State Board of Assessors Harold Stassen Building Room 2040 Tuesday, September 17, 2013 Chairperson Steve Sinell convened the meeting at 9:00 am. Gregg Larson was unable to attend. Board members in attendance were: Keith Albertsen Mike Amo Jane Grossinger Jon Klockziem Brian Koester Dave Marhula Steve Sinell Deb Volkert Minutes of the July 30, 2013 meeting were reviewed. Keith Albertsen moved to approve the minutes. Brian Koester seconded the motion. The motion carried. Updates On Friday, April 5, 2013 the Board mailed out 915 License Renewal Applications for the Fiscal Year 2014 License year (488 CMA, 65 CMAS, 76 AMA, 240 SAMA and 46 Record Retention). To date, 838 licenses have been renewed; 35 licenses not renewed, 43 renewed as Record Retention and 17 Record Retention not renewed. The board decided to add a question on the 2015 license renewal applications for assessors to list licensed or unlicensed people working under you. Licensed Assessor list will be located on the website shortly after the September board meeting. Red Lake and Sibley County Requests for Jurisdiction License Level Exception that were denied. Policy Updates Keith Albertsen made the motion to revise the policy regarding appraiser experience to read: Appraiser experience may be counted as assessment experience. Two years of appraisal experience is the maximum that can be used for any license level. The minimum amount of appraisal experience that may be considered is six months. Deb Volkert seconded the motion. The motion carried. This is effective for any applications submitted 9/17/2013 and thereafter. If an assessor licensed before 9/17/2013 has or had a valid appraiser license and subsequently applies for an upgraded assessor license, their assessor start date will be changed to reflect this new policy. Deb Volkert made the motion to add the following policy: For an initial assessor s license application any technical or clerical assessment related experience may be counted as assessment experience up to a maximum of two years. This excludes reciprocity of assessment experience in another state which is addressed in a separate policy. Jane Grossinger seconded the motion. The motion carried.
September 17, 2013 Page 2 of 8 Policy Updates (cont.) The board also discussed the possibility of changing the rules to include a trainee/apprentice certificate or license that would be used by data collectors or new people during their first three years of working. Also discussed the possibility of requiring that within ten days (or other specified timeframe) employers would need to register unlicensed employees with the Board who are assisting in making decisions regarding valuing and classifying property. More details would need to be worked out including at what point the board would be notified in the case of an employee doing clerical work that starts doing more appraiser type work. Application for Certified Minnesota Assessor Michaelle Cronquist, Crow Wing County, applied for the Certified Minnesota Assessor license. Her education includes Assessment Laws and Procedures, Basic Appraisal Principles, Basic Appraisal Procedures and Mass Appraisal Basics. Assessment experience since September 2010. William Hilback, Itasca County, applied for the Certified Minnesota Assessor license. His education includes Assessment Laws and Procedures, Kaplan Residential Appraisal 101 104 and Mass Appraisal Basics. William has a Resident Appraiser license number 20355603 which counts as one year of assessment experience plus 1 year of assessment experience at Itasca County. Amber Hill, Polk County, applied for the Certified Minnesota Assessor license. Her education includes Assessment Laws and Procedures, Kaplan Basic Appraisal Principles, Kaplan Basic Appraisal Procedures and Mass Appraisal Basics. Assessment experience since August 2012. Vickie Sullivan, Crow Wing County, applied for the Certified Minnesota Assessor license. Her education includes Assessment Laws and Procedures, Basic Appraisal Principles, Basic Appraisal Procedures and Mass Appraisal Basics. Assessment experience since September 4, 2012. Jon Van Nurden, MN Department of Revenue, applied for the Certified Minnesota Assessor license. His education includes Assessment Laws and Procedures, Basic Appraisal Principles, Basic Appraisal Procedures and Mass Appraisal Basics. Assessment experience since April 2012. Sean Worthington, St. Louis County, applied for the Certified Minnesota Assessor license. His education includes Assessment Laws and Procedures, ProSource Residential Appraisal 101 104 and Mass Appraisal Basics. Sean has a Resident Appraiser license number 20442380 which counts as one year of assessment experience plus 3 months of assessment experience at St. Louis County. Deb Volkert made a motion to award the Certified Minnesota Assessor license to Michaelle Cronquist, William Hilback, Amber Hill, Vickie Sullivan, Jon Van Nurden and Sean Worthington. Brian Koester seconded the motion. The motion carried.
