Lockport Township Assessor Dale Hutson explained the role of a Designated Assessor at a township Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday evening. His explanation came in response to recent concerns about the need for someone to fill the Designated Assessor position by several township trustees. The position is one required by a recent state law that changed some of the ways in which oversight of local assessors takes place.

Hutson said there has always been a process in place for the state to pursue action if a local assessor fails to do their work or does not do it properly. After recent changes to state law, the state can come in and take over assessing functions for a township like Lockport if it is not doing the job correctly. The Designated Assessor takes over the local assessor’s duties at that point.

St. Joseph County has been tasked with choosing and entering into a contract with a Designated Assessor in the event that it becomes necessary for one to take over in any of its local jurisdictions. The person who fills the position is to be chosen by majority vote among all of the township supervisors in the county and must be selected no later than December 31 of this year. This does not mean that any township is in danger of having its assessor’s duties taken over.

In fact, Hutson said, that would only be a worst-case scenario. The State periodically audits every township’s performance under minimum assessing requirements. Through that audit, the state may find things that are not correct for any number of reasons. The local assessor at that time receives an opportunity to resolve the issue or issues, typically one or two years “or even longer,” Hutson said. 

Even during that time, there are still other steps to prevent a takeover. If the local assessor fails to address the issues in a timely manner, the local governing body can remove and replace that person. Eventually, the state returns for a re-evaluation, and only at that point, if the local government has still not fixed the problems will the Designated Assessor take over.

Hutson said Lockport Township passed its last audit with only minor issues, and it takes major issues to “get you turned over.” He knows of two potential failures, and they are both procedural issues that can easily be addressed by vote of the Board of Trustees in the next few months. The township’s next audit is scheduled for 2022.

Supervisor Mark Major will receive information on prospective Designated Auditor candidates prior to an upcoming Zoom meeting in which the county’s township supervisors will choose one for a retainer contract. Hutson said he is unsure if there is a standing fee for such a retainer but hopes there is not one. It is often typical for such a service provider on retainer to only incur fees in the event they are actually called upon to perform work.

However, should the state require takeover of a township by the Designated Assessor, the township is liable for fees from that point forward. Once the Designated Assessor is in place, they assume control of the local assessor’s duties for five years. The Board of Supervisors can petition the state to get local control back after three years.

Major Assumes Water Department Position

Following the retirement of the lead operator at the township’s water department, another person took over for a few weeks before other commitments precluded his continued service in the position. Because he has the related licensing for working with water systems, Major has since taken over the lead operator position.

As a result, due to the potential for conflict of interest, Major has “had to step off of the water board.” Major had been serving as the Board of Trustees’ liaison to the water board. “I can’t be on the board and be operator,” he said. At major’s nomination and request, Township Treasurer Mike Friesner agreed to serve as interim liaison until a new township board is selected after the November elections. The Board of Trustees voted to approve Friesner’s temporary appointment.

In Other Lockport Township Business:

• Trustees approved demolition of a condemned property on Ash Road. Another previously condemned property on Patterson Road now has a potential buyer interested in purchasing it at tax auction and renovating it.
• Township Clerk Tammy Babcock continues to investigate costs and benefits associated with various systems and programs for accepting credit card payments for township fees and other monies.
• Trustees approved up to $510 for the purchase of six folding tables for use during elections. Babcock is authorized to spend the funds for the purchase of tables made by Lifetime, a Sturgis manufacturer. The tables are available at Sam’s Club, and the approved amount is based on that retailer’s price, but Babcock will investigate pricing through a government supplier before making the purchase. Babcock also received permission to spend up to $150 on a vacuum cleaner for the township hall.
• The Centreville Fire Board is in the process of making repairs and installing a new metal roof on its fire hall.
• Investigation into a possible sewer system for the township continues. Zoning Administrator Doug Kuhlman attended a Schoolcraft Village meeting last week via the Zoom online platform along with Friesner and Trustee Dave Cooper. A federal grants administrator who had potential funds available for sewer project has encouraged Lockport officials to look into partnering with Schoolcraft, which is considering a sewer system of its own. After Kuhlman explained his purpose in attending the meeting, Schoolcraft officials agreed to meet with Friesner in the coming weeks to discuss overall feasibility and collaborative possibilities in greater depth.

Dave Vago is a writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.