Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Heckman Bindery hopes to increase production and entice new clients by buying two pieces of new equipment.
Wednesday evening, the North Manchester Town Council helped Heckman Bindery by approving a five-year tax abatement for the new equipment.
The bindery will purchase a double fan adhesive machine and a casing end machine to increase textbook production.
Heckman Bindery had a contract with Follett's Books last summer to print 40 percent of the company's textbooks. However, due to a lack of equipment, the bindery was unable to complete the entire contract. With the new equipment, the bindery hopes to get the Follett contract as well as others this year.
The new equipment will double the company's production to about 200,000 pieces.
"We need the equipment to get the business to stay here," said Matt Mize, vice president of finance at Heckman Bindery.
The abatement will apply to $1,108,330 in equipment.
The council also approved the creation of an Emergency Telephone System Fund. The new fund, which is in accordance with new guidelines formed after Sept. 11, 2001, will house telephone fees received by the town. The new fund takes the place of the current Tactical Equipment Fund, and the $89,000 currently in the Tactical Equipment Fund was transferred to the new Emergency Telephone System Fund.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the 2005 Salary Ordinance. The ordinance sets a 3 percent raise for town employees in 2005.
• Approved Declaratory Resolution 3, 2004. The resolution allows fund transfers within the budget for the year.
• Approved encumbrances for the 2005 budget totaling $113,641.27.
• Elected officers for 2005. Current president Don Rinearson and vice president Stan Escott will retain their offices in 2005.
• Set a special meeting for 7 a.m. Friday to discuss insurance issues.
• Set the 2005 meeting dates for: Jan. 4, Feb. 3, March 2, April 13, May 4, June 1, July 6, Aug. 3, Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14.
Town council members are Chris Garber, Diana Haupert, Don Rinearson, Stan Escott and Laura Rager. Town manager is Dan Hannaford, secretary-treasurer is Nancy Reed and town attorney is Charles Tiede.