September 17, 2013 Page 3 of 8 Application for Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor Shayne Bender, LeSueur County, applied for his SAMA license. His education includes Assessment Laws, History, and Procedures, Mass Appraisal Basics, Basic Income Approach to Value, Income Approach to Valuation, Management and Supervision, MAAO USPAP and a Bachelors Degree in Real Estate from St. Cloud State University. Shayne passed the Income Property Case Study Exam in August 2013. Shayne had a successful oral interview with the Board in May 2012. Shayne has 11 years of assessment experience and is applying for the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License. Brian Koester made a motion to award the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License to Shayne Bender. Dave Marhula seconded the motion. The motion carried. Jennifer Blumers City of Bloomington, applied for her SAMA license. Her education includes: Assessment Laws and Procedures, a Bachelors Degree in Real estate from St. Cloud State University, Mass Appraisal Basics, Income Approach to Valuation, Basic Income Approach to Value, MN Assessment Administration and USPAP. Jennifer passed the Income Property Case Study Exam in August 2013. Jennifer had a successful oral interview with the Board in January 2012. Jennifer has 5 years of assessment experience and is applying for the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License. Mike Amo made a motion to award the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License to Jennifer Blumers. Deb Volkert seconded the motion. The motion carried. Patrick Chapman, Ramsey County, applied for his SAMA license. His education includes Assessment Law and Procedures, ProSource Residential Appraisal 101 104, Certified Residential Appraiser license number 20297064, Mass Appraisal Basics, Basic Income Approach to Value, Income Approach to Valuation, MN Assessment Administration and ProSource 105 USPAP. Patrick s Form report passed the grading committee in January 2012 and he passed the Residential Case Study Exam in February 2012. Patrick passed the Income Property Case Study Exam in August 2013. Patrick had a successful oral interview with the Board in May 2012. Patrick has 9 years of assessment experience and is applying for the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor license. Jane Grossinger made a motion to award the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License to Patrick Chapman. Dave Marhula seconded the motion. The motion carried. Matthew Friedrichsen, Ramsey County, applied for his SAMA license. His education includes Assessment Laws, History and Procedures, Kaplan Residential Appraisal 101-104, Resident Appraiser license number 20372449, Mass Appraisal Basics, Basic Income Approach to Value, Income Approach to Valuation, MN Assessment Administration, Kaplan Appraisal 105 USPAP. Matthew s Form report passed the grading committee in April 2011 and he passed the Residential Case Study Exam in March 2012. Matthew passed the Income Property Case Study Exam in August 2013. Matthew had a successful oral interview with the Board in May 2012. Matthew has 11 years of assessment experience and is applying for the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License. Mike Amo made a motion to award the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License to Matthew Friedrichsen. Brian Koester seconded the motion. The motion carried.
September 17, 2013 Page 4 of 8 Application for Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor (cont.) Wayne Knutson, Swift County, applied for his SAMA license. His education includes Assessment Laws, History and Procedure, Course B - Residential Appraisal, Course H Techniques of Mass Appraisal, Basic Income Approach to Value, Income Approach to Valuation, Assessment Administration and USPAP. Wayne s Form report passed the grading committee in October 2012 and he passed the Residential Case Study Exam in October 2012. Wayne passed the Income Property Case Study Exam in August 2013. Wayne had a successful oral interview with the Board in November 2012. Wayne has 35 years of assessment experience and is applying for the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License. Brian Koester made a motion to award the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License to Wayne Knutson. Jane Grossinger seconded the motion. The motion carried. Mark Landsverk, Polk County, applied for his SAMA license. His education includes Course A Assessment Law, ProSource 101-104, Mass Appraisal Basics, Basic Income Approach to Value, Income Approach to Valuation, MAAO Assessment Administration and USPAP. Mark s Form report passed the grading committee in June 2012 and he passed the Residential Case Study Exam in August 2012. Mark passed the Income Property Case Study Exam in August 2013. Mark had a successful oral interview with the Board in November 2012. Mark has 6 years of assessment experience and he is applying for the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License. Dave Marhula made a motion to award the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License to Mark Landsverk. Jon Klockziem seconded the motion. The motion carried. Catherine Macken, Hennepin County, applied for her SAMA license. Her education includes Assessment Laws and Procedure, Mass Appraisal Basics, Income Approach to Valuation, Assessment Administration and USPAP. Catherine s 4 Year Degree in Real Estate substitutes for the Residential Appraisal Principles, Residential Appraisal Procedures, Residential Narrative and one income course. Catherine passed the Income Property Case Study Exam in August 2013. Catherine had a successful oral interview with the Board in November 2012. Catherine has 5 years of assessment experience and she is applying for the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License. Jon Klockziem made a motion to award the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License to Catherine Macken. Jane Grossinger seconded the motion. The motion carried. Jason McCaslin, Jackson County, applied for his SAMA license. His education includes Assessment Law and Procedures, Kaplan Residential Appraisal 101-104, Mass Appraisal Basics, Basic Income Approach to Value, Income Approach to Valuation, MN Assessment Administration, Kaplan Appraisal 105 USPAP and has a Certified Residential Appraiser license number 20571923. Jason s Form report passed the grading committee in April 2012 and he passed the Residential Case Study Exam in April 2012. Jason passed the Income Property Case Study Exam in May 2012. Jason had a successful oral interview with the Board in May 2012. Jason has 6 years of assessment experience and is applying for the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License. Keith Albertsen made a motion to award the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License to Jason McCaslin. Deb Volkert seconded the motion. The motion carried.
