Two seek election to Vernon County Assessor's Office

Sally Jones, a Vernon Countian since the age of 6 and a 1975 graduate of Nevada High School, is making a bid for the Vernon County Assessor's Office.

Jones, the daughter of Forest and Kathryn Dilly, has three children and five grandchildren.

New to the political arena, Jones said she has a wealth of experience qualifying her for the position. Jones, currently employed at Bowman's Vernon County Title Company, Nevada, worked for five years in the assessor's office, which means, she pointed out, she has a strong understanding of the role of the assessor's office and how the work is carried out. It's the assessor's duty, Jones said, to work hand-in-hand with the county collector and treasurer in a positive way that will benefit people who move into the area and help them with the transition, in terms of aligning their personal business relating to tax assessments.

Jones also would like people to see the assessor's office as a resource that could help refer them to other services and offices as needed.

For eight years, she has been a member of the Missouri Mappers Association and is a cadastrial mapper, which means she is knowledgeable in identifying and mapping locations from legal descriptions using aerial maps or photos.

Jones noted that she has worked for the title company for about four years, giving her up-to-date knowledge of the ups and downs of real estate market, an understanding she believes is vital to assessment duties.

In today's economic climate, "just trying to keep up with real estate values," will be a huge challenge for the assessor's office. "It's important to know where the values are. The values are an integral part of the taxing numbers."

"I think with all of these qualifications, I can do a good job," Jones said. "I'm willing to give it a full-time effort, and I'd like to see the office open over the lunch break. People who work, say, 8 to 5, need an opportunity to go there on their lunch breaks. They need to be able to see someone in person. People need access."

Jones said she has a strong desire to bring communication to the forefront and believes that when assessors are in the field, they should contact property owners, identify themselves and talk with property owners as much as possible.

"People are the best source for the information required by the office," she said.

Jones said that above all, she would promote a fair, friendly, open-door policy. "The public has my sincere promise that I will do just that, and that I will listen to the taxpayers."

Jones noted that while no one likes to pay taxes, most people simply want to understand how the process works.

In the future, Jones believes the assessor's role in incorporating 911 addressing in the county is an important one benefitting county departments, rural fire departments, real estate professionals, utility companies and individuals by making property and address identification more accessible.

In all, Jones wants to be assessor because, "This is the only real home I know. I feel a real connection with the people here. I really, really have a desire to do the best for them. It's their money that pays the wages. I want to do a good job for them."

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Cherie Kaye Roberts is seeking re-election to the Vernon County Assessor's Office, a post she has held since 2000.

Roberts, the daughter of Shirley Flake and the late Robert Flake of Schell City, was reared in Vernon County. Roberts worked in reappraisal in the Vernon County Assessor's Office, 1982-'84 and as a field appraiser in 1986; as an appraiser in Labette County, Kan., and Montgomery County, Kan., and from 2001-'05 served as an officer of the Southwest Assessor's Association.

"From day one my goal has been to have an open-door policy and bring the Vernon County Assessor's Office up to date," Roberts said. "People should feel free to contact me with any questions about the Assessor's Office.

Since taking office, she says she has accomplished much, including streamlining field procedures to save time and mileage, correcting small acreage home values in rural areas, making them equal throughout the county, established and corrected depreciation on agricultural and residential structures and more.

She's committed to serving the community, and loves working with the people she comes into contact with through the assessor's office. So much so, in fact, that her son, at age 13, included her on a school project about success -- right along with professional sports heroes he'd chosen to feature, a gesture of support she's held dear for years.

"This is all I've ever done. I'm very dedicated to my job. I love working with the public, and I love serving the community."

Updates in technology, including incorporating 911 addressing into the mix, are challenges under way now and in store for the future for the Vernon County Assessor's Office. Upgrades paid for through funds set aside by the Missouri Legislature for that purpose have helped to streamline the process of assessment, especially in the field.

The Assessor's Office is working closely with the county's GIS and road and bridge departments on 911 addressing system.

Roberts has prior experience in this realm in Kansas, she said, and the assessor's office will be maintaining these records once they are fully created. This system will be important to the assessor's office in tracking sales, land development, more easily defining township boundaries and school district boundaries and more. Emergency services, the Vernon County Clerk's Office and others also will benefit from the 911 addressing and GIS, Roberts said.

Software upgrades have already improved the process a great deal, Roberts said.

First came an upgrade in software for managing personal property.

"Two years ago we got a new program. The first year it tested our nerves," but once the staff became familiar with it, the new program saved the office a great deal of time. Processing the personal property information used to take the whole staff -- now most of the work can be done by one person, with others generally helping only with those accounts containing a great deal of information.

New software also means the Assessor's Office is able to to more analysis and make comparisons between similar properties, more easily differentiating between dissimilar properties as well.

Laptops coming next year also will help.

"Instead of taking all these files into the field, writing down the information, then having someone input it, in the office, we can input the information right there," Roberts said.

More upgrades are planned, again using the state funding set aside -- money that the legislature has earmarked through 2015, which will enable counties to continue to keep up with technology. In 2009, new real estate software will be incorporated, followed by software for commercial properties. Roberts said new software will eventually enable residents to access assessment information via the Internet as well.

Over the years, the assessor's office also has helped evaluate damage from storms and other disasters, providing emergency management officials with information on what properties were like before a disaster for comparison with what they were like after the disaster struck.

In addition to her duties as assessor, Roberts supports the community by helping with Fair Haven Park fundraisers, serving as "Nurse Kevorkian" at donkey basketball and alumni basketball fundraising events at Northeast Vernon County High School, and is actively involved with her grandchildren.

"It's my community, and I want to work hard for them. I know my job, I love working with people, and I know I can continue to serve them well." Roberts said.