Appraisal disagreement

I am in total agreement with Robert Bray’s June 15 letter about faulty property appraisals and a dismissive attitude from the local office. I can’t get anybody to listen to me at the appraisal district, either.

The value of my small amount of land jumped 185 percent in 2009. I filed an appeal June 2009 and was not granted a hearing until this month — after the new appraisals had gone out. I followed the rules from the appraisal district and hand-delivered a request for all evidence they would use in the hearing. I was given none. However, at the time of the hearing, they presented comparisons for land that had recently sold on Spring Valley Road, far from my property. I was told comparisons had to be of property located within a 10-square-mile radius of my land. The comparison sales they used were recent. I was appealing 2009 values.

Appraisal district staff were also condescending. I was in the middle of a sentence when one board member made a move to stop testimony. When I asked how my house and land could have more than doubled in value in 11 years, I was told all taxable values in McLennan County had risen as much. Research shows otherwise. The hearing was a farce. Local citizens don’t stand a chance when dealing with this appraisal district.

Jayne Mitchell

Crawford

Inappropriate political mailing

I know that some people do not intend to vote for U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, so I wonder how they feel about their tax money paying for his expensive four-color mailer sent out recently? If you look at the small print, you’ll see the flier was printed and mailed at taxpayer expense. 

And I’ll bet you don’t even get a thank-you from Chet.

M. A. Taylor, former McLennan County Republican Party chairman

Waco

Big 12 conference resolved

John Werner’s June 16 column, “BU rebirth in Big 12 a cause for celebration,” provides top-notch journalism. He wrote just what the doctor ordered.

New life, new hope and carpe diem (seize the day) give the Bears the proper dose of medicine. Symbolically, Baylor has been resurrected from the dead.

Recent announcement that the Big 12 will stay together (minus two teams) means that Baylor gets more money, a second chance to prove itself worthy of being in the Big 12 and many answered prayers.

That’s divine intervention at its best.

Dana Phillips

Waco

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During talk of realignment of the Big 12, where was Gov. Rick Perry?

I forgot — he was too busy making plans to run for president in 2012.

Wallace Phillips

Waco

Cartoon was ‘nonsensical trash’

The June 10 editorial cartoon showing President Obama displaying the same facial expression for all emotions was nonsensical trash. How would you have him looking? Would you show him foaming at the mouth, crying tears, sneering, surprised? You should try reading his lips.

Barbara Collier

Waco

Thanks for the Boy Scouts

A huge thanks to Boy Scout Troop 406 and Scoutmaster Terry Fox for all their hard work in helping to clean up Fletcher Cemetery. The troop has been out to the cemetery three times to mow, pull weeds, cut trees and clean up. Their work is greatly appreciated.

This beautiful old cemetery — off Highway 77 near Rosenthall — has many old and beautiful graves. Unfortunately, the weeds and grass grow up around the graves and sometimes block the headstones.

So far, no group or one person has committed to regular upkeep of the cemetery. But it would be appreciated.

Ann Osborne

Robinson

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Thanks to two local businesses for donating materials that helped me complete my Boy Scout Eagle project.

McCoy’s Building Supply and Circle Hardware & Lumber both made great contributions to the project, which was to build a horseshoe court next to the hexagon gazebo at Airport Beach Park.

Michael Fulbright Jr., Troop 308

Waco