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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 13, 1999 <br />Councilmember Aranowski sited the construction work done by Memorial Hospital and noted that <br />they gave back to the community. They hired almost one hundred per cent (100 %) local union <br />contractors. He noted that at the last Council meeting comments were made concerning Uniroyal <br />and being an accountant he was not happy that they did not pay their property tax bill. However, <br />he stated that he was upset to learn that Uniroyal has elected not to hire a local contractor for this <br />project and that tax abatements are a preference but not a privilege and he will be opposing this <br />Resolution. <br />Councilmember Ujdak inquired of Uniroyal why they did not attend the afternoon committee <br />meeting and whether or not they would build the addition to their building without the tax <br />abatement. <br />Mr. Jim Elgin, Uniroyal Technology Corporation, stated that on December 3, 1999 four (4) members <br />of the Council visited the Uniroyal facility. At that time Council President Coleman encouraged <br />him to invite the other Council members to visit. It was his understanding that this was the <br />alternative to coming to the afternoon committee meeting and it was not his intention to not attend <br />the meeting and any misunderstanding was his fault. Further, Mr. Elgin stated that the tax abatement <br />involves nine thousand eight hundred dollars ($9,800.00) a year. He noted that they are not asking <br />for the tax abatement to save this amount of money but they are committed to a change and want to <br />be proactive in the community. He agrees that Uniroyal has a lousy reputation and he would like <br />to change that. He further indicated that they have spent a substantial amount of money in cleaning <br />up a brown field which they acquired as their property was formerly the Fuller O'Brien plant. <br />Councilmember Varner noted that he did have a concern that Mr. Elgin was not present at the <br />committee meeting this afternoon. Further, he wondered if whether the contractor which they hired <br />were in St. Joseph County would that have made a difference and he was informed that it would <br />have. Therefore, he tried to narrow down the real issue. He knows that Ancon Construction has <br />built buildings in the Blackthorn area. He stated that the purpose of a tax abatement is not to reward <br />someone but to bring up the assessments on the tax rolls. Councilmember Varner noted that <br />Uniroyal has made contributions to South Bend and he would encourage them to do so and he will <br />be supporting this Resolution. <br />Councilmember Pfeifer stated that she was delighted to see Uniroyal move into the City and employ <br />people from the community. However, she noted that she is not pleased that they have hired non- <br />union and was very disappointed that they did not attend the afternoon committee meeting. She <br />stated, however, that the purpose of tax abatement is to encourage businesses and she will be <br />supporting this Resolution. She asked for a report of the number of union workers that will be <br />working on this project. Mr. Faust informed Councilmember Pfeifer that some of the work will <br />begin in the Spring with the subcontractors selected in March. <br />Councilmember Kelly stated that Uniroyal is obviously creating jobs in our community. He realizes <br />that Uniroyal has a lousy reputation but he believes in fairness and he will be supporting this tax <br />abatement and he hopes that Uniroyal will become a good corporate citizen. <br />Councilmember Sniadecki noted that at the last Council meeting he voted against the tax abatement <br />for Uniroyal which was a very considered vote. He noted that Uniroyal left a community without <br />benefits and he cannot support a tax abatement for such an entity. <br />RECESS <br />Upon a motion made by Councilmember Varner, seconded by Councilmember Kelly and carried by <br />a voice vote of eight (8) ayes, a five (5) minute recess was called at 8:45 p.m. <br />MEETING RECONVENED <br />The Common Council of the City of South Bend reconvened at 8:50 p.m. with nine (9) <br />Councilmembers present as Councilmember Hosinski has now joined the meeting. <br />Councilmember Ujdak stated that by state statute the Council is required to look at its tax abatement <br />