Times Observer file photo The county commissioners have approved a tax assessment appeal proposal with Northwest Bank regarding parcels on Liberty St., Second Ave. and in North Warren.

The Warren County Commissioners have approved a tax assessment appeal proposal with Northwest Bank over its downtown Warren headquarters and North Warren branch properties.

The challenge dates to 2020 and was initiated by Northwest to challenge the assessed value of 10 of its properties in Warren County.

County Solicitor Nathaniel Schmidt said that settlement has already been reached on seven of those properties.

That leaves three that are part of this settlement – 100 Liberty St. and 219-221 Second Ave. in the City of Warren and 400 Jackson Run Rd. in Conewango Township.

“This was scheduled to go to trial a week from today,” Schmidt explained, noting that here was “some movement at the very end.” The end result “appears to be a reasonable settlement.”

The county has initiated county-wide property tax reassessment, meaning that these values will change as part of that process in the coming months.

According to information presented to the commissioners, the Warren County School District stands to lose about $26,000 in tax revenue according to the terms of the agreement while the county will see a reduction of $9,805 annually, the city $8,550 and Conewango Township $256.

“The parties are agreeing to meet in the middle as far as the expert’s alleged values,” Schmidt said.

The school district, city and township will also have to approve the terms of the settlement.

In other business, the commissioners agreed to a nearly $70,000 contract for architectural work as part of the next phase of courthouse renovations.

“We really need to have some significant improvements to the external courthouse structure,” Commissioner Tricia Durbin said.