The Metolius River Forest Homeowners Assoc has been working these past years towards having a Internet presence and we finally launched our 'primitive' first formal attempt Sept 2008.
Over time we'll use BOTH this Blog site AND the Website as a means of staying in touch with out members and their guests. The Metolius and Camp Sherman, OR are magical and if you've been there you know why anyone would crave news of what is going on there.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Annual Meeting July 5th at 1PM
The MRFHA annual meeting will be Saturday, July 5th 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, at the Camp Sherman Community Hall. Don Ratliff, senior fish biologist for PGE, will make a presentation, regarding fish restoration efforts and activities at Round Butte dam and the headwaters.
Additionally, Michael Riehle, Fishery Biologist, Sisters Ranger District, will speak (Article in this issue)
Finally, Oregon Senator Ben Westlund is expected to join us to discuss LUBA's recent decision and where the issue on destination resort development in the Metolius River area stands. Senator Westlund is a candidate for State Treasurer; historically State Treasurers have been effective in protecting special and unique places.
Call to LOT Appraisals Meeting!!!!
The MRFHA Lot Appraisals will occur as requirred every 10 years, on July 13th 2008.
At 10 AM to Noon on July 12th at The Deschutes Forest Supervisor's Office, 1001 SW Emkay, Bend, the appraiser will meet with cabin, and discuss the process and answer questions. We encourage lot Permit holders on the Metolius River to attend this important meeting if at all able! Make sure the appraiser understands that, as a minimum:
At 10 AM to Noon on July 12th at The Deschutes Forest Supervisor's Office, 1001 SW Emkay, Bend, the appraiser will meet with cabin, and discuss the process and answer questions. We encourage lot Permit holders on the Metolius River to attend this important meeting if at all able! Make sure the appraiser understands that, as a minimum:
- There is a public right-of-way between our lots and the Metolius, which effectively defines the lots as NOT River-Side Lots...Extremely important!
- Major market impacts have reduced values on lots in Jefferson and Deschutes Counties, which the market as recognized as 'Over-Valued' and these drops MAY not be reflected in any sales used as comps expect the very recent ones within the last 4-6 months.
- Though the forest service directs the comps be of bare lots at FAIR MARKET VALUE the FS lots have restrictions that greatly reduce the lot 'fair market value' and these restrictions vary from Forest to Forest; thus it is appropriate and reasonable that the restrictions on Metolius permits must at least be understood by the appraiser during his process.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Update on Call to Help
Well, for the MRFHA cabin owners the process of having our cabins reappraised is rapidly approaching. When they were last appraised the adjusted fair market value as $45-55,000. Raise your had if you think it will be lower this next time? I see.....no one with their hand up! Go to the head of the class.
We'll try to see if we can locate comparable private lot sales that have occurred in the past 24 months that might be used to help establish the new value but this is tough to do. We have a small group working on this but could really use help from any cabin owner/user on the Metolius that might want to get involved; especially if you have Real Estate experience (but a desire to help is most important). Contact us through mrfha.c-17@comcast.net
We'll try to see if we can locate comparable private lot sales that have occurred in the past 24 months that might be used to help establish the new value but this is tough to do. We have a small group working on this but could really use help from any cabin owner/user on the Metolius that might want to get involved; especially if you have Real Estate experience (but a desire to help is most important). Contact us through mrfha.c-17@comcast.net
Friday, July 6, 2007
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT POST (EIP)!
Ladies and gentlemen, we badly need to form a group of interested cabin owners to do a review of lots and locate compariables we can live with to supply the FS's lot appraisers when they begin the process very soon. If enough of you step forward there will be less work for all. If you don't care what fees you pay for your lot then you may not want to be involved. If you DO care, call Mark (503-224-2262) or write me at mrfha.c-17@comcast.net. I'll give you the details then. Hey, if you have any Real Estate experience thats a plus, but not at all required.
And on a different, but related matter, if your Metolius River FS lot has two 'cabins' on it, (I'm not talking about a utility shed of 130 sqft or less, but a second building you use), then WRITE me right away. There is a matter of VITAL importance we need to discuss. Trust me, you'll want to hear about this.
And on a different, but related matter, if your Metolius River FS lot has two 'cabins' on it, (I'm not talking about a utility shed of 130 sqft or less, but a second building you use), then WRITE me right away. There is a matter of VITAL importance we need to discuss. Trust me, you'll want to hear about this.
Possessory Intrest Tax - Update!
If you went to the anual meeting you know that a tax we cabin owners have NEVER paid, but have always had hanging over our heads has finally gone away, forever (we hope). The Oregon legislature just ending voted to repeal a tax we cabin owners have been trying to defeat for years! So that at least can be one less concern for all of us. Kinda nice to have some good news to report, now and then.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Annual Meeting Recap - MRFHA
A lot, and I mean A LOT, of good stuff was covered at the Annual Cabins Owners meeting this past June 30th; if you missed it it may be wise to check here often as we periodically add excerpts and content to fill in between now and the Picnic on Sept 2nd at the Johnson property.
