Jack Mindrup became legally blind because of a medical mishap five years ago.
But he had little trouble this week making the Douglas County Board see that it should allow him a homestead exemption, waiving his property taxes.
"I was overwhelmed," said the 59-year-old Mindrup. "I wasn't expecting a win. It was just another battle."
Nebraska law waives up to 100 percent of property taxes through the homestead exemption for disabled veterans, anyone 65 or older and those who have had arms amputated or lost mobility from a permanent physical disability.
The law defines lost mobility as the inability to move without a mechanical aid or prostheses. Mindrup is able to walk, but he uses a white cane to avoid stumbling or falling into a hole.
"My cane is a prosthesis that allows me to walk," Mindrup told the board.
Mindrup's application for homestead exemption was denied by the Douglas County Assessor's Office, prompting his appeal to the County Board.
Mindrup's last property tax bill on his 102-year-old wood frame house was for $1,406.66. That creates a financial hardship, he said.
The house at 6538 Bedford Ave. is valued at $67,000.
With a flair for the dramatic, Mindrup asked County Board members to wear blindfolds to temporarily eliminate their sight while he spoke to them. Some of the board members complied.
"I appreciate what you are saying," said County Board member Mary Ann Borgeson. "I had to remove my blindfold to press the button to be recognized to speak."
Board member Kathleen McCallister, who didn't wear a blindfold, said the legal blindness of two brothers enhanced her sensitivity on the subject.
"The state law for homestead exemption needs to be reviewed," she said.
Omaha State Sen. Patrick Bourne proposed a bill earlier this year to allow the blind to qualify for the homestead exemption, but it did not advance out of committee.
In Mindrup's case, the County Board decided not to wait for legislative action.
"Sometimes common sense should prevail," said board member Mike Boyle. "There is no one here who doesn't believe that blindness is a disability."
Granting his appeal for a homestead exemption doesn't mean the County Assessor's Office was wrong in its decision, Boyle said.
"There is no bad guy in this," he said. "It's hard to draw the line. The board simply thought it was drawn on the wrong side in this case."
Boyle doesn't expect a line of those denied homestead exemptions to form at the County Board.
"But I would expect those who come before the board with severe disabilities to be given the same understanding," he said.
Mindrup doesn't plan to stop his appeal with the County Board.
"I didn't want to do this just for me," he said. "I plan to go back to the Legislature to try to change the state law on homestead exemption to help others like me."
Click here to read "An Equitable Decision" from the August 26, 2006 Public Pulse
Now that you've read the story and the public pulse article, view the actual meeting where it all took place. You will need to download real player to view the August 15, 2006 planning board meeting.