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A public hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 20 to take comments on proposed assessments for street and utility work done on this portion of East Main Street in Pipestone and other streets in the area. The street and utility work was completed in 2023 and 2024. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
Pipestone City Council members during a special meeting on Sept. 25 scheduled a public hearing for Monday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. to take comments on proposed assessments for the street reconstruction, and sanitary sewer, watermain and storm sewer work completed in 2023 and 2024.
The final assessment roll shows that there are 102 assessments totaling $1,107,991.42. The assessments range from $4,613.28 to $21,978.87 with an average assessment of $10,862.66. Nelson said the assessments were developed using the new assessment policy the City Council approved earlier this year.
The assessments can be paid over a period of 10 years with an interest rate of 5 percent, or paid in part or in full at any time prior to the City Council approving the assessments, which could be done during the Oct. 20 meeting. If the entire assessment is paid by Nov. 21, no interest will be charged. After that, the assessments can be paid off with interest accrued to Dec. 31 of the year in which the payment is made. Such payments must be made before Nov. 15 or interest will be charged through Dec. 31 of the succeeding year, according to the public notice in this issue of the Pipestone County Star.
Written or oral objections will be considered at the Oct. 20 public hearing. Those who want to appeal the amount of an assessment must file a written objection signed by the affected property owner with City Administrator Deb Nelson prior to the hearing or present it to the presiding officer at the hearing. A property owner can also appeal an assessment to district court by serving notice of the appeal to the mayor or city administrator within 30 days after the adoption of the assessment and filing such notice with the district court within 10 days after service upon the mayor or city administrator.
The City Council may, at its discretion, defer the payment of a special assessment for any homestead property owned by a person 65 or older for whom it would be a hardship to make payments. If a deferment is granted and then terminated, the assessment and any applicable interest becomes due. Qualified property owners must apply for the deferral of payment within 30 days of the assessment.
The 2023 street and utility improvement project included Main Street East from Second Avenue Southeast to Eighth Avenue Southeast, Second Street Southeast from Second Avenue Southeast to Fourth Avenue Southeast, Third Avenue Southeast from Main Street East to Second Street Southeast, Fourth Avenue Southeast from Main Street East to Second Street Southeast, Fifth Avenue Southeast from Main Street East to Second Street Southeast, Sixth Avenue Southeast from Main Street East to Third Street Southeast, and Seventh Avenue Southwest from Second Street Southwest to Third Street Southwest. A copy of the assessment roll is available for public inspection at the city office.