September 17, 2013 Page 5 of 8 Application for Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor (cont.) Jill Murray, City of Moorhead, applied for her SAMA license. Her education includes Assessment Laws and Procedure, Registered Real Property Appraiser License number 20391140, Mass Appraisal Basics, Basic Income Approach, Income Approach to Valuation, Assessment Administration and USPAP. Jill s Form report passed the grading committee in October 2012 and she passed the Residential Case Study Exam in November 2012. Jill passed the Income Property Case Study Exam in August 2013. Jill had a successful oral interview with the Board in November 2012. Jill has 7 years of assessment experience and she is applying for the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License. Dave Marhula made a motion to award the Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor License to Jill Murray. Brian Koester seconded the motion. The motion carried. Approved Continuing Education Hours Requests Bob Wilson requested CEH s for the Form Report Grader s Workshop being held on September 24, 2013 sponsored by MAAO. The board s continuing education committee approved the workshop for 4 continuing education hours via email on August 2, 2013. Paul Sandvik requested CEH s for the 17 th Annual CAMA/GIS Technologies Conference that was held on March 4 7, 2013 sponsored by IAAO. The board s continuing education committee approved the conference for 19 continuing education hours via email on August 5, 2013. Kurt Beckstrom requested CEH s for the Appraising Natural Resources course that was held on June 26, 2013 sponsored by American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers. The board s continuing education committee approved the course for 8 continuing education hours via email on August 5, 2013. Doreen Pehrson requested CEH s for the Workshop 171 - IAAO Standards of Professional Practice and Ethics online course. The board s continuing education committee approved the online course for 7 continuing education hours via email on August 5, 2013. Shawn Halligan requested CEH s for the Upon Further Review class that was held on August 1, 2013 sponsored by Kaplan. The board s continuing education committee approved the class for 7.5 continuing education hours via email on August 6, 2013. Dave Armstrong requested CEH s for the Apartment Valuation Seminar that was held on August 6, 2013 sponsored by Steele County. The board s continuing education committee approved the seminar for 4 continuing education hours via email on August 14, 2013. Chuck Pelzer requested CEH s for the Avoid Appraisal Pitfalls in Foreclosures, Short Sales and REO s class that was held on August 15, 2013 sponsored by Kaplan. The board s continuing education committee approved the class for 4 continuing education hours via email on August 26, 2013. Chuck Pelzer requested CEH s for the 2013 Appraisal Industry Update class that was held on August 21, 2013 sponsored by Kaplan. The board s continuing education committee approved the class for 7.5 continuing education hours via email on August 26, 2013.
