Keene to Resume House Inspections

[Kat Kanning]

Keene to resume house inspections
   

BENJAMIN YELLE
Sentinel Staff


With the return of spring, Keene?s Department of Assessment will resume its property-value updating project.

Residents shouldn?t be alarmed if a man knocks on their doors, asking to inspect their houses.

The city council approved money for the assessing department to collect data on houses in the city that have had improvements made to them.

That information will be used to ensure people are paying their fair share of taxes, according to city Assessor Laura J. Thibodeau.

?Correct inventory and measurements are extremely important in the assessing process and result in data accuracy and equity,? she said.

To that end, Gordon Oakes, a consultant hired by the city, will be visiting properties in the city that have had improvements.

He is scheduled to visit about 1,500 properties each year for four years.

The project started last October, but was put on hold through the winter. Now he?s back.

Oakes will be carrying a letter of explanation signed by the city assessor and photo identification, but he doesn?t drive a city car.

Oakes works through Keene neighborhoods, visiting each property. He starts by measuring a house?s exterior and does a walk-through of the interior, to count number of rooms, bathrooms, and fireplaces, and document heating sources and other things that affect a house?s value.

If no contact is made with the property owner or occupant at the first visit, Oakes will revisit the property in the evening or on a Saturday, in order to conduct the room-to-room inspection.

If he?s unsuccessful after two visits, a letter will be sent to the property owner requesting an appointment for an interior inspection and to finish any required measuring.

Questions about the project may be directed to Thibodeau, at 352-2125, or e-mail Lthibodeau@ci.keene.nh.us.

[Russell Kanning]

Stop the madness

[GT]

That information will be used to ensure people are paying their fair share of taxes that Keene can maximize it's revenue, according to city Assessor.

[JonM]

So, what's going to happen when they get to your place in Keene?

[Kat Kanning]

I wonder how enthusiastic they'll be when met by open carry residents?

[GT]

I wonder how enthusiastic they'll be when met by open carry residents?

Carry a cheap gun! Getting "inspected" while carrying an expensive side arm may increase your property tax....

[FTL_Ian]

Residents shouldn?t be alarmed if a man knocks on their doors, asking to inspect their houses.

Um, yes.  Yes they should.  They should be alarmed because their right to privacy is under attack by the city of Keene.

That information will be used to ensure people are paying their fair share of taxes, according to city Assessor Laura J. Thibodeau.

No taxes are fair, bureaucrat.  "Fair share" is a Socialist catch phrase.

If he?s unsuccessful after two visits, a letter will be sent to the property owner requesting an appointment for an interior inspection and to finish any required measuring.

Oh, they are just "requesting" an appointment?  Request denied, fuckers.

This is disgusting.  Does this go on in other NH cities?  Keeners, how are you planning on fighting this?

Perhaps you should see if you can nail Thibodeau down to admitting that letting this guy in is totally voluntary, otherwise ask her to justify it constitutionally.

[Kat Kanning]

Tony Lekas and some other folks took them to court over it.  They lost if I remember correctly.  Oh, here:

http://forum.soulawakenings.com/index.php?topic=454.0

[FTL_Ian]

So, are these guys going to take this to State court?  This is insanity.   

[Kat Kanning]

I think you can email him at tonylekas (at) yahoo if you want to ask him about the history of it.  I think the IJ was involved, so it might be on their webpage.  Wouldn't they have to go through state courts before hitting federal courts?

[Russell Kanning]

Sure would be fun to have many people not let them in.

Anyone see "The Castle" ?

[Dave Ridley]

I went ahead and left the assessor's office a phone message telling them the inspections are a violation of the 4th amendment and asking the assessor to resign.

[Dave Ridley]

It  would be nice to have pictures of a bureaucrat or one of their hired guns doing one of these home invasions.   

[KBCraig]

Presumably, the in(spy)ector's private, non-city car is either parked on the street (possibly illegaly), or in the homeowner's driveway (trespassing).

Is there a Keene freester who owns a tow truck? The inspector could find it unprofitable to spend all his revenue enhancement "assessment" time tracking down his car.

Hey, I think I just coined a new term for us: "Freesters"! It's a bit reminiscent of freepers, and it sure rolls off the tongue more easily than "Free Staters" or "FSPers". Any takers?

Kevin

[Kat Kanning]

I like it!