MSRPO 2005 Annual Meeting Minutes, October 5, 2005
Executive Director Jeff Forester called the 2005 annual meeting to order, at
7:00 PM. Speakers for the evening were introduced: Rep. Morrie Lanning, Sen.
Larry Pogemiller, and Dan McElroy from the Governors office.
Executive Director Forester introduced the MSRPO Board Members present:
Barbara Robertson, Dorothy Grandstrand, John Nowicki, Bill Bretzke, Dale
Carlton, Roger Goeschel, Gary Bloedel, and George Crolick. Directors Carole
Aljadah, Nyle Zikmund and Jack Chaffee were not able to attend. Board members
were thanked for their active involvement in determining the direction of the
organization as well as participation in the lobbying effort by making phone
calls and visits to the capitol.
Director Barbara Robertson read minutes from the 2004 meeting, convened on
October 6, 2004. A motion to accept and approve the minutes was made and passed
by members in attendance.
Executive Director Forester introduced Bob Johnson, whose firm represents
MSRPO at the Minnesota state capitol, and his associate Henry Erdman. Mr.
Johnson provided an overview of the very long 2005 legislative session. This
session we moved forward. Cabin owners were the only group that received
property tax relief. Mr. Johnson mentioned that the grassroots efforts of our
members, their phone calls, letters and e-mails, were truly effective in moving
our legislation along.
The legislation that became law included: Extension of the phase-out
schedule for Limited Market Value (LMV) at current rates for two years; and
freezing the shares of the State General Tax between commercial/industrial and
seasonal recreational property classes based on their relative shares of the
tax in payable 2002. Mr. Johnson also reminded members to continue to
communicate with their state legislators on these issues.
Guest speaker Rep. Morrie Lanning, a member of the House Tax Committee, was
a key legislator in promoting the bills on LMV and the State General Tax. Rep.
Lanning described the process and reasoning behind these bills. He also
mentioned his support of our 2006 Legislative Agenda including the Blue Waters
Initiative, Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Circuit Breaker. Other
areas he mentioned were fair assessment practices, shoreline management, sewer
& septic systems, eminent domain, issues of secondary development which
includes development away from lakes, and the state stepping in to make more
uniform rules and regulations. Members then had the opportunity to ask Rep.
Lanning questions.
Guest speaker Sen. Larry Pogemiller, Chair of the Senate Tax Committee, was
noted as favorably guiding the process along and had a key role during the
extended special session. Sen. Pogemiller thanked Rep. Lanning for taking the
lead in the House bill. Sen. Pogemiller discussed the issue of home values
rising at a faster rate than commercial-industrial property values and the
shifting of taxes from commercial-industrial onto homes because of this. Sen.
Pogemiller thanked people who came to the capitol to testify during hearings
and complimented the way MSRPO presented itself during the session. Again,
members had the opportunity to ask Sen. Pogemiller questions.
Invited guest speaker, Dan McElroy, from the Governors office was not able
to attend.
Executive Director Forester presented a short history on the taxation of
forest lands in Minnesota and how tax policy contributed to the clearing of the
land, lowering the quality of the land, and how we subsequently enacted laws to
restore the forest lands and hence improve the quality of the lands. Gov.
Pawlenty has announced his Clean Water initiatives and Executive Director
Forester explained how using incentives rather than fees and fines could better
serve property owners in maintaining or improving the water quality in the
state. On that note, the 2006 Legislative Agenda was announced. Efforts will be
focused on three areas: enactment of the Blue Watersinitiative; enhancement of
the Sustainable Forestryinitiative; and extension of current homestead circuit
breakerprotection to seasonal recreational properties. In summary, Executive
Director Forester stated that we got relief this year, but that we want to make
limited market value (LMV) permanent.
Executive Director presented the idea of an MSRPO Regional Advisory
Committee. The goals of becoming a more responsive organization, identifying
issues pertinent to members and increasing communication with members hope to
be met.
Executive Director Forester then asked the membership to check the newly
updated website; asked them to ask the friends, family, and cabin neighbors to
join MSRPO; announced upcoming Town Hall meetings; and reviewed the financial
status of the organization.
The 2005 Board of Directors election took place. Each nominee for director
will be elected if he or she receives a plurality of the votes cast at the
Annual Meeting, including official mailed ballots. The 13 nominees each
received a plurality of the votes. Elected directors are: Carole Aljadah, Gary
Bloedel, Bill Bretzke, Dale Carlton, Jack Chaffee, George Crolick, Roger
Goeschel, Dorothy Grandstrand, Mary Manns, John Nowicki, Gerry Ratigan, Barbara
Robertson, and Nyle Zikmund. Financial reports were available to any member
interested in it.
At 9:12 a motion to adjourn was offered, seconded and approved by a floor
vote. The MSRPO Board fielded questions and answers.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Robertson
Secretary
