Dear editor:

I would like to take a moment to endorse our new county tax assessor, Terry Call.

Our previous experience with the assessor’s office was predominantly negative. They started taxing our home as finished two years before it was completed, and as a two story house instead of a one-and-a-half story construction as it clearly was. Trying to correct this for some many years was unsuccessful and met with a very unhelpful dismissiveness by the front office staff.

Finally, after getting through the bureaucracy and getting to speak with Pat Meyer in person, all problems were finally addressed to our complete satisfaction, including refunds for the years we had been assessed incorrectly.

Apparently there was enough bad blood between the office and the community in the past that it bled through to the election for our new assessor this year. I am not privy to all the negative feelings that preceded our move to Cody in 2010. But listening to the candidate’s speeches during the election at the Park County Party Republican meeting, Terry Call was clearly the most qualified, and gave an excellent speech. I was pretty shocked when he came in dead last. People very clearly viscerally dislike the office, and those who have worked in it.

Subsequently, after a judge appointed him, we have had further interactions with Mr Call in person, over other issues, and this has been very positive and led to further reductions in our taxes. He took the time to explain in detail and in writing complexities of a few issues, and actively worked to lower our taxes as the law allows.

We are completely satisfied with the new assessor’s office, and with the new management under Mr. Call. He is balancing the needs for county income against the rights of property owners in an objective and constructive manner, and appears to be bringing a more citizen-friendly atmosphere to the staff. He is friendly, personable, and approachable, and I would encourage the people of Park County to cut him some slack and let him prove his worth over the next couple of years. Treat the assessor’s office with respect and calm; expect the same in return. If you don’t get it, bring it to Mr Call’s attention. I am confident your matter will be handled, if not entirely to your satisfaction, at least in an objective manner that will fully explain to you the issues involved in what is a very complex and poorly understood subject by the general public.

I truly believe Mr. Call is actively working for you, not just the local government.

William Flittie

Cody