St. Louis County Assessor’s Dept. Tackling Brimson Wildfire Aftermath

BRIMSON, Minn.– A dedicated team in the Brimson area is conducting damage assessments, and re-assessments of over 130 properties affected by the fires.

With these thorough inspections, they are determining overall property value.

They’re taking pictures, updating systems, and putting together applications for property owners to apply for damage relief.

That being said, many of the affected landowners already know just affected their property is.

“We put an application on our website that allowed them to pick their property and then pull up a what’s called a 123, damage assessment reporting form, so they were able to do all of that online, and our staff are always available through telephone call or email to help guide them through the process,” explained Mary Garness, Public Records & Property Value Director, St. Louis County. “And there is a board process to an approving abatement. For this year, for taxes payable this year, and a credit moving forward.”

This is done quickly to make sure damage relief gets distributed in a timely manner.

In the meantime, residents are staying informed online, through the media, and in person.

“Recently, there was also kind of a meeting to share information with local residents about the damage assessment process, rebuilding building permits, septic permits, etc. And the board is working on kind of providing that additional relief by waiving building permit and septic fees, but they’re in the process of that,” said Garness.

St. Louis County staff says right now, from the sounds of it, the affected residents are staying positive, and they have plenty of resources available, if needed.

“What was shared with me by staff was they were very grateful to have the support, to have somebody there that could answer questions for them. I haven’t gone through this before but just knowing that you have a community there to support you through it, I think it’s important,” said Garness.

In addition, St Louis County Appraisal workers told us, that they should be wrapped up with this area by July 4th.