September 17, 2013 Page 6 of 8 Weeklong Course Review The Assessment Administration course is being updated by the Department of Revenue. It will be held on October 7-10, 2013. The board reviewed the updated course summary and schedule. There are 29 hours of instruction plus the exam. Deb made a motion to approve the Assessment Administration course for the AMA course requirement. Brian seconded the motion. The motion carried. The course will also count as 29 continuing education hours plus the exam time. The board discussed whether they should review week-long courses whenever they are revised. For example, the Assessment Administration course was previously approved; however, it was on the agenda since it has been revised. It appears that MAAO Principles and Procedures were revised, however, those revisions were never submitted to the board. The board should also review PACE every four years when it is updated. The board decided that they would like to see the course summary and schedule for any week-long course that has been revised two meetings before they will be taught. Jon Klockziem will talk to the Department of Revenue regarding this requirement and Brian Koester will talk to the MAAO regarding this requirement. Request for Elective Course Elizabeth Vatsaas requested the board to review the course description for Agricultural Land Classification sponsored by Montana Department of Revenue to be used as an elective course. Total number of hours for this course is 32 hours. Keith Albertsen made a motion to approve the Agricultural Land Classification to be used as an elective course. Dave Marhula seconded the motion. The motion carried. Appointments with the Board John Hagen, DOR Property Tax Division Director met with the board to discuss education and other matters, including the new progressive discipline language in statute, the possibility of a separate license for clerical/administrative staff in the counties, the Department of Revenue assisting the board in reviewing licensure courses that come to the board for approval, etc. The recent Principles and Procedures courses were also discussed including the high failure rate, changes in the course that were not approved by the Board, high level of complaints from staff regarding the course and instructor and the need for a better method of monitoring courses. Discussion Items Proposed 2014 Board Meeting Schedule was set as follows: Tuesday, January 21 in St. Michael at the St. Michael City Center Thursday, March 13 in St. Paul at the Department of Revenue Thursday, May 15 in Sauk Rapids at the Sauk Rapids Government Center Tuesday, July 22 in Sauk Rapids at the Sauk Rapids Government Center Tuesday, September 16 in St. Paul at the Department of Revenue Tuesday, November 25 in St. Michael at the St. Michael City Center
September 17, 2013 Page 7 of 8 Discussion Items (cont.) Proctors for Online Courses for Licensure: The board discussed a policy regarding allowable proctors for exams for online courses for licensure. Keith Albertsen researched policies of other organizations regarding exam proctors for on-line courses and presented his findings. Keith Albertsen made a motion to implement the following as policy: The proctor for an online exam for licensure must be a disinterested third party with no conflict of interest who verifies a student s identity and processes a board approved affidavit that the student received no outside assistance. Mike Amo seconded the motion. The motion carried. CEHs for Exams: The board discussed its policy related to whether CEHs are granted for an exam. Keith Albertsen made the motion to change the policy from Continuing education is not granted for exams or course challenges. It is granted for classroom hours only to Continuing education is not granted for course challenges. Jon Klockziem seconded the motion. The motion carried. Deb Volkert made a motion to revise the following policy from Continuing education does not require the passing of any course exams to Continuing education does not require the passing of any course exams. However, if an exam is taken, allotted examination time will be included in the continuing education hours. Jon Klockziem seconded the motion. The motion carried. Policy Question: Periodically, an assessor requests a license upgrade to be acted on at the board meeting before they actually reach their experience requirement. The board discussed a policy related to these requests. Keith Albertsen made a motion to establish the following policy: The board will act on requests for a license where all requirements other than experience have been met, if the applicant will meet their experience requirement within 30 days of the meeting. Brian Koester seconded the motion. The motion carried. Approving licensure courses/updates over emails: The board discussed in what situations, if any, the board should review core course alternates and core course updates via email versus the next board meeting. No decision was reached. Week-long course ongoing review: Steve Sinell reported on the Education Summit meeting held with MAAO and DOR that he attended. License Level discussion: Deb provided the board with the most recent version (Version 1) of the jurisdictional license level list for select counties for their review and discussion. Brian Koester made a motion that Department of Revenue staff put together the version 1 proposal for the entire state with appropriate clarifications. This document will then be sent to County Assessors for feedback and/or appeal within 30 days. Dave Marhula seconded the motion. The motion carried. The board also discussed the Jurisdictional Licensing Proposed Policy. Deb Volkert made a motion to update the Jurisdictional Licensing Proposed policy with the changes that were discussed. Brian Koester seconded the motion. The motion carried.
September 17, 2013 Page 8 of 8 Discussion Items (cont.) Dave Marhula moved to table the balance of the agenda until the November meeting. Jon Klockziem seconded the motion. The motion carried. Following are the items that were tabled until the November meeting: Provisional or Temporary License Online Continuing Ed Assessment Experience Code of Conduct and Ethics for License Minnesota Assessors Data collectors for income property Rule Changes There being no further business, the chairperson set the next meeting date as Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at the St. Michael City Center in St. Michael at 9:30 am. Dave Marhula moved to pay the expenses for the meeting. Keith Albertsen seconded the motion. The motion carried. Deb Volkert moved to adjourn the meeting. Dave Marhula seconded the motion. The motion carried.