By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – A suit filed against the village by the Kohler Co., which sought to lower the assessed value of Lodge Kohler by nearly $5.15 million, has been dismissed in Brown County Circuit Court.
Court records note Judge Marc A. Hammer signed the dismissal Monday, March 7, after a notice of voluntary dismissal was filed Friday, March 4.
Kristina Somers of the Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren law firm, representing Kohler, claimed in the suit the assessed value exceeded fair market value, and the assessment violated the uniformity clause of the Wisconsin Constitution.
The complaint sought a refund on the property taxes Kohler stated were excessive, plus interest.
According to Brown County property tax records, the company has already paid half of the $285,849.86 in property taxes it owes for 2021, with the remaining $142,924.93 due by July 31.
The suit was filed after Ashwaubenon’s Board of Review waived a hearing on Kohler’s assessment objection last fall.
Village Manager Joel Gregozeski said the village was aware of the objection to Lodge Kohler’s assessed value, but the village was never officially served papers.
“As a result, we do not have any comment regarding the filing or voluntary dismissal,” he said.
Neither Somers nor Kohler spokesman Todd Weber responded for comment regarding the suit’s dismissal.