MILFORD – Milford Town Council agreed Monday to fast-track a tax abatement for CTB Inc. if possible. Jeff Miller, operations manager for the poultry products maker, presented the request for a five-year abatement of personal property taxes and 10 years for real property. The company plans a $7.1 million plant expansion, including a 45,000-square-foot addition with new machinery and storage space. Miller said the investment will help the company meet growing demand, especially in Latin America and Asia. CTB expects to add 80 new jobs over the next four years, with an average hourly pay of $18.49. “I think the phase-in is a heck of a deal,” remarked Dan Brown, Milford Redevelopment Commission director, also noting that CTB is a $1 billion global company that chooses to keep its headquarters in Milford. Council members also thanked the company for its history in town. Council will hold a public hearing and vote on the request no later than Nov. 10 – or earlier, if possible. Also Monday, council approved the 2015 budget of $1.68 million, which includes a $100,000 cut mandated by the state. The budget was passed against the protest of councilman Dan Cochran, as well as a resolution to expand the possible uses of the County Economic Development Income Tax fund. Council has looked at other ways to cover the shortfall, but several cost-saving measures under discussion had to be rejected for one reason or another. Council learned Monday that refinancing the sewer bond would cost more than it was worth, for instance, and that they couldn’t annex two streets in a subdivision northeast of town until after utilities are established there. Council may consider a user fee for trash pickup, after hearing more about what surrounding towns do. And since the town’s current trash contract is over at the end of the year, council invited quotes from Advanced Disposal, whose general manager, Jerry Schnitzius, attended the meeting to introduce himself. And new Milford Police Department reserve officer Adam Amsden was sworn in Monday. The Elkhart Police dispatcher applied to Milford because he wants to get back into the field, Chief Rich Miotto said. Miotto said Amsden emerged from a pool of six applicants, and the department is still looking for more reserves. Miotto also said he wanted to remind residents, especially the elderly, to be careful about giving out personal information over the phone or Internet. He said they should call the police if they suspect a scam.
