Archive for the ‘The Community’ Category

Edwardsville Wins Coveted “Top Ten” Award:

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Wow….are Edwardsville/Glen Carbon ever on a roll!   Big-time publicity for both!  (remember, they’re sister cities and have a common school district.)They both get national recognition for great places to live! First, Money Magazine ranked Glen Carbon among the top 100 places to live in the entire

USA!  (a short resume is below including a link to Money Magazine.)Then, Family Circle Magazine has just named Edwardsville as one of the top 10 cities in the entire USA in which to raise a family!  The entire news story is reprinted below, (which includes links to

Great

Schools and Family Circle Magazine.) 

Best Places to Live - Money’s list of America’s best small towns.   

Glen Carbon Ranked Among Top 100 Best Places To Live in USA    Glen Carbon is ranked among the top 100 best places to live according to (click link) Money Magazine. Glen Carbon, with a population of 12,500, is praised for its wide selection of affordable housing, abundant vegetation, and its strong community spirit. Money Magazine’s researchers surveyed small towns across America, gathering data on their unemployment levels, crime rates, school systems and housing costs. Based on this research, Glen Carbon is recognized among American’s best places to live!   

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(The following is the announcement of the most recent Edwardsville honor, as published in the Edwardsville     Intelligencer, that Edwardsville had been named in the top 10 cities in the nation in which to raie a family….an award from “Family Circle” magazine:)     Edwardsville gets top 10 nod  

District 7 a big selling point   By ANN NICCUM aniccum@edwpub.netPublished: Thursday, July 8, 2010 11:14 AM CDT   The news is spreading about the city ofEdwardsville being named one of the top 10 places across the country to raise a family by “Family Circle” magazine.  

Edwardsville Mayor Gary Niebur was obviously excited about it. “Our community is pleased and honored to receive such distinguished recognition,” Niebur said.  Niebur said the magazine is properly heralded as one of the nation’s leading and most highly respected publications.“  It is one of the largest national magazines with a circulation of 3.8 million and an estimated readership of 20 million,” Niebur said. “This wonderful recognition is a tribute to our residents, volunteers, community and service organizations, service and program providers and our business and professional community.”  

Niebur added, “What we see is seemingly simple: a quiet community that is viewed by others as an amazingly wonderful place. It is seen as one of the country’s 10 best places to raise a family. But, it is actually the product of hard work, constant self-evaluation and the dedicated involvement by volunteers who give of themselves in many, many different ways. Those volunteers offer a community spirit not seen everywhere.” 

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carol Foreman agreed.“It is nice to receive national recognition for what we’ve always known to be true,” Foreman said. “We at the Chamber are excited that the word is out about Edwardsville.”

Edwardsville School District Superintendent Dr. Ed Hightower said he too was thrilled with the news.“I think most of our residents would agree that this is an outstanding place to raise a family and educate our children.”Hightower, one of a very few around the community who knew the city was being considered for the honor, said the school district was “very involved” in the selection process.Hightower said Family Circle contacted District 7 early on in the process recognizing that a strong school district and strong community go hand-in-hand. However, he did note those involved had to keep the news under wraps, because any leaking of the information to the press or public would have resulted in disqualification from consideration. 

Hightower said that what the Family Circle staff seemed most impressed by, however, was the District’s goal of giving back to the community and the fact that students, parents and staff fully embraced the challenge to do just that.“They were astonished that athletes do volunteer work, performing arts students entertain at senior centers and kids from kindergarten through high school have raised more than $100,000 for local, national and international charities. I think our students commitment to community service really helped set us apart from other communities. We also want to thank the Gianaris family for taking the time to promote our town and our school district,” Hightower said.“District 7 covers 185 square miles and encompasses two suburban communities, several small towns, and a large, unincorporated rural area within its boundaries. We are fortunate to be home to quality communities and quality citizens from border to border. Whenever one of our District 7 communities is recognized, we can all take pride.” 

According to Seema Nayyar of Family Circle, one of the most useful references they found was the District 7’s Web site www.ecusd7.org. Nayyar said it served as a great window into the District 7 community, its students, staff and parents and led the Family Circle staff to the kinds of information that cemented Edwardsville’s place in the top 10.Nayyar also noted the community’s support of new school buildings through building referendums and the philanthropic support of the EGHM Foundation and other private donors that have brought outstanding athletic facilities to District 7. 

Niebur added that the city has been blessed with several quality schools. “This is a community that enjoys and insists upon high quality education for our children. But, we are not only blessed with an outstanding public school system, we have great parochial schools as well. Moreover, we have the tremendous honor of serving as home  to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and hosting a local campus of Lewis and ClarkCommunity College.”  

Along with Edwardsville, the other cities named to the list were: Edmond, Oklahoma; Hampton Township, Pennsylvania; La Verne, California; Windsor, Colorado; Round Rock, Texas; Simpsonville, South Carolina; Bristol, Rhode Island; Meridian, Idaho; and Bettendorf, Iowa.  

The magazine said the cities were selected based on the results of its exclusive survey to identify the best towns and cities cross the country for families.“The communities featured in the magazine’s annual roundup of perfect places to call home combine affordable housing, good neighbors, green spaces, strong public school systems and giving spirits,” the magazine stated in a news release. 

The magazine said it partnered with Onboard Informatics, a New York City research firm that provides real estate, demographic and other data, to assemble an initial list of 1,700 cities and towns with populations between 15,000 and 150,000. The magazine then selected approximately 800 of the communities with a high concentration of households with an average income of $75,000 and assessed them further based upon which places met their “family-friendly criteria” including affordable homes, quality schools, access to health care, green space, low crime rate and financial stability. 

The cities were ranked based upon the information above and narrowed down to 25 and then they began conducting interviews with school district and community officials and other local residents to determine their 10 best list. In addition, the magazine used Greatschools.net, a nonprofit Web site with a mission to improve education by inspiring parents to get involved, to provide them with the public school ratings used in the town rankings.  The magazine gave the city of

Edwardsville the following ratings: Population: 25,263; Median Income: $63,490; Median Home Price: $152,000; Households with Children: 31 percent; Student/Teacher Ratio: 15:1; and Great Schools Rating: 9 (out of 10).

The magazine also used the story of Ted and Jennifer Gianaris and their six children to illustrate why Edwardsville is a top 10 city for families – from the quality of the schools to the students involvement of in the community to the volunteerism of the community as a whole and the fundraising efforts put forth that have given the community things like its newest YMCA building to the Watershed Nature Center.   Even the Humane Society is mentioned as it is one of many places students from District 7 volunteer.Executive Director of the Metro East Humane Society Charles “Skip” Schmidt said the city is “very deserving” of the award.Schmidt, a long-time resident, has been active in many organizations in the community and most recently was named the director of MEHS, a non-profit organization that serves five counties and is based in Edwardsville.  

As part of the city’s profile, the magazine states, “students from all grades are asked to step up, whether it means visiting senior citizens or walking dogs for the Humane Society.”Schmidt said that is a true statement. He said the community is very supportive of MEHS and the students from District 7 are part of their volunteer base.“  

This is definitely a volunteer community,” Schmidt said.Schmidt said his family was very fortunate to find this community after his wife received a position at SIUE.“We moved here in 1989 to raise our family,” Schmidt said. “We love it here.”  

The magazine also used a photo provided by Edwardsville Police Lt. Scott Evers, who is also know around town for his talent and love of photography.The rankings are available in the August 2010 edition of “Family Circle” or can be currently seen on the Family Circle Web site at www.familycircle.com by clicking on “10 Best Towns for Families: 2010.” 

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The 2009 “Tax Equalization” process.

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

About the “Real Estate Tax Equalization Process”  in Madison

County. 

