Hitchcock County responds to assessor's claims

TRENTON, Neb. -- Hitchcock County attorney D. Eugene Garner has filed a response on behalf of county commissioners to claims made in a "Petition in Error" filed against commissioners and others by county assessor Marlene Bedore.

The Hitchcock County News reports that the county's response was filed in Hitchcock County District Court on Dec. 24.

While it agrees with some of the basic information contained in Bedore's claim (regarding Bedore's election and some of Ruth Sorenson's duties as state property tax administrator), the county's response denies Bedore's allegations that she was not allowed due process in defense of some of her property valuations and her valuation procedures.

Garner also states that commissioners did not err in accepting a report by Sorenson and the corrective measures she outlined.

The county's claim states that on Nov. 2, 2015, Bedore agreed with county commissioners to contact Sorenson and attempt to address items listed in Sorenson's report in an effort to resolve the matter.

However, according to the county's claim, Bedore failed to make a good faith effort to do so.

Garner claims on behalf of the county board that Bedore is not entitled to court-appointed counsel at the expense of the county.

The county's claim asks that Bedore's Petition in Error be dismissed and that the county be awarded costs and attorney's fees.