Recall petition

Dear Editor,

I am carrying a petition to recall the Hitchcock County Assessor, Marlene Bedore. The reason for the recall is stated on the recall petition: The County Assessor didn't use professionally accepted mass appraisal techniques in valuing properties in Hitchcock County.

The Assessor made hundreds of changes to quality, condition, and building type but no uniform method was used in making these changes. These practices have resulted in Hitchcock County not having uniform and proportionate values. The Assessor has violated statutes, regulations, and directives.

I've gathered a lot of information and have spent a lot time on this task. The statement on the petition speaks for itself. However, there is a detailed document that stands out above all others and can be found at http://www.revenue.nebraska.gov/PAD/research/statewide_equalization/counties/201...

It states at the end of report that residential real property, commercial real property and agricultural land does not meet generally accepted mass appraisal practices. This document is dated April 8, 2016 and signed by Ruth A. Sorensen, Property Tax Administrator.

In closing this part was taken from the Publisher's Desk of the Hitchcock County News dated August 18, 2016 and written by Publisher Amy Frederick. She sums it up very well, " We are talking about things being equal, the equalization of property valuations for taxes. The Nebraska Department of Revenue has presented their findings that there are issues with the way the Hitchcock County Assessor has done her job. It's not about if your taxes went down, went up, or stayed the same. It's about how those determinations were made and if they were fair or not.

We believe that a publically elected county official, who is bound by state statute, should listen and comply with findings of the Nebraska Department of Revenue, the Nebraska Equalization and Review Commission and the State of Nebraska Attorney General's Office."

To sign the petition call Frank Stehno at 308-883-1144,or contact Brian Eyl, Rich Hampton, Melissa Sydow, Ann Sutton at Stratton Auto Parts, or Shelly Richardson at Jay Bird Express.

Frank Stehno,

Stratton, Neb.