Move for TLS?

A local custom furniture manufacturer hopes to grow its business into part of the former Sheller-Globe Corp. plant on South Bridge Street in Portland.
Jeff Day, director of TLS By Design Custom Furniture, told Jay County Commissioners the firm will present a plan to a bankruptcy court that would allow the north building and some adjacent property to be acquired prior to a scheduled Feb. 14 tax sale.
Commissioners agreed not to object to the plan in an effort to expedite the sale.
The north building of what was once Sheller-Globe Plant No. 1 has a tax liability of $140,000 to $150,000. It is currently owned by Venture Holdings, Hartford City, which is in bankruptcy proceedings.
TLS will pay 10 to 20 percent of the tax liability when acquiring the property.
If the property went to tax sale, the minimum price would be 10 percent of the taxes due.
But if the property goes through a tax sale, it could be 120 days before TLS takes possession.
“My understanding is that this can be done in 20 days” if approved by the bankruptcy court, commissioners’ attorney Bill Hinkle said.
“We just wanted your blessing,” Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman said. “The reason why we’re here today is the urgency of moving forward.”
Day said the company is growing so quickly that space is at a premium.
Currently operating out of the former Standard Brush and Broom building at 415 W. Water St., TLS was founded in 2004, making mid- to high-end custom furniture primarily for the institutional and hospitality markets.
Day cited Ivy Tech and Indiana University as major customers, along with hotels. Today the company has 11 full-time and three part-time employees, many of whom were formerly employed by the Berne Furniture Company.
“We’re really custom,” said Day. “I think we’ll grow a million a year (in sales) for the next few years.”
The company had looked at the former International Paper Co. building in Portland and had been offered a building at no cost in Muncie but decided the former Sheller-Globe property made the most sense.
“That building is in very good shape,” Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley said of the north building.
In addition to the north building, TLS wants to acquire about 120 feet of property adjacent to the south of the building.
“We want to move into a place where we don’t have to move again,” Day said.
Day said the company would be seeking “dinosaur” state tax credits available when a long-vacant industrial building is put back into service.
In other business this morning, commissioners:
•Authorized Sheriff Ray Newton to purchase two 2013 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles from Kelley Chevrolet, Fort Wayne, for $35,626.12 after a trade-in allowance. Kelley’s quote was the lowest five submitted. “I know we want to buy local, but,” said Newton.
•Appointed Hannah Hughes to the Jay County Public Library Board. She will succeed Barbara Laux.
•Approved a new interlocal agreement with the city of Portland which makes minor changes in the schedule of permit fees for Jay-Portland Building and Planning.
•Authorized Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison to move forward with the purchase of eight new chairs for the circuit courtroom and new computers for the probation department.
•Elected Milo Miller Jr. as president of the commissioners and Jim Zimmerman as president of the Jay County Drainage Board. Faron Parr will serve as vice president of both.
•Reappointed Roy Leverich as Veterans Service Officer.
•Noted all department head appointments will stay the same in the year ahead.[[In-content Ad]]