Recently, the owners of every parcel of real estate in Madison

County received a notice that their assessed value had been increased.   Every parcel has had, in fact, an “Equalization Factor” imposed. 

Edwardsville

Township’s factor was 1.0322, meaning the assessed value had been raised by 3.22%.  (It’s the same process that was performed in St. Clair county about a year ago, and the subject of our Blog # 12, titled “O’fallon Real Estate Taxes”, which is still posted here.)

First, this is in response to state-managed reviews, township by township, which claim that properties have been, on the average, under-assessed, hence the need for the adjustment, across the board to every parcel.  It’s a process that’s legally required in the state of Illinois “quadrennially”…every 4 years.  It’s performed under state supervision by the County

Board of Review, a part of the Treasurer’s office.  (It excludes foreclosures and sales of distressed properties, a controversial provision that’s provided in the law.) 

So what can one do?   The fact is, for this kind of assessment, not a lot.  Ordinary procedures for protesting individual assessments don’t apply here, although they might still be invoked if the overall assessment is simply deemed too high.  Ordinarly, these protests are made on individual parcels after the Assessor does his job and reports to the owner, where objections are somewhat easily filed with The Board of Review itself.  But this equalization process is not in that “ordinary” category. Here, the Board of Review is leveling the “Equalization Factor” against every single property; (In fact, The Board of Review by doing this is indirectly criticizing the Assessor as not having done his job properly…hence the need for the overall adjustment.)  And that makes a great deal of difference in how objections are made: Since The Board of Review is applying the state imposed “Equalization Factor”, an individual owner cannot file an objection with the local board for that reason.  It instead must be done directly with a state agency called, “The Property Tax Appeal Board”, (web site: www.state.il.us/agency/ptab, which web address is on the back of the card.) And the complaint there can only be with the “Tax Equalization Factor” set.  That agency is not prepared to deal with individual assessments otherwise.  In my mind, that makes it nearly impossible, surely improbable, for individuals to win, (visualizing Don Quixote’s “Windmill Tilting”.)   I anticipate that the local Board of Review would also discourage you from making this appeal. 

So this “bottom line”:  Individuals should work through the math and see how it affects them.  Take the assessed value after the equalization factor is applied and multiply it times 3, (because assessed values are 1/3 of real.)  Compare that number with what you’ve paid for the home, or what you think the home is really worth.  In the several cases I’ve worked through, these new assessed values, after “equalization”, are still a bit under the purchase price, making it difficult to lodge an objection.  However if the new assessed value is substantially higher, than I would still go to The Board of Review and file an appeal, (not for the equalization factor, but just because it’s overall, too high.)  You would then need to prepare a presentation for the Board of Review based on “comparables” (valuations of homes equal to yours,) in the ordinary way in which taxes are challenged.  We can help you with this. Sometimes, a “Realtor’s Opinion” will help, (but probably not ours, if we helped you buy the home.)  A purchased appraisal might also help.  We could help select that help. Your protest should be filed with the County

Board of Review, which office is in the courthouse annex at 157 N.

Main, Edwardsville, phone #: 692-6210.  All of the process and the rules are also posted on the county website; www.co.mad.il.us, under  “Assessment Info”.  Or call 692-6210 for some guidance. There’s a time window here, too, so look for it. Sorry about the discouraging word….Merrill 4/15/09.

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O’Fallon real estate taxes:

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

About the “Real Estate Tax Equalization Process” currently going on in St. Clair County. 

We’ve received many inquiries about this process and how it might affect individual tax bills for county residents, especially, residents of O’fallon Township.

This morning, (June 16) I had a lengthy conversation with The St. Clair County Board of Review Director, and came away with a much better understanding.   Here is what they say is going on:

First, they flatly claim that some areas, notably all of O’Fallon Township, have been “under assessed”.   The touted (and legally required) quadrennial assessment is behind and so therefore are updates in assessments.  A review of all residential sales from 2007 (excluding foreclosures and other “distressed” sales,) by The Board of Review defined therefore, the “equalization factor” for the whole…so all residents have been increased by that common factor, 1.04, or a bit more than a 4% increase.  (Some, notably O’Fallon City execs have criticized the exclusion of foreclosures, but state law evidently allows that.  Keep in mind that these sales were from 2007, presumably a year of depressed sales values anyway.)

