Council hears request

Fort Recovery Industries is making another investment in its Portland plant.

Steve Jetter, the company’s vice president, gave an update to Portland City Council at its meeting Monday on a planned $4.7 million investment into autonomous production terminals known as computer numerical control (CNC) machines that will assist in automotive production.

For its investment, which is projected to create four new jobs, council voted to preliminarily approve a five-year tax abatement worth $169,575 in savings at the recommendation of Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards.

“It’s been a very good relationship,” said Jetter on the company’s commitment to Portland, adding that the total $20 million it has invested in the city’s plant to date is a “win-win” for both the city and the company.

Richards, who prior to joining JCDC managed Fort Recovery Industries’ Portland casting plant, said the abatement is expected to produce a 213% return-on-investment for the city. With council preliminarily approving the proposed abatement, it now goes to the city’s tax abatement advisory committee for review.

In other business, council members Don Gillespie, Michele Brewster, Mike Aker, Matt Goldsworthy, Dave Golden, Kent McClung and Janet Powers:

•Agreed to pay $68.50 to Jones & Henry Engineers for a reported 30 minutes of labor.

The firm has been tasked with designing a new screw press for the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

•Signed off on a transfer resolution that withdraws $40,000 from the local option income tax fund and splits that amount evenly between salary funds for the city’s fire and police departments.

•Heard from Portland Mayor John Boggs that a stormwater tax likely won’t be set until January. The city contracted advising firm Baker Tilly to calculate a recommended tax rate after council approved the new tax earlier this year.

•Paid $120,074.30 in claims.