NORTH MANCHESTER – At Wednesday night's meeting, the North Manchester Town Council approved tax abatements in noncompliance following a public hearing for HF Group, Precision Medical and S&T Investment Group.
These businesses missed the initial deadline for approval but were still eligible for tax abatements at this meeting. Representatives from each business were in attendance to explain their noncompliance, along with Tenille Zartman of Grow Wabash County.
HF Group received an abatement for a commercial-grade Canon Digital Inkjet printer for book printing costing $887,000. Precision Medical purchased $1.3 million of Diamond Lite Carbon Coating equipment. S&T Investment completed site improvements and upgrades totaling $1.6 million.
Following the tax abatement hearing, the council held a public hearing for trash and recycle rate increases. The minimum will go up from $16.50 to $18 per month per household starting in September, with additional increases at $0.75 per year for three subsequent years. According to this rate schedule, the monthly rate will be $20.25 by September 2027.
Hearing no comment on the rate increase, the council approved the general ordinance on first reading. The second and third readings will be voted on at the July and August meetings, respectively.
In other updates:
• Fire Chief Cam Kissinger said fireworks will be on July 4 this year with a rain date of July 6.
• Gaunt and Son Asphalt will be working on North Market Street for several weeks, but the work will not start until after the car show on June 14 so as to not interfere with the event.
• Clerk-Treasurer Carrie Mugford reported a town docket of $1,049,044.48 and a utilities docket of $172,791.35.
The council will next meet at 7 p.m. July 3.