Idaho County's property appraisers face a new obstacle: Off-grid existence
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/property-appraisers-idaho-county-face-035900332.html
Author: Kathy Hedberg, Lewiston Tribune, Idaho
Idaho County Assessor Kim Nuxoll told the county commissioners on May 9, 2023 that her staff has faced potentially dangerous situations from landowners — some of whom have recently moved to the county and are living "off the grid." Property appraisers have been threatened with trespassing while trying to fulfill their responsibilities.
"It's just a different world out there and it's getting harder to do our job," Nuxoll said. Idaho County is one of the few entities in the state that has no planning or zoning ordinances and that feature has been attracting people from other areas who see that lack of restrictions as "freedom," the commissioners said.
The commissioners discussed the possibility of using GPS imaging to assess a property. Nuxoll said imaging doesn't always work, especially in heavily timbered areas where a clear view of the structure in question is obscured. She also said there may be legal issues involved. People have warned that "I better not see a drone" flying over their property to size up the situation.
"Imaging will help," she said, "but it will have to be refreshed (updated) a lot. It's just a huge problem we have." Commissioner Denis Duman suggested that, if landowners refuse to allow an appraiser on site and won't respond to requests to meet with county officials, perhaps the county should base an appraisal on the size of the acreage and a median home template. If the landowner disputes that calculation, Duman added, the person can come to the commissioners to state their case