July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Saint-Gobain abatement gets OK (10/28/2008)
Dunkirk City Council
By By ROBERT BANSER-
DUNKIRK - City council members approved a 10-year tax abatement plan Monday for a $27 million machinery upgrade at the Saint-Gobain Containers plant here.
Saint-Gobain's Dunkirk plant manager Michael Hart thanked the council for its swift action, pointing out that this will keep the Dunkirk facility operating as a state-of-the-art plant and will probably be just the beginning of more improvements at the plant during the next three to five years.
Noting that the Dunkirk Saint-Gobain facility can trace its history back to 1889, Hart credited the many good employees over the years at the Dunkirk plant as a key reason for its success. "It's been strong because of the people who have been there," Hart said.
"And putting state-of-the-art equipment in the Dunkirk community is where we want to be," the plant manager added.
"It's really an outstanding plant," Hart said.
The local plant manager said he also recognized this was not a typical tax abatement request, as company officials do not foresee any significant increase in their work force at the plant as a result of this upgrade, but noted these were tough economic times globally and consequently it was good to see such an investment in an established facility.
The unanimous action by the full council Monday night, followed an earlier meeting Monday evening of the city's Tax Abatement Advisory Committee which also recommended unanimous approval for the Saint-Gobain request.
The advisory group consists of Dunkirk Mayor Ron Hunt; council members Larry Smith and Tom Johnson; and local resident Tom Brosher. Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley also serves on the group.
Bradley explained the Saint-Gobain proposal to the other committee members Monday evening, pointing out that the overall upgrade could eventually total between $27 million and $30 million. "This will be the start of positive things out there," Bradley said.
Also he noted that Dunkirk's Saint-Gobain plant employs between 390 and 410 people, and "these are very good jobs."
Both Hart and Bradley thanked the advisory committee and council for their positive action.
In other business at Monday night's meeting, city council members:
•Heard an update from Johnson about the continuing work to solve the basement problems at city hall, 131 S. Main St.
Johnson said he wanted to thank city workers and department heads as well as the Jay County Sheriff's Department and the jail inmates who helped with the project of cleaning out the basement and crawlspace area. "That was a major undertaking," Johnson said.
Mayor Hunt opened six bids concerning the installation of a concrete floor and other improvements for the city hall basement. The bids ranged from $6,500 to $21,000, but Hunt said he was also considering the possibility of having city workers from the street and wastewater departments perform the work for a cost of about $1,000 in materials.
Following further discussion, the bid documents as well as the mayor's proposal were taken under advisement for further study and review by council members and Dan Watson, Jay County engineer, who is also a Dunkirk resident and former city council member.
A special meeting to consider the matter further as well how to fund the project was set for 4:30 p.m. Friday in the council chambers of city hall.
•Approved payment of a bill for $1,724 for the rental of a conveyor machine from Korte Brothers of Fort Wayne in connection with the city hall project. This money will be taken from the city clerk-treasurer's office building fund, nearly depleting it. Clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler said there may be more bills coming in later in connection with the rental of the conveyor machine, too.
•Agreed to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for five years to cover the cost of a new $74,900 rescue vehicle for the fire department from Kenny Vice Ford Sales Inc. of Ladoga, Ind. Funds for at least the first two years of payments on this vehicle will come from the city's share of Local Option Income Tax revenue which must be spent on items relating to public safety.
•Learned that city water department workers plan to flush hydrants throughout the city, starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday and continuing to 6 a.m. Thursday, and again at 10 p.m. Thursday through about 11 a.m. Friday. City officials advise residents not to do laundry during these times, as the water may be discolored for a while.[[In-content Ad]]
Saint-Gobain's Dunkirk plant manager Michael Hart thanked the council for its swift action, pointing out that this will keep the Dunkirk facility operating as a state-of-the-art plant and will probably be just the beginning of more improvements at the plant during the next three to five years.
Noting that the Dunkirk Saint-Gobain facility can trace its history back to 1889, Hart credited the many good employees over the years at the Dunkirk plant as a key reason for its success. "It's been strong because of the people who have been there," Hart said.
"And putting state-of-the-art equipment in the Dunkirk community is where we want to be," the plant manager added.
"It's really an outstanding plant," Hart said.
The local plant manager said he also recognized this was not a typical tax abatement request, as company officials do not foresee any significant increase in their work force at the plant as a result of this upgrade, but noted these were tough economic times globally and consequently it was good to see such an investment in an established facility.
The unanimous action by the full council Monday night, followed an earlier meeting Monday evening of the city's Tax Abatement Advisory Committee which also recommended unanimous approval for the Saint-Gobain request.
The advisory group consists of Dunkirk Mayor Ron Hunt; council members Larry Smith and Tom Johnson; and local resident Tom Brosher. Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley also serves on the group.
Bradley explained the Saint-Gobain proposal to the other committee members Monday evening, pointing out that the overall upgrade could eventually total between $27 million and $30 million. "This will be the start of positive things out there," Bradley said.
Also he noted that Dunkirk's Saint-Gobain plant employs between 390 and 410 people, and "these are very good jobs."
Both Hart and Bradley thanked the advisory committee and council for their positive action.
In other business at Monday night's meeting, city council members:
•Heard an update from Johnson about the continuing work to solve the basement problems at city hall, 131 S. Main St.
Johnson said he wanted to thank city workers and department heads as well as the Jay County Sheriff's Department and the jail inmates who helped with the project of cleaning out the basement and crawlspace area. "That was a major undertaking," Johnson said.
Mayor Hunt opened six bids concerning the installation of a concrete floor and other improvements for the city hall basement. The bids ranged from $6,500 to $21,000, but Hunt said he was also considering the possibility of having city workers from the street and wastewater departments perform the work for a cost of about $1,000 in materials.
Following further discussion, the bid documents as well as the mayor's proposal were taken under advisement for further study and review by council members and Dan Watson, Jay County engineer, who is also a Dunkirk resident and former city council member.
A special meeting to consider the matter further as well how to fund the project was set for 4:30 p.m. Friday in the council chambers of city hall.
•Approved payment of a bill for $1,724 for the rental of a conveyor machine from Korte Brothers of Fort Wayne in connection with the city hall project. This money will be taken from the city clerk-treasurer's office building fund, nearly depleting it. Clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler said there may be more bills coming in later in connection with the rental of the conveyor machine, too.
•Agreed to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for five years to cover the cost of a new $74,900 rescue vehicle for the fire department from Kenny Vice Ford Sales Inc. of Ladoga, Ind. Funds for at least the first two years of payments on this vehicle will come from the city's share of Local Option Income Tax revenue which must be spent on items relating to public safety.
•Learned that city water department workers plan to flush hydrants throughout the city, starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday and continuing to 6 a.m. Thursday, and again at 10 p.m. Thursday through about 11 a.m. Friday. City officials advise residents not to do laundry during these times, as the water may be discolored for a while.[[In-content Ad]]
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