tax objection state.pdf

Mark A Herroscheck Petitioner V Township Of Plainfield Respondent · 26-002682-TT

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Mark Herroscheck 

4318 Marr Ave. 

Warren Mi 48091 

 

Michigan State Property Tax Review Board 

RE: 7077 Chain Lake Dr., Plainfield Twp 48761 

 

Please note return mailing address is noted above 

 

7/01/2026 

 

Dear Sirs, 

 

I am writing this regarding my protest to the recent reassessment (SEV) to the above noted property that I 

recently purchased. 

 

To start, I understand the removal of caps and so forth, but an increase around 150%, is a bit hard to swallow. 

I purchased the property in the fall of 2005 for $190.000 which was a fair (but on the high side) for this 

property (originally listed at about $250,000). Not to mention, this level of taxation will consume a significant 

portion of the social security income (pending), placing a huge financial burden on me (and my wife) and 

severely limit my ability to repair and improve the property. Your assessment has an SEV set for this property 

of $150,200. According to all the property tax people I have talked to, SEV represents about 50% of the “cash 

value” for a property. Therefore, this property is being taxed as having a “cash value” of over $300,000. 

 

I might agree with this value if the house and property were in pristine condition, up to date and able to be 

lived in year round. This is far from the case. I purchased this property as a “fixer-upper” to tinker with during 

my retirement and needs a lot of work. It is our intention to move in permanently once it was capable of 

being lived in year round. 

 

What follows is a list of items this property needs as I know of as of this date. Sample pictures provided as 

available. First, please note that the house was built around 1919 and most likely the oldest in the area. 

There is no heating system in the house other than an old wood stove that must be removed or replaced. This 

stove also is preventing me from being able to affordably insure the house. 

 The chimney is not capped and needs to be cleaned 

and properly capped to ensure proper ventilation for any type 

of heating system. 

 There is no proper hook-up and piping for gas/propane 

installed, except for a very old copper gas line and regulator 

lying on the ground that has been disconnected/disabled for 

decades. (picture not available) 

 Much work has to be done to the electrical in the house 

o Light fixtures need to put proper boxes-currently only hooked up to unboxed wires coming out 

of the ceiling There are exposed wires that need to be put in 

conduit for safety/code (picture not available) 

 The (4) very small upstairs rooms and some are only partly finished.

 There is foundation issue on the lake side of the house in the center causing a 1-2 inch drop in the 

floor, this needs to be jacked up and re-supported (not a cheap or easy fix). (picture not available) 

 

 The house needs gutters (mostly nonexistent). The only 

gutter is not even properly installed, laying on a bench. 

 The upper decking (as is the ground deck underneath and 

forward) is in poor condition and needing much repair. 

o The safety railing is very weak and needs replacing 

o The decking is very old and some boards need 

immediate replacement 

o The posts holding the deck up are not properly 

secured to the decking, nor to the ground. Most are 

weathered, cracked/split and/or warped. All need 

proper replacing for safety. 

 

 The plumbing is old and in need of updating. Also, the 

well water has a lot of dissolved minerals which should be 

filtered or softened. 

 The cedar siding needs cleaning and refinishing 

 A number of the soffits and fascia boards are rotted and 

needing replacement 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The house over 100 years old and nearing the end of its’ useful life. 

Currently, the upper floor is held up with multiple suspension cables to prevent 

sagging and potential collapse. These same cables hold the structural integrity of 

the house by preventing it from bowing out like a pumpkin. 

 

 

 

The doors and windows are old wooden type, 

outdated, leaking, inefficient and some windows 

broken/cracked. The door shown on the right below is 

warped and needs replacing in order to close properly.

 This property has very little “beach” (sand) and the lake bed is mucky and weedy, which is not 

conducive for swimming type activities. Many other properties around the lake do have nice beach 

fronts, especially the larger homes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over and above the items listed above, affecting the property value is the “Comps” (comparables). Shown in 

the sample pictures below are a number of the Houses within ½ mile of mine. As you can see, there are a 

variety of houses ranging from old mobile trailers, old small “shack” houses, newer small houses and also large 

homes with large lots. Many of the more modern structures have gas or electric heat, air conditioning and 

some even have good size out buildings including garages and work rooms. I have a simple very old 10 x 10 

garden shed only. 

 

The larger houses, especially those on large lots, have the full modern amenities as mentioned above, are 

much newer and in a number of cases, have multiple large out buildings (over and above small tool and 

garden sheds), multiple bathrooms, modern HVAC systems, etc. As far as “comparables” go, there is not really 

anything in the area that compares in size, age, condition, and “amenity status” to mine. 

 

All these factors affect the property value. What should also should be considered is the limited services 

provided for through taxes. This area is outside of urban areas, therefore have little or no services like public 

trash removal, regular police patrols/presence, sewer systems, etc.; in fact even reliable cellular/internet 

service is very limited. 

 

In conclusion, I do not mind paying my fair share with an SEV based on the actual value of the property. 

However, the current assessment is far more than the actual value, which I feel is at an absolute maximum, 

the $190,000 (SEV of $95,000) I purchased it for, especially considering condition, age, features, and 

comparable(s). I wish to thank you for your time to consider my appeal, and look forward to hearing a 

mutually acceptable outcome to this dispute. Having owned hunting property in the area for close to 20 years, 

I have grown to love the area, and have been looking forward to my retirement this year and spending my few 

remaining years up there and becoming more involved in the community and with the local FOE (Eagles) 

chapter that I have been associated with most all these years, just as I have where I currently reside. 

 

Warmest regards, 

 

Mark A. Herroscheck 

 

Loujeana R. Herroscheck

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