Appeal filed Friday resumes appraisal fight between Shawnee County and Heartland Motorsports Park

Tim Hrenchir, Topeka Capital-Journal
·1 min read
A company owned by Heartland Motorsports Park owner Chris Payne, shown here, is appealing a judge's dismissal of its lawsuit against Shawnee County and its appraiser's office.
A company owned by Heartland Motorsports Park owner Chris Payne, shown here, is appealing a judge's dismissal of its lawsuit against Shawnee County and its appraiser's office.

The owner of Topeka's Heartland Motorsports Park has appealed a judge's dismissal last month of its lawsuit against Shawnee County and its appraiser's office.

Friday's move continues an appraisal-related dispute between between those parties.

Attorneys representing Shelby Development LLC on Friday filed the two-page notice of appeal in Shawnee County District Court.

More: 2022 Country Stampede is July 14-16 at Heartland Park with headliner Jake Owen

A copy of that appeal was provided to The Capital-Journal by Chris Payne, owner of Shelby Development. Payne bought Heartland Park for $2.4 million in December 2015.

Friday's appeal seeks to overturn Shawnee County District Judge Thomas G. Luedke's dismissal of an 11-count suit Shelby Development filed in 2019 against the county, its appraiser’s office, appraiser Steve Bauman and assistant appraiser Stacy Berry.

The suit continues an ongoing dispute between Heartland Motorsports Park and Shawnee County over the property tax appraisal's of that facility.

Shelby Development alleges Shawnee County, Bauman and Berry conducted valuations of Heartland Motorsports Park improperly and illegally.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka motorsports park appeals dismissal of appraisal-related lawsuit