It was an uneventful meeting for the Burleigh County Commission, moving forward onPaving several agenda items in which they had little leeway in the decision-making process.

The most contentious item was a hearing for declaring the necessity of a street improvement for Brookfield Estates subdivision, located east of Bismarck on old Highway 10. A petition signed by 62 percent of the landowners in Street Improvement District No. 34 calls for the paving of Barston Lane, West Bristol Drive, East Bristol, Belmont Lane, Birch Drive and 80th Street S.E. from County Road 10 to Belmont Lane.

Estimated cost of the project is $347,050 with the county agreeing to pay half of the cost with the remainder funded by special assessments to the adjacent property owners. Auditor Kevin Glatt did a quick estimate, figuring on a 12-year assessment that each property owner would pay about $700 a year.

Commissioner Doug Schonert, who is a Realtor, said he feels the improvements will be reflected in the market value of the homes going up. This also likely means that taxes will go up with the property values, but Glatt said this won't be immediately noticeable since it will be up to the township assessor using comparable sales to increase property values.

There are about 61 lots in the subdivision which will be figured into the assessment district. Commissioners also added a provision that should property across 80th Street eventually be developed, those properties would be included in the assessment. The property is currently agricultural.

In the motion declaring the improvement district, commissioners pointed out they were only a conduit for the residents, the majority of whom want the roads paved, to take the project to engineering. Glatt noted bids will likely be opened in April or May with work completed by summer's end. Residents likely will receive the special assessment on their 2006 tax statement.

The petition could be revisited if the engineering costs comes back substantially higher than the estimate used on the petition.

In other action the commission:

n Denied a requested abatement and settlement of taxes for the Super Value Stores Inc. warehouse at 707 Airport Road. Representatives for Super Value claim the 4.5 acre warehouse is over-valued and want reduced values and taxes for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. The city of Bismarck recommended the request be denied.

n Approved expenditure of $47,000 from the jail maintenance fund to fix the Detention Center's elevator. The elevator is expected to be back in service by the end of February or early March.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)