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6 <br /> <br />It’s been 4.5 months since I came to you requesting help with correcting Doris Tippen’s over <br />payment of taxes due to staff errors. Information I’ve recently received by staff does not include <br />documented values of Doris’ house. I explained to Mr. Brinson I was available to meet with him <br />and the County Manager two months after I approached you. For the 4th time, I’m being given <br />incrementally increased values only partially addressing a sizeable and admitted error. <br /> <br />Everyone’s polite, but I’ve had to be persistent for the sake of my 89-year-old mother in law. <br />I’ve made multiple efforts to work with staff. Mr. Brinson is the only one who communicated <br />with me. The only time things happened since September is when I’ve made personal <br />appearance with Mr. Brinson, left messages, emailed him, or contacted a Commissioner. I’ve <br />not been invited to meet with the County Manager, or asked for the documentation supporting <br />my accounting. <br /> <br />To reiterate: Because of multiple errors and multiple efforts starting in 2016 (I can document), it <br />hasn’t been fruitful or apparently objective for staff to decide the outcome. This is why I asked <br />the board for help. The Board handed my request back to staff and we are still nowhere near <br />amounts fairly representing reimbursement to Doris for over-charging. Like Doris said in her <br />original letter to you, “we need your help” (that is, the County Commissioners). We need these <br />errors to be properly corrected according to accounting principal, not reverse speculative <br />values. <br /> <br />The numbers I submitted can be substantiated and I have documentation to support it. I don’t <br />understand why staff, or the County Manager, has left me and our documentation out of a <br />request by the Commissioners to address this issue and my request to participate. <br /> <br />Doris Tippens wishes for this to be resolved by the County, and we don’t understand why there <br />isn’t open communication or utilization of our documentation. As I reported to you in <br />September, we simply want these errors to be fully corrected and request again the Board <br />apply sound ethics and the Golden Rule in helping us. Is there any way one of you could act as <br />an ombudsman for this situation, in an attempt to resolve this before it advances further? <br /> <br />I have a 2016 appraisal with a house inspection report and estimates for repairs, and there is <br />on record, two sales of this property for: $208,000 in 2006 and $191,000 in 2017. The latter <br />sale was to a family member, but supporting documents can show it was not sold to the <br />advantage of the buyer, or to the disadvantage of Doris Tippens or Orange County. The house <br />was in disrepair and continued to be so until family took it over and invested $65,000 in repairs <br />and improvements in order to be able to sell it on the open market. <br /> <br />I’d be happy to walk through those repairs in person with anyone onsite. In the meantime, I <br />have professional documentation available that should be used for this effort. <br /> <br />Please, please help us. Thank you for hearing me <br /> <br />Your fellow citizen, and dutiful son-in-law, <br />Tom ODwyer (for Doris Tippens/107 Boulder Lane error) <br /> <br />Chair Dorosin said staff has recommended a refund in the amount of $1,678.89 for the <br />5-year period, which is statutorily correct.