Nature's Fuel, Atwood, a company that manufactures fuel pellets, is considering a facility on the old G&M Tire property in Atwood.

The county council heard a tax abatement request Thursday for the business during its regular meeting.

Attorney Steve Snyder, representing Nature's Fuel, said the fuel pellets currently are made with compressed sawdust and a patent is pending to use cornstalks as the main component of the pellets.

The company is requesting a 10-year tax abatement on personal property valued at $3.2 million.

Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer said it is customary for the council to approve a five-year abatement.

Snyder said the paperwork will reflect the five-year abatement at the Jan. 11 council meeting.

Currently, Primix owns the land at 510 E. Main St., Atwood.

Nature's Fuel plans to use the eight-acre site for manufacturing the fuel for pellet stoves. The rest of the land will be used for warehousing and distribution.

Snyder said the plant will hire 20 people in 2007, 18 more in 2008 and 12 more in 2009.

Cardinal Center Vice President Randy Hall approached the county council about the organization's plans to rehabilitate the main building's heating and cooling system.

Hall said costs will be $682,000 for a complete upgrade, removing the old boiler and installing new windows and replacing lights. Half of the money could come from a Community and Rural Affairs grant.

Since the application is based on a "points" system, support from the local government entity, namely the county council, help the grant along.

Hall asked for $10,000 from the council, which was approved.

He said Cardinal Center has a grant request of $250 from the K21 Foundation and will add $81,000 from its own accounts.

The board approved additional appropriations from:

The Health Fund - $28,500 for the computer system. County Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver said the department maintains all birth and death records. Those on a computer system do not interface with the state, as is now required. The new software, from Global Systems, Indianapolis, will be compatible with the state, accept information from the old system and is expandable so other records can be added.

A contractual appropriation for $7,500 was approved.

For the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor's Commission - $5,000 was approved for administration; $114,000 for grants; and $352,950 for the CVB. Commission funding comes from the innkeeper's tax.

Representative Jan Carter said $65,000 will go toward new projects designed to draw visitors to the county, including a community education program, a new Web site for the CVB and $34,000 for the City/County Athletic Complex.

Ideas stemming from the long-range tourism planning report also will be implemented.

Deputy prosecutor Dan Hampton asked for $15,470.75 from the infraction deferral account. This quarter's funds will go to the Winona Police Department for five stop-stick units, $1,969.75; three portable alcohol breath testers for the Pierceton Police Department, $1,601; a tape back-up system for the sheriff's department digital lab, $5,400; and the first installment for computer equipment for the Syracuse Police Department.

Hampton said approved requests are for items to assist in aiding prosecution.

Councilwoman Charlene Knispel asked if this wasn't just a wish list and Larry Teghtmeyer asked that they look at the county's budget because of escalating costs in the sheriff's department.

Hampton said the next time an appropriation was requested, guidelines the office follows will be provided.

Transfers approved by the council include:

The treasurer's office - $5,900: $1,100 from part time to the lock box account to pay for costs; $1,900 from the deputy account to lock box; and $2,900 from deputy to overtime.

The sheriff's department - $5,047: $2,100 from jail cook to jailer to correct an error; $900 from jail cook to longevity because not enough money was appropriated; $45 from jail cook to jailer; $1 from jail cook to jailer; $2,000 from jail cook to part time; and $1 from longevity to clerical.

The clerk's office - $14.75 from dues to legal directory.

The circuit and superior 1 courts: $1,000 from travel expenses to legal research and $1,000 from maintenance machines to legal research.

The superior courts 2 and 3: $7,500 from jury "per diem" travel to pauper council.

The county highway department: $12,000 to contractual services and $1,000 from one truck driver account to another.

Reappointments made were Charles Ker and Susan Myrick to the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals; Kenneth Johnson to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission; Bob Sanders to Kosciusko Development Inc.; John Kinsey to the Solid Waste Board; and Brad Tandy and Larry Teghtmeyer to the wage committee.

The next regular council meeting is Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.

The council was reminded that the swearing-in ceremony is Dec. 27 at 1 p.m. in the old courtroom, followed by a retirement party for Avis Gunter at 2 p.m. in the rotunda area.

Council members are John Kinsey, Larry Teghtmeyer, Tom Anglin, Harold Jones and Charlene Knispel. Brad Tandy and Bob Sanders were absent. [[In-content Ad]]