Wheatfield OKs assessment break

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008

Wheatfield taxpayers can now make home improvements without seeing an immediate jump in their property assessment.

The Town Board on Monday approved a graduated exemption, starting with 100 percent the first year, then gradually reducing over eight years for all projects requiring a permit, whether it be a shed or the addition of a new room.

Supervisor Tim Demler said the average home improvement in Wheatfield is $60,000, so the new local law on average will mean a tax savings of $4,000 to $5,000 to homeowners planning improvements.

He added that the Niagara-Wheatfield School district is expected to support the program.

Attorney Robert O’Toole said the new law was taken “virtually verbatim” from the state Real Property Tax Law 421F.

In other matters:

•O’Toole reported that the Niagara Northtowns Soccer Club is interested using part of the Town Hall property to build soccer fields.

The board delayed taking any action on the matter after Councilman Gil Doucet noted that he often walks his dog in the area being considered, and during the spring and fall, the area is quite swampy.

“I’m more than interested in having them come. I just don’t like the spot behind Town Hall,” Doucet said, adding that he’d rather see the soccer fields at Mario Park.

•It also was reported that the National Guard is willing to provide equipment and personnel at no charge to the town to help build athletic fields. Demler pointed out that Recreation Director Ed Sturgeon has been working with the Guard to set up a program. The Guard has state-of-the-art equipment and needs to provide staff training and show use of that equipment in the community, Demler said.

•A letter to the Public Service Commission is going out from the town on lack of cooperation from Time Warner Cable.

Councilman Larry Helwig reported that franchise fees from the cable provider were down last year. He began an investigation after a Wheatfield resident on Townline Road asked why his cable bill indicated that his franchise fee was going to the Town of Pendleton.

Helwig said he tried to get information from Time Warner for the better part of a year. He was able to get information showing that fees weren’t sent to the town from about 156 homes in the Townline Road, Crescent Drive, Forest Lake Drive and Forest Parkway area, but the cable company then stopped providing information, he said.

Based on the information he did receive, Helwig estimated the town was shorted about $16,000 in cable franchise fees last year alone.

“We’re definitely going to go after our money,” Demler said.

•After closing the meeting, the board met with potential developers who want to build a motel and RV park at 291 Niagara Falls Blvd., which would provide 50 rooms and 100 RV hookups.