Pueblo group pulls property tax petition

An Eilers neighborhood group is withdrawing its property tax cut petition.

The petition would have asked for tax cuts since the area the members live in is part of an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site.

79 people signed the petition.

The Eiler Heights Neighborhood Association wanted the Pueblo County Assessor to study how much the cleanup would affect property values.

The group felt housing organizations wouldn’t give loans to people who wanted to buy in the area and that the neighborhood would be a cash only market since the area has the superfund distinction.

The group withdrew its petition because the assessor’s office would inspect everyone’s home who had their name on the petition, if the homeowners allowed the inspectors.

“There was not a way to educate homeowners in time to make an informed decision to make this happen or not,” association President Pam Kocman said.

The area is an EPA Superfund site because high traces of lead and arsenic were found from an old smelter site.