Sportula Maker Requests Tax Abatement

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jordan Fouts-

Kosciusko County Council heard a tax abatement request Thursday from iDNA Brands, a maker of custom-engraved grilling accessories.
Josh Wildman requested the personal property abatement, saying the company wants to purchase a 3D laser printer for wood. Wildman is CEO of Wildman Business Group, of which iDNA is a subsidiary.
iDNA makes the Sportula, a line of stainless steel spatulas, tongs and other grilling implements laser-cut with professional sports team logos and other graphics. The company was recognized last year among “Indiana Companies to Watch” by Gov. Mike Pence.
Council will vote on the abatement at a later meeting.
Also Thursday, council approved an ordinance allowing County Recorder Deb Wright to cover salaries and benefits from her record perpetuation fund instead of drawing money from the general fund. At $70,000 a year, she said employee expenses is the biggest chunk of her department’s spending.
The change was allowed by the state, recognizing the financial difficulty of many counties, she told council, and the tendency of some to draw money from the fund and leave recorder’s offices shortchanged. The fund isn’t needed at times when there are no records to secure.
And council approved a number of fund transfers, including a total of $10,000 from four highway department funds into garage and motor supplies. The extra funds are needed for maintenance of an aging fleet that saw heavy use over the winter, Assistant Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty said.
“Winter killed us,” he said after the meeting, noting the cold temperatures and heavy use caused a lot of stress on parts like hitches and frames. He added parts are getting hard to find for the older vehicles – some as old as 40 years – and even the extra $10,000 won’t cover everything.
And council approved a $2,000 additional appropriation for drug testing for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s department work release program. Sheriff Rocky Goshert said they will begin testing for synthetic drugs, something he fears may be escaping normal drug testing now.
“I have a sneaking suspicion a lot of them will pass (drug testing) unless we step it up,” he said.[[In-content Ad]]

Kosciusko County Council heard a tax abatement request Thursday from iDNA Brands, a maker of custom-engraved grilling accessories.
Josh Wildman requested the personal property abatement, saying the company wants to purchase a 3D laser printer for wood. Wildman is CEO of Wildman Business Group, of which iDNA is a subsidiary.
iDNA makes the Sportula, a line of stainless steel spatulas, tongs and other grilling implements laser-cut with professional sports team logos and other graphics. The company was recognized last year among “Indiana Companies to Watch” by Gov. Mike Pence.
Council will vote on the abatement at a later meeting.
Also Thursday, council approved an ordinance allowing County Recorder Deb Wright to cover salaries and benefits from her record perpetuation fund instead of drawing money from the general fund. At $70,000 a year, she said employee expenses is the biggest chunk of her department’s spending.
The change was allowed by the state, recognizing the financial difficulty of many counties, she told council, and the tendency of some to draw money from the fund and leave recorder’s offices shortchanged. The fund isn’t needed at times when there are no records to secure.
And council approved a number of fund transfers, including a total of $10,000 from four highway department funds into garage and motor supplies. The extra funds are needed for maintenance of an aging fleet that saw heavy use over the winter, Assistant Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty said.
“Winter killed us,” he said after the meeting, noting the cold temperatures and heavy use caused a lot of stress on parts like hitches and frames. He added parts are getting hard to find for the older vehicles – some as old as 40 years – and even the extra $10,000 won’t cover everything.
And council approved a $2,000 additional appropriation for drug testing for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s department work release program. Sheriff Rocky Goshert said they will begin testing for synthetic drugs, something he fears may be escaping normal drug testing now.
“I have a sneaking suspicion a lot of them will pass (drug testing) unless we step it up,” he said.[[In-content Ad]]
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