Appraiser receives cease and desist notice from state board

Cheyenne County is looking for a new appraiser.

County attorney Paul Schaub received a copy of a cease and desist notice from the Nebraska real properties appraisal board in the end of April addressed to Jerry Knoche regarding the appraisal services he was providing to the county.

"I don't know what took place, except I don't have an appraiser now," said Cheyenne county assessor, Louella Pippitt.

A copy of the letter read, "It is the Board's opinion that you may be engaged in real property appraisal activity in the state of Nebraska, and therefore are hereby notified to cease and desist from any and all conduct which requires credentialing as a real property appraiser in the state of Nebraska."

Cheyenne County has quite a few big appraisal jobs coming up, so Pippitt needs to find a new appraiser who is knowledgeable.

"It's just one of those things where there's a lot going on and I'd be more comfortable having someone with more expertise," Pippitt said.

Tyler Kohtz, director of the Nebraska real properties appraisal board said that their organization did review Nebraska county appraiser contracts recently to make sure they were compliant with the appraiser act.

Appraisers are exempt from the act if they are county employees, but those who hold contracts with the county must be credentialed. A number of contractors doing appraisals for Nebraska counties did not have proper credentials, including Knoche, Kohtz said.

"We found quite a few instances of it," he said.

Credentialed appraisers must meet education requirements which are regulated from federal levels and meet a required number of experience hours.