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Machining Concepts is seeking a tax abatement from the Kosciusko County Council.
Thursday, Jim Walmer, representing Thornburg Family LLP requesting the abatement on behalf of Machining Concepts, made the request. Thornburg Family LLP is taking on the liability and expense of a new building for the company.
Walmer said the resolution before the council designates property on CR 200N, west of Pound Road, as a potential economic revitalization area for abatement purposes. The abatement request will be advertised and then a public hearing on the abatement will be held at the council's next meeting, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
At the November meeting, the county council will give final approval or denial of the abatement. Thursday, the council voted 5 to 0 to approve the resolution to hold the Nov. 18 hearing.
Machining Concepts was formed 10 years ago by Tom Knisely to service orthopedic companies. The company is expecting more than $630,000 in building improvements. The current tax value of the company's machinery is $504,000 and they are going to add $492,000 in machines over the next year. The purchase value of the equipment the company currently has is $1.3 million.
Walmer said the company hopes to move into their new building at the location by February. Within the next year, 15 employees will be added to the company, to a total of 35 employees. The total payroll for all the employees by the end of next year is expected to be at $1.8 million.
Jeff Thornburg, a partner in the business, said the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission approved the company's plans Monday.
Councilwoman Charlene Knispel made the motion to approve the resolution and John Kinsey made the second.
Sue Ann Mitchell, Kosciusko County auditor, reported she recently attended an Indiana Association of Cities and Towns meeting where 911 funding was discussed. Altogether, she said, Kosciusko County received $407,902.18 in 911 monies. However, because of the decreasing number of land lines, of which Kosciusko receives $1 per line, the county is not receiving as much money as it used to receive.
On cell phones, the county receives 35 cents per cell phone.
The amount of funding the county receives from 911 funding is a concern, Mitchell said, because the county just moved the 10 dispatcher positions to the 911 budget.
Brad Tandy, councilman, said increasing the land line fees will just move more people away from them.
"Technology is great, but it loses us the ability to collect 911 funds," said Mitchell.
In other business, the county council:
• Appointed Randall Kent Girod to the Syracuse-Turkey Creek Library Board. Girod replaces William Musser, who resigned to be a Syracuse town councilman.
• Heard from Mitchell that residents should receive their property tax bills by today. They are due Nov. 10.
• Heard from Mitchell that Hamilton County has filed a suit against the Indiana Department of Revenue because that county doesn't believe they are receiving all the County Option Income Tax they are entitled to receive. Hopefully, she said, the lawsuit will open the door for counties to see where all the money is going if the counties are not receiving all the funds.
• Approved a transfer of $12,000 for the county prosecutor from state witness fees to part-time.
• Approved a transfer of $13,000 for the county commissioners from copy supplies to office supplies.
• Approved a transfer of $200 for Dorothy Biesemeyer, Tippecanoe Township assessor, from overtime to payroll.
Members of the county council present Thursday included Harold Jones, Maurice Beer, John Kinsey, Charlene Knispel and Brad Tandy. Not present were Larry Teghtmeyer and Tom Anglin. The county council meets at 7 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the second Thursday of every month.
