Commissioners hope to suspend PTABOA appointments to allow time for investigation
By JESSICA BRICKER
The Wells County commissioners will attempt to temporarily suspend or remove their two appointments to the county’s Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals in order to prevent a quorum for an upcoming meeting.
One of their appointees, Chandler Gerber, presented information Monday from his first five weeks on the board, outlining what he described as inappropriate and potentially illegal conduct by Assessor Kelly Herman and fellow PTABOA board members Judy Affolder and Larry McChessney (see related story).
Monday’s meeting room was packed as Gerber spoke for about 15 minutes. Afterward, commissioners Michael Vanover, Blake Gerber and Jeff Stringer approved action that will lead to County Attorney Colin Andrews looking into whether the commissioners have the authority to suspend their appointments of Chandler Gerber and McChessney to the board so that it cannot legally gather during a scheduled Monday, Feb. 14, meeting. The third member, Affolder, is appointed by the county council.
The commissioners agreed they want more time to investigate the allegations and fully understand what has taken place.
Vanover stressed that Herman is an elected official, of which the commissioners have no authority, but what they can do is get control over the PTABOA.
The assessor, he said, must execute whatever action the board decides. What Chandler Gerber presented is disturbing, Vanover added.
Further action by the board could continue to “muddy the waters,” Vanover said, and he wanted to prevent anything else from happening while they investigate. Otherwise, it could get worse, Andrews acknowledged.
Andrews, who declined to comment on the matter prior to Monday’s meeting, told the commissioners that the PTABOA is a “quasi-independent” board and members would have to be removed with just cause. Members facing removal would have the right to be heard during a hearing.
Pending legal authority to temporarily suspend the board members, Stringer wanted to investigate the assessor’s actions, the board’s actions and whether the board members should continue to serve going forward.
Chandler Gerber said he contacted the commissioners and Andrews by email ahead of Monday’s meeting because taxpayers were upset, he was caught in the middle, and what he was witnessing was “totally out of control.”
It’s possible the matter will be investigated by the prosecutor’s office and/or the state attorney general’s office, the commissioners were told.
jessica@news-banner.com
