02-28-00 Community & Economic Development

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Qtommtttes *sport: Community and Economic Development Committee to OS E ommott f outtstl of tit City of *nth Stub: The February 28,2000 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee was called to order by Council Member Roland Kelly, Chairperson of the Committee at 5:07 p.m. in the Council informal meeting room Persons in attendance included Council Members: Aranowski, Pfeifer, King, Varner, Ujdak, Kelly, White, Coleman and Kirsits; Cassandra Moran, Mike Beitzinger, Jeff McGowan,James Axelberg,Mr.McDaniels, Brad Toothacher,Terry Bland of the*nth lOottr Irributtt, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member Kelly noted that the first item on the agenda was to review Bill No. 00-18 which is a five(5) year personal property tax abatement request for General Sheet Metal Works, Inc. for the property located at 1902 South Main Street. Cassandra Moran of Community & Economic Development reviewed her report of February 21, 2000 (copy attached). She provided a new page 2 to her report (copy attached). She noted that the company was founded in 1922 and provides metal fabricated metal products to lawn, garden, and towing equipment industries. The company proposes to add three(3)major pieces of equipment. which will create eight (8)new permanent full- time jobs and maintain the 85 existing full-time jobs. Mr. James R. Axelberg,the owner and Mr. Jeff McGowan, CPA, made the presentation. They noted that the new equipment will cost over one million dollars and showed pictures of the equipment they wish to purchase. The capital improvements will permit the company to remain competitive and prepare for future growth and maintain quality of services and products. They noted that in the past two (2) years they have increased the number of full-time employees by forty (40)and should be up to 110 in the near future. In response to a question from Council Member Ujdak, it was noted that the $ 30,000 salaries excludes benefits and that the company pays for all medical insurance costs for their employees and their families. Following discussion, Council Member Ujdak made a motion, seconded by Council Member Kirsits that Bill No. 00-18 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed. Council Member Kelly noted that the City Clerk's Office received a Memorandum dated February 28, 2000 on Bill No. 00-19 requesting that this five (5) year personal property tax abatement request for Curtis Products, Inc. be continued until the March 13, 2000 meeting(copy attached). The Committee then reviewed Bill No. 00-20 which is a six (6) year real property tax abatement request for G.D. &A.M. McDaniels d/b/a McDaniel's Harley-Davidson for the property located at 1910 Lincoln Way East. Mr. Michael Beitzinger of Community & Economic Development reviewed Cassandra Moran's report of February 23, 2000 (copy attached). It was noted that the petitioner plans to build an 11,200 square foot addition to their existing business. It would provide