Dorr Township Assessor Patty Sampley will be putting in more hours and will be paid higher wages for her services for the next several years because Dorr and many other municipalities are not in compliance with current state rules.

Clerk Brian Boot said, “It’s basically $150,000 over three years.” He added that he doesn’t like the added expense, but if the assessing isn’t upgraded, the state will come in and do work at added cost.

So Sampley will be working three days rather than one day per week and she will perform a reassessment for the entire township and its more than 3,200 parcels.

“This isn’t just a problem for Dorr Township,” explained Treasurer Jim Martin. “It’s statewide. All rural townships failed their audits because the state changed its standards.”
Objecting to the move was Trustee John Tuinstra, who said, “We’re looking at spending a lot of money, way over $100,000. Why would the board spend such a large amount of money on such a small rationale?”

Tuinstra moved to have Sampley do assessments on 25 properties, show changes in taxes and then present in writing her analysis.

“We’re just too free in giving away money to whomever asks,” Trustee Patty Senneker said.

Boot answered, “You say that we’re giving the assessor a pay raise, but actually we’re giving her more hours or work. I don’t care of the dollars go up or down, I just want it right.”

Supervisor Jeff Miling said, “You can’t expect to meet the new state requirements without increasing the number of hours that she’ll have to work.”

Tuinstra’s suggested amendment failed on a 5-2 vote, and then the board voted 5-2, with Tuinstra and Senneker dissenting, to agree to the added assessor hours and expense.

Sampley was contracted by the township from the firm of Ted Gruizenga in September 2013 after Don Kaczanowski retired.