Tower Grove Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting

April 28, 2009 7:15 p.m.

President Mark Froese chaired the meeting. Mark noted that the Board members will be canvassing the neighborhood in May to try to get additional members. Further details will be distributed and everyone is welcome to help.

Pauline Ashton, Membership Secretary, had membership forms. Dues are $15 per household (two votes), $10 per individual and $100 for a lifetime membership. Please get a form from Pauline if you have not joined or renewed your membership yet.

Joe Thele, Program Manager of the Neighborhood Stabilization Team, introduced the 15^th Ward Neighborhood Stabilization Officer Judy Lane. Judy distributed a Swine Flu Fact Sheet and a flyer with information on cleaning viral-contaminated surfaces. In addition, she asked residents to call 622-4800 to report standing water which can serve as a mosquito breeding site.

In terms of crime, Judy said that Tower Grove South has had some burglaries in which thieves target flat-panel televisions. She recommended that if you get a new television, don’t put the cardboard box in the alley or trash and that you keep your curtains closed so thieves won’t be alerted to the television. She also mentioned that although there used to be many nuisance properties in the neighborhood, the current nuisance process has helped eliminate most of them. If you have any questions or concerns, Judy can be contacted at 613-7143 and lanej@stlouiscity.com.

Andy Cantwell was at the meeting on behalf of Senator Jeff Smith. If anyone has any concerns, please contact him or Senator Smith.

Debby Ervin, of Prudential Real Estate Properties and a TGH resident for two years, gave a presentation on what’s green and what’s not for homes. She shared a handout with methods for living green and a flyer on how to safely dispose of household hazardous waste. After the meeting, Debbie sent a link for a rebate form from Laclede Gas offering rebates for installation of energy efficient boilers, furnaces and thermostats (installed between November 28, 2008 and July 31, 2009).

Ed Bushmeyer, Assessor, St Louis City, and Claudia Rowe, residential appraisal manager for the St. Louis City Assessor’s office, have been visiting many of the area neighborhood associations during this round of biannual property tax assessments. Ed presented information about the assessment and what is involved in the process. In prior years, rapidly ascending housing prices led to big increases in assessed values. Since the last cycle (2007), however, the market has been down and this will be reflected in the assessment. The city uses an average sale price to determine housing values. Ed had several charts that displayed the effect that housing mix has on sale prices. These charts showed how the number of houses selling at various ranges can make a difference in the average price. During the current slow real estate market, there are fewer expensive houses selling and more houses in foreclosure, so these factors have lowered the average price. The estimated tax rate will be 1 cent lower than in 2008.

There are 12 appraisers and four supervisors for residential property and these appraisers review a total of 108,000 taxable parcels. The assessor’s office has the appraised values posted online at http://stlcin.missouri.org/assessor/lookup.cfm

The assessment notices will be mailed in the third week of June. We would have had the assessments by now based on past practice; however, there were several extra steps that had to be done this year including showing the old and new appraised values and indicating the estimated tax bill that will be sent in November. Mailing of these notices will be spread over three separate days this year to help even out the load of calls to the assessor’s office.

The deadline to appeal is July 13^th. During an appeal, appraisers will come out to review the outside (on which the original assessment is made) and inspect the condition of the interior. If the appraiser agrees with the appeal, an adjustment will be made. If not, the next appeal would go to the four-member Board of Equalization. Homeowners make their case directly to the Board and if they agree with the appeal, an adjustment will be made. Historically, one third of these appeals are adjusted. The last step of appeal goes to the State Tax Commission. Ed noted that although it has happened in the past, there are rarely cases where adjustments are made that increase the rates.

Mark noted that Autumn Fest is coming up this fall and asked for volunteers to chair the Autumn Fest committee. Please contact any Board Member if you’d like to help out.

Rich Seifert, one of the Block Captains, reported on the Tower Grove South Block Captains’ meeting held on April 27^th. There were two speakers—Kelly Moore from the International Institute, and Dale Sweet from Gravois Park Neighborhood Association. Kelly discussed the services the Institute provides to local refugees and immigrants. She noted that Institute will be sponsoring the Festival of Nations on Aug. 29-30. Dale discussed how the neighborhood has formed a volunteer patrol that goes through the neighborhood logging problems or concerns such as street and/or alley lights being out, broken windows, graffiti, etc. These problem logs are then FAXed to the Citizens’ Service Bureau (or Ameren, for alley lights). They feel that since city services are delivered on a complaint-driven system, this method results in more effective resolution of these issues. The Neighborhood Yard Sale will be held on May 2. In addition, a group has formed to oppose the shutdown of Horace Mann School on Juniata. For more information, contact Kara Holland, karacholland@gmail.com.

The Board arranged for The Gelateria, on Grand, to provide a free treat to members, so we could get together after the meeting for socialization; tickets were distributed to those who were interested in attending.

May 26^th is the next meeting. Representatives from Ameren and Laclede Gas will present tips on energy efficiency.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Claudia Seifert, Secretary