A state certified tax appraiser from Bannock County in Idaho, hired last year to conduct local property assessments, has filed a civil suit against the county, its three commissioners and the assessor claiming a breach of contract, according to a report in the Idaho State Journal.
Kevin Franck, of Idaho Falls, filed the lawsuit after the Bannock County Commission terminated his contract with the county in January. The commission did so without cause because Franck did not hold a specific license associated with home assessments, Franck told the newspaper.
Franck says the county still owes him $70,000 for work he performed before he was fired.
“(My termination) definitely came as a shock, and we gave the county every opportunity to respond and to work this out,” Franck told the newspaper.
Bannock County Prosecutor Steve Herzog said his office has retained Idaho Falls attorney Blake Hall to defend the county against the suit. Hall said he intends to file a response to the claim.
According to the suit, Franck was to complete 20 percent, or 1,100, assessments of county properties by April 15, 2019.
Franck was to complete a minimum of 250 assessments per quarter at $125 per parcel for commercial assessments and $100 per parcel for multi-unit residential assessments, with a total contract amount not to exceed $125,000, the newspaper reported.
On Nov. 6, 2018, Sheri Davies became the new Bannock County accessor. Davies allegedly had campaigned on ending the practice of hiring outside appraisers to perform commercial appraisers in the county.
After disputes between the sides, the County Commission sent Franck’s attorney letter that saying Franck violated the contract for, among other unlisted claims, “his failure to maintain the required license to perform the work under the contract and promptly notify the county if his license is revoked, suspended or not renewed for any reason.”
Franck said he has the same license every county-paid appraiser holds — a certification from the State Tax Commission, as opposed to a real estate appraiser license with the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licensing, and has maintained that license for a decade.