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spam	November 2007 Board Meeting - Extension Approved Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2007 8:47 PM Well, the meeting is probably on Wednesday, the 19th of Dec.,  am I right Lynn?
Lynn Torkelson	November 2007 Board Meeting - Extension Approved Posted: Friday, December 07, 2007 5:42 PM spam,   Indeed you are! Thanks much for the correction.   I've got to be a little more careful with my cutting and pasting, I see!   Lynn Torkelson
smithmi	Land Bank Fast Tract Authority Posted: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 1:12 PM From June 3, 2006 County Board Meeting:   A motion by Commissioner Jenich, seconded by Commissioner Luoma to pursue establishing a Land Bank Fast Track Authority in Houghton County. Carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------   What is the status of this? Establishing a Land Bank Authority could help with the Township/Equalization mapping problems.  It could also help stem local corruption.  Ethics, Standardization, and transparency are the key to good government.
tigger	Land Bank Fast Tract Authority Posted: Thursday, December 27, 2007 9:45 PM smithmi   glad to see you are still aboard.   Regretfully, the three items you identify (and I and many others support) as the keys to good government are in very short supply in Torch Lake Township.The saddest part is nobody gives a damn.  The pigs are still feeding at the trough and laughing & loving every minute (dollar)of it. A very sad entry into 2008.
cooker	Land Bank Fast Tract Authority Posted: Saturday, December 29, 2007 9:26 AM Smith,   Would you or someone please explain what the Land Bank business means and how it could help our township?  Goodness knows, it needs all the help it can get.
smithmi	Land Bank Fast Tract Authority Posted: Monday, December 31, 2007 10:28 AM Land bank receives tax reverted property, prefects, clears title and sell these properties.  See: State of Michigan, Department of Labor and Econ. Growth, Land Bank Fast Track Authority web site, this should give you some idea.  Currently the state is operating for most counties.   I believe if this authority is assumed locally (county level), there would be more oversite, accountability and interest in the "land deals". It may force proper mapping  and assessing. From what I understand there is no legal requirement to record deeds or land contract, only the requirement to notify the assesors office of a land transfer via a transfer affidivate.  Again there is little policing of this and many land transferrs avoide new tax assessments by failing to file the required documents.  With deeds and contracts held in private hands, it is difficult to accurately account for the taxes.  Similar to the failure of building permits and inspection allows for un regulated development.  I do support zoning, proper zoning will enhance property values.   I don't understand the assessors/townships refusal to put the land assessment information online, like many other communities have done.  What's there to hide?  Those of you that are interested should check out the many assessor web sites that have been developed arount the state.  You may be surprised how easy it is to tract stuff.  Google:   Genesee Couny, City of Clio, City of Flint, Collier County Florida. A few I find interesting and easy to explore, I really like Collier County site it is a point and click system. Focus in on a parcel it will tell you owner, size, sales, values taxes.  Great for snooping.
birds eye	Land Bank Fast Tract Authority Posted: Monday, December 31, 2007 11:57 PM Interesting but I am not sure I get it straight. If I sell a parcel of land, isn't that recorded at the Courthouse, along with the selling price etc.? Isn't that required to get an official deed? I must be missing something. Please start from the beginning with a simple example. Happy New Year to everyone!
smithmi	Land Bank Fast Tract Authority Posted: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 8:18 AM Recording a Deed or Contract in a private deal is optional. What you may be confusing is when a Realtor, title company (for closing) or mortgage is involved.  These are generally recorded but not all land deals involve these areas.  There are many cash or hand shake deals or family transferrs that are made to avoid the government involvement and taxes.   I have one question:   If I recall. the Twp. Board has decided to waive collection of some property tax, something about if the amount paid is within $5.00 of the amount due.  That is to say if your tax is $1000 and you pay $995, the township will assume the loss of $5.  With some 3000 parcel in the twp. that would equate to $15,000 each tax cycle or near $30,000 per year in lost income.  Can Torch Lake Township really afford to lose this amount of money each year.  Isn't this near the $40G's that was lost in the cow barn accounting.  I understand the accounting problems but isn't that what an accountant (treasure) is responsible for.
birds eye	Land Bank Fast Tract Authority Posted: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 5:27 PM Thanks for the explanation. OK, so there are handshake and cash deals but then the new owner has no proof it is their property....without the deed or transfer being recorded, correct? That could cause all kinds of problems in the case of death or when the new owner goes to sell, they wouldn't have title. I must be missing something. With the way the laws are now, family transfers or $1 sales no longer help keep taxes down, correct? Does creating a family trust help with keeping family property taxes low? When the parents pass on, the property would be in the trust and would continue to be part of that. Thus the taxes wouldn't adjust as they would normally with a transfer in ownership, even when it is still in the family. I think many of us want to pay our fair share and play by the rules; but sometimes there are legal ways to keep things manageable. With property taxes so high, anything we all can do to be pro-active and still be legal is worth looking into. I too was surprised by the $5 giveaway per parcel. Wonder how many people will write their checks for $5 less? Maybe the Twp. should charge an extra $10 the next tax billing cycle to make up the difference and deter people from saving $5 on every parcel they own. I really appreciate your postings over the last year or so. I have learned a lot and am sure others have too. The more we know, the better off we all will be.
smithmi	Land Bank Fast Tract Authority Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2008 8:27 AM I believe all transferrs must be evaluated by the assessor. $1 transferrs as well as family trust should be looked at to insure the "true" value of the property is assessed.  The Assessors manual addresses these and without looking it up, the assessor would be the best person to address the question.  Just because I put a $1 figure as the consideration for a sale or establish a trust, this does not absolve the assessor from doing their job evaluating the value of the property.  That may be part of the reason there is so many problems with this system.  Lazy or corrupt assessors can just say "look the compensation is only $1 so I have to do nothing or reduce the tax." Not true, their job is to accurately assess the property and determine value.  Likewise they can assign any figure (high or low) and if it is not appropriate, the owner can appeal.   Proof of ownership is in the deed, recorded or not,  the problem come in when the unrecorded deed can not be found and the transaction can not be documented. This is what is happening in may areas. There are parcels wholely within other parcels, Plats laying over older plats.  Generally sloppy record keeping. I have seen many tax exempt properties where the deed is not being recorded so (in my opinion) the property taxes can be avoided.  You'd be surprised how many times this is done.  Recording protects a sale.   Let's go from COW BARN to COMPUTER.
birds eye	Land Bank Fast Tract Authority Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2008 7:12 PM Once again....thanks!