Johnson Lake sewer district being sued over assessments

Post date: Sep 02, 2009 9:43:47 PM

By HARRY G. PERKINS Hub Regional Correspondent, September 2, 2009; Kearney HUB on line at: http://www.kearneyhub.com

JOHNSON LAKE - The state and some property owners don't like the numbers Johnson Lake Sanitary Improvement District came up with for their assessments.

The Nebraska Attorney General's Office filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Gosper County District Court on behalf of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Lincoln attorney Terry Barber filed a lawsuit Monday in the same court on behalf of himself and seven other property owners. [Karen Brown, Trustee; William R Harris; Connie Joy Van Wie, Trustee; Graupner, Sands & Barber, Ptnshp; GF&B Family, LLC; Ralph D & Lois M. Niemoth, Co-Trustees; Glen R & Teresa J Lanman; Gary R Neff and Douglas M & LuAnn Everson]

The Game and Parks petition says the SID has no authority to levy a special assessment or a charge in lieu of taxes. The petition asks the court to determine the validity or legality of the assessment and issue an order for the SID to equalize the costs.

Barber's petition asks the court to certify his petition as a class action, and repeats some assertions contained in the petition of the Game and Parks Commission.

The petition asks the court to set aside the special assessments, order them to be determined again, and asks that the court to assess the costs of the court action against the sanitary improvement district.