FCC tax abatement approved

One business will get tax abatement.

Another request will be reviewed.

And the way has been cleared for a local business to make the move to its new headquarters.

Portland City Council on Monday dealt with a variety of business-related issues, including approving the latest tax abatement of FCC (Indiana).

Council members unanimously approved a three-year abatement on $1.4 million in new equipment for FCC, as recommended by the city’s tax abatement advisory committee. It is expected to save the company about $35,000 in taxes. FCC had presented the request at the May 3 meeting.

The installation of the new equipment is expected to create 11 new jobs.

FCC has been approved for a new tax abatement nearly every year over the last decade, having invested more than $130 million in expansions and equipment at its Portland location.

That includes investments of $19.6 million in 2011, $16.4 million in 2013, $27 million in 2014, $15.8 million in 2016, $26.3 million in 2017 and $14.5 million last year. It now has more than 800 employees.

Council also heard a new tax abatement request from Joyce-Dayton on about $228,000 in new equipment. The one-year abatement would result in $2,700 in savings for the company, and one new job is expected to be created. The request was referred to the tax abatement advisory committee for its review.

Council members Kent McClung, Janet Powers, Don Gillespie, Michele Brewster, Dave Golden, Matt Goldsworthy and Mike Aker also approved rezoning of the current Jay School Corporation administrative office at 1976 W. Tyson Road to highway service from the current low-density residential. Brigade Electronics, which has rented office space elsewhere in the city, is in the process of buying the site to serve as its new U.S. headquarters. Portland Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval of the rezoning earlier this month.

Jay Schools plans to move its administrative offices to the General Shanks building following the conclusion of the 2020-21 school year.

Gillespie also asked about the status of the Meridian Street arch bridge construction project and the city’s policy regarding trucks as related to that work. He said semis have been all over the city, including Third and Wayne streets, rather than following the specified truck detour.

Portland Mayor John Boggs said city police had been giving a lot of warnings and have been asked to write more citations.

“I’m getting complaints from all over, so we’re addressing it,” he said.

He added that the project was expected to be complete today.

In other business, council:

•Heard the following from Boggs: a reminder that a groundbreaking for the Portland Municipal Airport runway extension project will be held at 3 p.m. June 2; the city has applied for a federal grant to replace all traffic control signs in the city with highly reflective signs over the next four years; downtown planters are expected to be filled this week; a reminder that larger trash items — details are available at thecityofportland.net — will be picked up during city-wide clean-up week May 24 through 28.

•Appointed Aaron Loy to the city’s board of zoning appeals. He fills the seat previously held by Rusty Inman, who resigned last week. Loy will complete the term that runs through the end of 2022.

•Heard a suggestion from Goldsworthy that the city review its ordinance regarding open burning. He has received several questions on the issue over the last couple of weeks.

•Approved an appropriation of funds for the purchase of a new police vehicle. The purchase was approved last year.

•Boggs, in response to a question from Golden, said the city is pursuing multiple possibilities for using COVID-19 relief funds to pay for the proposed Meridian Street storm sewer project.