The Leavenworth Times
The assessed value for property in Leavenworth County has increased this year by 8.37%, according to the county appraiser.
Increases in assessed valuation can lead to higher taxes for property owners, but the county appraiser does not set property tax rates. Changes in the assessed value of individual properties may vary from the overall increase for the county.
County Appraiser Bob Weber reviewed the valuation increase Wednesday when he presented a quarterly report to Leavenworth County commissioners.
According to Weber’s report, the total assessed value of real estate in Leavenworth County increased from $721.69 million in 2020 to $782.12 million in 2021.
The Leavenworth Times
When they met Wednesday, Leavenworth County commissioners discussed whether they should rezone the entire county to match a new comprehensive plan.
Commission Chairman Mike Smith ultimately recommended not taking any action for now.
“I would say let this sit for right now,” he said.
The issue came up as Planning and Zoning Director Krystal Voth was providing a quarterly report to the County Commission.
Commissioner Jeff Culbertson asked about plans for updating zoning in the county to match a future land use plan that was created as part of a new comprehensive plan for the county.
Voth said rezoning the entire county would be unusual.
County approves building codes
The Leavenworth Times
Leavenworth County commissioners have approved building codes for unincorporated areas of the county. But commissioners have excluded two townships from the codes.
Commissioner Jeff Culbertson asked Wednesday for Easton and Kickapoo townships to be excluded from the building codes.
The two townships are in the district he represents. Culbertson said his district is the only one in the county that has seen population decreases in recent years. He suggested excluding the two townships to help promote economic development in his district.
Culbertson said he spoke with the fire chiefs of the two townships and they do not have a problem with the townships being excluded from the building codes.