CITY OF CLAREMONT
LOCAL BOARD OF
APPEAL AND
EQUALIZATION
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2026
2:30 P.M.
The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization of the City of Claremont, Minnesota was held on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at Claremont City Hall.
Members present: Mayor Jared Sultze. City Council Members: Deb Ellis, Ethan Johnson, and Donna Gregory. Council Members absent: Krystal Sultze.
City, County Staff, and others present: City Administrator Elizabeth Sorg, Dodge County Assessor Ryan DeCook, Dodge County Appraisers Matt Naatz, Ryan DeCook, and Erik Hannigan, Heather Grey, Jim Zylstra, and Anna Zylstra.
The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization is to provide a fair and objective forum for property owners to appeal their property valuation or classification. The Board has the authority to decrease, sustain or increase the market value of a property. No letters or calls were received at City Hall. Ryan DeCook received three calls regarding the increases. Scott Eells just had a few questions on the increase procedures. Eric Kylo of Turning Point Real Estate had purchased a house that he was going to fix up and sell. He had an appraisal done and the appraisal of the house came in at $183,000. The value that the Assessor’s Office placed on the house was $215,900. Ryan DeCook went and looked at the house and there were a couple issues found, a tree had fallen on the gazebo and deck, so Kylo rebuilt it smaller. The other issue was plumbing problems. After the inspection by Ryan DeCook, the value of the house was decreased to the appraisal value of $183,000. Casey Dahl called the Assessor’s Office and told them he had his house appraised which came in at $215,700. The Assessor’s Office had the value proposed at $252,300. After Ryan DeCook went and took a look, he agreed the appraisal made sense. The value was decreased to the appraisal value of $215,700. Heather Grey of 118 3rd Street did research on homes in Claremont that sold in 2025. Her home in 2025 went from $162,400 to $169,100 and in 2026 the taxable market value rose to $192,400 an increase of $23,300. After discussion of similar property, the council agreed to lower the value to $181,700 which is split between the sale of a comparable property and her taxable market value. Motion by Johnson to lower the value to $181,700, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Johnson to adjourn at 3:10 p.m., second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
Deb Ellis, Assistant
Clerk
Jared Sultze, Mayor
