By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
With the deadline of the oft-discussed and much anticipated village-wide appraisal having passed a month ago, Waterford officials are again looking to meet with the head of the company enlisted to perform the service.
In mid-September, Mark Brown, executive director of project management of the contracted firm, Associated Appraisal, was in the hot seat when he revealed the work would not be completed by Sept. 30 — the date initially set. An extension to Oct. 16 was eventually granted.
At a Village Board meeting Nov. 9, officials revealed not all of the interior properties were inspected throughout the appraisal process, leading Village President Tom Roanhouse and other board members to question where there have been holes in this year’s appraisal.
During the brief discussion, Village Administrator Rebecca Ewald said she was compiling data on the appraisals. That data and a meeting with Brown or another representative of Associated Appraisal is anticipated in the near future.
When revelations were made two months ago about the prolonged appraisals, several board members expressed disappointment and frustration in Associated Appraisal’s extension request.
“You made a fool out of us – at least you did of me,” Trustee Don Houston said to Brown. “I feel like there have been some false promises made.”
In recent months, several board members have publicly stated they have received concerns and complaints from residents about the overall re-evaluation process.
When he came before the board in mid-September, Brown said the company has been methodical about its appraisal process.
“We are trying to be empathetic to residents because we know this is a sensitive process,” Brown said at the time. “All along, we’ve wanted this process to go as smoothly as possible.”
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Back when the bid this job out of the hands of the local assessor that still does Rochester and Town of Waterford. It was about cost savings and a smoother process. How is that working… Big company that can’t meet a deadline and extension they picked and still 30 days past that date.
Village of Waterford is starting to get out of hand. Your Board of Review is this month and you can’t legally have that yet either. I could have started this process at the beginning of the year as an individual and gotten it done on time.
My taxes increased by over 800 dollars. Unbelievable!!! Our village board just raked their community over the coals. Again.
This board has made so many poor decisions in the last couple of years! The board owns this problem. Trying to blame the outside company is like an 8 year old shifting blame. You (the board) made the decision to go with this company! It is time for a real shake-up on that board!