A definitive definition for the term “residency” is what a Georgia Board of Assessors (BOA) was looking for as it considered a request from John Goodrum about a mobile home.
Goodrum is subject to the county’s new policy of knocking out 2 acres per residence on any property that is in conservation easement. That is 20 percent of this 10.1-acre parcel across from Power Building Products.
Goodrum said that the property, which includes a mobile home, has been in the family since 1945. The family owns 50 adjacent acres, too.
Chief Appraiser Allen Skinner asked the BOA to adopt a standard that could be applied to future applications, according to a report by The Oconee Enterprise. As older conservation use easements are renewed, other properties with such structures may come up against the 2-acre rule.
Tax Appraiser Carol Gurley said she manages 1,900 conservation use parcels, and she strives to treat all fairly and equitably. From her standpoint, Goodrum’s mobile home looked livable, especially when compared with some homes in the county where people currently live.
Some factors that could be used to determine the habitable status of a structure include whether it is closed in against the weather, has running water, toilets, bathing facilities, heating and electricity.
The board promised to schedule an on-site visit, including a look inside the mobile home, but it did not promise Skinner a policy.