MENTONE – A Mentone business is moving its plant to Etna Green, the Mentone Town Council heard during an annexation hearing Monday night.
The move may create up to 50 new jobs, they also heard.
Winona Powder Coating Inc., 601 S. Franklin St., Mentone, requested in August that one acre south of its current property be annexed into town limits. At the public hearing Oct. 15, no one from Winona Corp. was present, but there were no remonstrators.
The annexation request was approved by the town council at its regular meeting Monday.
Before the council approved it, Winona Corp. President Fred Fribley said years ago the business bought the property south of it that had a house on it. The house was hauled away by the owner.
Winona Corp. bought a new powder coating line and moved part of it to Cleveland, Ohio, to be refurbished. The other part is temporarily in a warehouse.
Since the new line was too long for Winona’s current building, Fribley said, they decided to annex the property to the south to build on and avoid the hassle of working with the town and the county.
Another customer of Winona Corp. has since made a request which will require more space. Fribley said because their current location is landlocked, they looked around for some other property.
“We’re in the process of acquiring an empty building in Etna Green,” Fribley said.
In March, Winona Corp. plans to move its plant from Mentone to Etna Green, he said.
They still want their property in Mentone to be annexed, and they will try to find someone to lease the Mentone property to, Fribley said.
“We would hate to see you move,” Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd said.
Fribley said he hates to have to move, too, but Winona Corp. has outgrown its land.
Jill Gross, councilwoman, asked if the move will create more jobs. Fribley said they may hire 50 new employees once they’re moved and ready. For Winona Corp.’s current employees, he said the plant isn’t moving that far away so the drive won’t be too long.
“We do appreciate the time you were here,” Tim Croy, council president, said.
