personal property tax in-
formation.
While some companies are estimating
the value of their weUs at $1 million each,
one particular company has repeatedly
reported its wells are valued at about $800
each. The $61,000 that was recently re-
ported by the company for multiple wells
should have been more like $8.9 million,
Keller said.
After a bulletin on valuing oil and gas
assets was approved last year, the state tax
commission agreed to forgive past report-
ing errors if companies in the industry
reported correctly going forward. That
company, according to Keller, has not
been complying.
Keller saidhe has filed documents re-
garding the company's negligence with
the state, and the companyhas been given
the oppommity to say if they agree or
disagree with Keller's findings.
"In this case, because they vehemently
and almost violently said they do not con-
cur, it's now in the hands of the state at
this point," Keller said.
The company has 119 wells in the town-
ship, and the matter regarding the com-
pany came to light when personal prop-
erty tax evaluations came in drastically
different between the township's evalua-
tion and where Keller estimated values
should be.
As an example of all the elements a com-
pany has to report, he said the cement
used to hold well pipes in place, which is
a considerable cost, is something that has
gone uqr. eported by many companies. He
was asked if he would be responsible for
correcting what appear to be errors in
assessments for all the oil and gas compa-
riles operating within the county.
"If tire assessor does not take it upon
themselves to assign a reasonable value
according to the bulletin, then it falls on
the equalization director to do it," Keller
explained.
There was no consistency in assess-
ments for the county, Keller said, when he
took over in equalization about five years
ago. He has been on a mission to see every
company is reporting as it should be, and
Canada Creek Ranch
he said he's won 100 percent of the ap-
peals by companies to the tax commis-
sion.
"I do my research," Keller as ared.
In other township business:
• Dan Albrecht, former operations man-
ager for Tri-Township Ambulance Ser-
vice, has formally resigned after being
found guilty of operating an ambulance
while intoxicated with a passenger of less
than 16 years of age. ]ody VonOppen has
been hired as the new operations man-
ager.
• Representatives for the local Lions' or-
ganization asked the board to reconsider
the new fees for renting the park pavilion
and kitchen to better accommodate non-
profit groups, but Mike Wurtsmith, town-
ship superwsor, said the township is pro-
hibited from discriminating based on the
type of group.
• A motion passed in favor of consulting
the law firm of Running, Wise and Ford
for township legal matters.
• The board voted in favor of hiring Jim
Young to develop and maintain the
township's website.
• The board agreed to pay $210 for a new"
computer network switch that acts as a
hub.
• Discussion took place regarding
whether paid committee members
should continue to receive pay for attend-
ing committees if they have not com-
pleted applications that require back,
ground checks. Wurtsmith said he would
like to give those not complying another
opportunity to do so.
• John Zollars, trustee, said the gate ac-
cessing the township's recreation prop-
erty, which is located on private property,
should be moved to where the township's
property begins.
• The board approved sending the trea-
surer to Pontem training at the cost of
$150.
• A motion passed in favor of purchasing
a track cell phone for the water/mainte-
nance department at the cost of about
$30.
• Mary Jo Whitmire and Kevin Catigon
have been appointed to the airport board.
• Blight issues regarding an abandoned
property that might be a public hazard
were discussed. The board voted in favor
of seeking legal counsel in order to deter°
mine the township's liability in the mat-
ter.
DEAD BATTERIES
CAN'T SAVE LIVES
Change the batteries in your smoke
detector at least once a year.
United Steres Fire AdminislTO~On
Fedel~l [rnergen~ M0n0gernenl Agency
http://www.usfa.fema.gov
Badmra Ann Stole The weather for the
CorrespondentMemorialDayweek-
end was very nice. The week before we
experienced rains, which made the grass,
mushrooms and flowers grow. Everything
looks so green and clean. Now time to get
the lawn mower out.
Golfers, this Sunday, June 2 at 10:30 a.m.
is the Fire/EMS Charity Golf Scramble at
Elk Ridge Golf Course. If interested in this
fundraising event, you can register on-
line at www.fireemsgolf.com, or pick up a
form at Know Good Pub and Grub in At-
lanta or at Olds EI-Bo Inn. Proceeds go t6
help victims of house fires, families in
times of hardship and individuals with
personal tragedies. Cost is $75 per person,
which includes lunch, 50/50's, raffles,
contests, a pig roast and awards recep-
tion. Shoot for a $10,000 Hole In One.
CCR ladies, the next Ladies Auxiliary
nfeetingis Wednesday, June 5. Coffee at 10
a.m. and business meeting at 10:30 a.m.
We meet in the lower level of the ranch
house.
Feline Laci Stafiej and canine Billie Bob
Marcrum remind us that the Elk Country
Animal Shelter metal collection day is in
two weeks, Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m.-
3 p.m. They are accepting such things as
cast iron, copper, brass, aluminum, pots
and pans, any type of electrical cord in-
cluding Christmas tree lights. Bring your
metalitems to the shelter located on M-32
Move over girls, your baby brother is here!
Luca Lawrence Colombo arrive on February 14, 2013,
weighing in at 9 pounds, 2 ounces, and measuring 21 1/z
inches long.
He's blessed with two beautiful sisters, Natalie Grace
and Juliette Elise.
Proud parents are Danielle and Anthony Colombo.
They chose the middle name, Lawrence, in honor of both
of their fathers.
Maternal grandparents are Marilyn Coale of Corona,
MI, and the late Larry Coale.
Paternal grandpareh-ts are Claudette and Lawrence
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Questions, Anyone?
For answers about federal
government programs, bene-
fits, and services call toll-free:
• 1-800-FED-INFO
(that's 1-800-333-4636)
Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET
Or visit:
www. pueblo.gsa.govlcall
U.S. General Services Administration
AIRLINE
CAREERS
BEGIN HERE
Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech.
FAA approved training.
Financial aid if qualified - Housing available.
Job placement assistance.
CALL Aviation institute of Maintenance
877-891-2281
Reaching out to the needy and
hurting is a good way to love
your neighbor as yourself.
We need your support in this
endeavor.
"The Caring Place"
Atlanta Church of Christ
11651 M-33 • Atlanta, MI 49709
• 785-4561 *
Thank You for Your Tax
Deductable Support
West next to the Sheriffs Department.
For questions call Carol Young at 785-
3777.
The newly revised CCR Telephone List
with quick reference business list is now
available at the front desk. There were
many changes due to cell phones replac-
ing land-line phones.
Astronaut John Glenn said "As I hurtled
through space, one thought kept cross-
ing my mind -every part of this rocket
was supplied by the lowest bidder."
On May 29, 1917 John Fitzgerald
Kennedy was born in Brookline MA.
Kennedywas the thirty-.fifth President of
the US. He was assassinated in Dallas TX
on Nov. 22, 1963. He was the youngest
man ever elected as president, the first
Roman Catholic, and first president to
" have served in the US Navy. Also, he was
the fourth US president assassinated and
the second to be buried at Arlington Na-
tional Cemetery (the first was William
Howard Taft).
We wish a happy birthday Harry
Andreasen, June 1; Gordoti Breeding,
June 5; Rob ]uergens, June 2; (]wen Shiree
and Doug Davidge, May 31; and Dorothy
Ziots, May 30.
If you have any news for this article,
please contact me by Wednesday
evening at basteeleccr@hughes.net, 989-
785-4865 or 8424 Brown Trail, Atlanta MI
49709.
Atthe