(KNOX) -The Grand Forks City Council approved more than $19 million in special assessments.
City Attorney Dan Gaustad told council that a ruling by the North Dakota Supreme Court changed the way things need to be done locally.
“This year it’s a little different. There‘s a recommendation to monetize the benefits from the particular special assessment projects. That was the result of a recent North Dakota Supreme Court Decision,’ Gaustad explained to council.
The special assessments cover a wide array of municipal projects in the City of Grand Forks, from sidewalks to the paving of streets, street lighting and storm sewer work.
“Through tremendous efforts from public health, to engineering, to finance and the city assessor’s office, they put together information as to the protective measures that exist from these special assessments projects,” Gaustad told council.
All of the projects have been reviewed by the Special Assessment Commission. The Commission held a public hearing on these projects on September 26.
The Special Assessment Commission forwards the projects to city council for recommendation of certification and to the Grand Forks County Auditor for collection.
Following the hearings, the Special Assessment Commission approved the findings, subject to evaluation.
The Commissioners held a meeting on October 17 to determine such benefit. The Commission accepted the rationale of determining a dollar amount of benefit for the associated projects, and found that benefit does exceed the cost for all of the projects.
The special assessments passed the Grand Forks City Council unanimously.
The assessments come in at a total of $19,203,150.04.
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