So the cards people have been receiving are from The Board of Review and not the Assessor’s office.  Therefore, the ordinary procedures for protesting tax assessments do NOT prevail:

Ordinary procedures for protesting individual assessments are made after the Assessor does his job and the Assessor reports to the owner, where objections are filed first with The Board of Review itself.  

            Here, the Board of Review is leveling the “equalization factor” against every single property, (NOT the Assessor, and in fact, The Board of Review is rather criticizing the Assessor as not having done his job properly…hence the need for the overall adjustment.

And that makes a great deal of difference in how objections are made:

            Since The Board of Review is applying the “equalization factor”, an owner cannot file an objection with them, it must be done directly with a state agency called, “The Property Tax Appeal Board”, (web site: www.state.il.us/agency/ptab.)

            And the complaint there can only be with the “tax equalization factor” set.  That agency is not prepared to deal with individual assessments otherwise.

            And in my mind, that makes it nearly impossible, surely improbable, to win.  I see visions of Don Quixote’s “Windmill Tilting”.

So this “bottom line”:  Individuals should work through the math and see how it affects them.  Take the assessed value after the equalization factor is applied and multiply it times 3, (because assessed values are 1/3 of real.)  Compare that number with what you’ve paid for the home, or what you think the home is really worth.  In the several cases I’ve worked through, these new assessed values, after “equalization”, are still a bit under the purchase price, making it difficult to lodge an objection.

If the new assessed value is substantially higher, than I would go to The Board of Review and ask them what you should do to object.  I believe the advice would include preparing a case for the Board of Review based on “comparables” (valuations of homes equal to yours,) in the ordinary way in which taxes are challenged.  There’s a time window here, too, so ask about it. We can help find the comparables.

You’re going to be discouraged by The Board of Review to file the objection with the state, which would be limited in scope to objecting to the equalization factor itself.  But you probably deserve to hear that directly from them….at 277-6600, extensions are 2493, 2488 and 2489.

Sorry about the discouraging word….Merrill 6/18/08

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Earthquake!

Friday, April 18th, 2008

This morning, Friday, April 18, 2008, the local area felt a significant earthquake…the first in many years.   About 4 in the morning, most of us were awakened with shaking from a genuine earthquake…5.3 on the Richter Scale.  It was centered in a small town near the Indiana border, about 125 miles away, but it was clearly felt for several seconds.  Residents as far away as Chicago felt the tremors.   Then just about 20 minutes ago (like 10:30 central) an aftershock was felt that measured 4.3 or so.  Unusual circumstances all for the midwest, and we have heard of no damage anywhere, just a jiggling or shaking.  The last earthquake most remember was in 1968, when a 5.4 earthquake occurred, centered in about the same area.

 With no connection whatsoever, that comes on the heels of an unusually wet (so far) springtime.   March saw a record rainfall of over 10 inches, (where we have perhaps an average of 38 inches per year.)   The ground is the most saturated it’s been for many years…so that’s good for crops and lawns.  But the wet fields are still impossible to “farm”, and obviously, that’s not good.   Some rivers in Missouri flooded, but flood levels quickly subsided.  Here, high on the bluffs, we were not threatened at all.

A year ago, we had a record-late freeze that ruined most of the local peach crop and many apples.  We appear to have missed that event this year…..so far.

We’re getting ready to post a group of weather “records” on the Trivia site…watch for them.  We think they’re interesting, including the great New Madrid Quake of 1812…the most powerful the midwest ever felt in recorded history….and the big rain of 1957, where 13 to 15 inches fell overnight on most of the St. Louis area…an astonishing amount.  

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