June 13, 2019 at 4:39 p.m.
Ag facilities seek abatements
Minnich, Reier would spend a combined $6.15 million on new laying, pullet barns
Ag facilities seek abatements
A pair of agriculture operations are being considered for tax abatements.
Jay County Council on Wednesday referred requests from Minnich Poultry and Reier Pullets to the county’s tax abatement advisory committee.
Council members also learned about an ongoing audit and were updated on the 2020 budget.
Travis Richards, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, and Steve Reier of Reier Pullets presented the tax abatement requests to council.
Minnich is requesting a five-year tax abatement for the construction of four new laying barns at a cost of $5.13 million. The new facilities are expected to add four new jobs while helping retain 65 jobs. The abatement would save Minnich $263,183 in taxes over the course of five years.
Reier is seeking a three-year tax abatement for the construction of three pullet barns at a cost of $1.02 million. They are expected to add two new jobs while helping retain two jobs. The abatement would save Reier $34,942 in taxes over three years.
In response to a question from council member Mike Rockwell, Reier said the new facilities will be cage free.
Council members Ted Champ, Cindy Newton, Amy Runyon Barrett, Faron Parr and Rockwell, absent Jeanne Houchins and Gary Theurer, voted unanimously to send the requests to the tax abatement advisory committee. Council will likely vote on the abatements at its July 17 regular meeting.
County auditor Anna Culy also brought up the upcoming 2020 budget process. She said she expects the county to have a strong year-end balance at the close of 2019 — potentially in the $3 million range — but that she is concerned about expenditures that are expected in 2020. The largest among those are upgrades to courthouse security.
Jay County Council on Wednesday referred requests from Minnich Poultry and Reier Pullets to the county’s tax abatement advisory committee.
Council members also learned about an ongoing audit and were updated on the 2020 budget.
Travis Richards, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, and Steve Reier of Reier Pullets presented the tax abatement requests to council.
Minnich is requesting a five-year tax abatement for the construction of four new laying barns at a cost of $5.13 million. The new facilities are expected to add four new jobs while helping retain 65 jobs. The abatement would save Minnich $263,183 in taxes over the course of five years.
Reier is seeking a three-year tax abatement for the construction of three pullet barns at a cost of $1.02 million. They are expected to add two new jobs while helping retain two jobs. The abatement would save Reier $34,942 in taxes over three years.
In response to a question from council member Mike Rockwell, Reier said the new facilities will be cage free.
Council members Ted Champ, Cindy Newton, Amy Runyon Barrett, Faron Parr and Rockwell, absent Jeanne Houchins and Gary Theurer, voted unanimously to send the requests to the tax abatement advisory committee. Council will likely vote on the abatements at its July 17 regular meeting.
County auditor Anna Culy also brought up the upcoming 2020 budget process. She said she expects the county to have a strong year-end balance at the close of 2019 — potentially in the $3 million range — but that she is concerned about expenditures that are expected in 2020. The largest among those are upgrades to courthouse security.
“It’s not going to be a cheap endeavor, obviously,” she said.
Council also heard from Culy that the county is currently being audited. She said auditors have been in the county since June 6.
In other business, council:
•Approved transfers of $500 to wages-overtime from guardian ad litem and $200 to wages-overtime from judge pro tem, both in the superior court budget.
•OK’d the following additional appropriations: $862,500 from the Community Crossings Grant for paving; a total of $239,394.30 from economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center as matching funds for Community Crossings grants for paving in Dunkirk, Bryant, Pennville and Salamonia; $70,000 from a state grant for Jay County Community Corrections; a total of $8,678 for a new vaccine storage unit, training, record keeping and outreach; $8,332.80 from the general fund to cover a retirement in the prosecutor’s office; $1,572.50 from the prosecutor’s pre-trial diversion fund for software cell phone and computer searches.
•Was thanked by Randy Fisher for its support of the Portland Rockets mural that is currently being painted on the south side of The Ritz Theatre. Jay County Council and Portland City Council split the cost of the mural.
•Approved tax abatement compliance forms for Minnich Poultry and NextEra Energy Resources.
•OK’d the creation of a new fiscal coordinator position for Jay County Retirement Center. The part-time position, expected to be about 20 hours per month, had previously been approved by Jay County Commissioners and is not expected to require any additional funding.
Council also heard from Culy that the county is currently being audited. She said auditors have been in the county since June 6.
In other business, council:
•Approved transfers of $500 to wages-overtime from guardian ad litem and $200 to wages-overtime from judge pro tem, both in the superior court budget.
•OK’d the following additional appropriations: $862,500 from the Community Crossings Grant for paving; a total of $239,394.30 from economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center as matching funds for Community Crossings grants for paving in Dunkirk, Bryant, Pennville and Salamonia; $70,000 from a state grant for Jay County Community Corrections; a total of $8,678 for a new vaccine storage unit, training, record keeping and outreach; $8,332.80 from the general fund to cover a retirement in the prosecutor’s office; $1,572.50 from the prosecutor’s pre-trial diversion fund for software cell phone and computer searches.
•Was thanked by Randy Fisher for its support of the Portland Rockets mural that is currently being painted on the south side of The Ritz Theatre. Jay County Council and Portland City Council split the cost of the mural.
•Approved tax abatement compliance forms for Minnich Poultry and NextEra Energy Resources.
•OK’d the creation of a new fiscal coordinator position for Jay County Retirement Center. The part-time position, expected to be about 20 hours per month, had previously been approved by Jay County Commissioners and is not expected to require any additional funding.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD