Board defers waiver requests for major commercial properties, authorizes subpoenas

The West Bend City Board of Review voted on motions Sept. 20 to defer action on four waiver requests for commercial properties and to authorize the assessor to prepare subpoenas where necessary.

"I represent the assessor and the city of West Bend in property tax litigation matters," city representative Amy Sibel told the board. She asked the board to delay ruling on waiver requests for two Walgreens locations, a Walmart property and the Decorah Shopping Center while the assessor issues subpoenas and seeks production of income and expense documents. "If the assessor asks the board to subpoena information pertinent to the subject property, the board shall," she said, citing the statutory directive as the basis for issuing subpoenas in appropriate cases.

The board voted to defer acting on the waiver requests and approved a separate motion allowing the chair to sign future paperwork and subpoenas prepared by the assessor's office. The board indicated that, depending on compliance with any subpoenas and the sufficiency of produced records, the board will later consider motions to dismiss, motions for waiver, or schedule valuation hearings as appropriate.