We lost two valuable 'public servants as Carol Enyart and Don DeFrancq retired from the board. Don actually completed a 9 year service to MRFHA, for which we should all be most grateful. He's guided us through some perilous mine fields with nary a mark....no small trick. Don, we are all indebted to you.
Water, and our access to it was discussed. Those not holding a certificate to access Metolius surface (stream) water will NOT be able to secure one, as they are not being issued any longer. There ARE other ways to assure you have access to water. Get a hold of a MRFHA board member if you have concerns.
Fire protection and defensible space was again a topic. We can't imagine and day that it won't be. Don't be lulled into complacency. I mean, its not like a matter of life and death...No, its more important than that!
Yes it really has been almost 10 years since the last cabin lot appraisal, the basis for determining fees. We expect that within the next 9-12 months our lots will be re-appraised. We sorely need volunteers to contact us to help with the process of finding comparibles that reflect the values we'd like to see assigned. To put it into someone else's hands is just plain risky. Please contact ANY MRFHA board member and say you want to be involved. If you happen to have real estate experience we love you even more!
We lost two valuable 'public servants as Carol Enyart and Don DeFrancq retired from the board. Don actually completed a 9 year service to MRFHA, for which we should all be most grateful. He's guided us through some perilous mine fields with nary a mark....no small trick. Don, we are all indebted to you.
Water, and our access to it was discussed. Those not holding a certificate to access Metolius surface (stream) water will NOT be able to secure one, as they are not being issued any longer. There ARE other ways to assure you have access to water. Get a hold of a MRFHA board member if you have concerns.
Fire protection and defensible space was again a topic. We can't imagine and day that it won't be. Don't be lulled into complacency. I mean, its not like a matter of life and death...No, its more important than that!
Yes it really has been almost 10 years since the last cabin lot appraisal, the basis for determining fees. We expect that within the next 9-12 months our lots will be re-appraised. We sorely need volunteers to contact us to help with the process of finding comparibles that reflect the values we'd like to see assigned. To put it into someone else's hands is just plain risky. Please contact ANY MRFHA board member and say you want to be involved. If you happen to have real estate experience we love you even more!
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Possessory Tax
The State of Oregon, quite some number of years ago, levied a tax on cabin owners, then has twice temporarily waived the tax with the idea that it might be an unfair double taxation. Cabin owners would like the law that established the taxing authority be repealed, once and for all.
The Bend Bulletin, in a recent editorial opinion piece stated that Cabins on FS land might NOT be paying their 'fair share' and as such should probably be taxed by the state of Oregon beyond the taxes paid to Jefferson County for the Cabin improvement, and beyond the Forest Service permit user fee, of which a portion is remitted to local gov't. Over the years, the legislature has set aside that tax, agreeing that it is double taxation.
At issue is whether the 5% of fair market value permit fee system adequately reflects MARKET value. The example was an arbitrary 60,000 value Metolius lot..the question being, how can a lot on the Metolius be worth so little? Good argument, on the surface; I mean, if we choose to disregard the restrictions that a FS lease includes, when comparing to a private property lot. But how can that be ignored? And why should it be?
The restrictions we operate under compromise value...there is no doubt of that; and, we are arriving at a LEASE value, not a sale of the property. The goal is a fair and reasonable formula for a lease of the land, for which, really, true Market value comparibles are difficult to be found. .
The Bend Bulletin commonly writes opinion pieces for which they have inadequately researched their starting places. They forget that they are in the reporting business, not the entertainment business. Wait...maybe they ARE in the entertainment business. Yes, of course they are. Silly me. What was I thinking?
The Bend Bulletin, in a recent editorial opinion piece stated that Cabins on FS land might NOT be paying their 'fair share' and as such should probably be taxed by the state of Oregon beyond the taxes paid to Jefferson County for the Cabin improvement, and beyond the Forest Service permit user fee, of which a portion is remitted to local gov't. Over the years, the legislature has set aside that tax, agreeing that it is double taxation.
At issue is whether the 5% of fair market value permit fee system adequately reflects MARKET value. The example was an arbitrary 60,000 value Metolius lot..the question being, how can a lot on the Metolius be worth so little? Good argument, on the surface; I mean, if we choose to disregard the restrictions that a FS lease includes, when comparing to a private property lot. But how can that be ignored? And why should it be?
The restrictions we operate under compromise value...there is no doubt of that; and, we are arriving at a LEASE value, not a sale of the property. The goal is a fair and reasonable formula for a lease of the land, for which, really, true Market value comparibles are difficult to be found. .
The Bend Bulletin commonly writes opinion pieces for which they have inadequately researched their starting places. They forget that they are in the reporting business, not the entertainment business. Wait...maybe they ARE in the entertainment business. Yes, of course they are. Silly me. What was I thinking?
Saturday, June 2, 2007
TWO BBQ's back-2-back Weekends at the Camp Sherman Store
The Saturdays before AND after July 4th the Store will have a BBQ and Music, this year. That should be fun. See your friends and neighbors there.
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