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Thirty-four more jobs will be coming to Kosciusko County.
Thursday, the Kosciusko County Council approved Symmetry Medical USA's request for a tax abatement.
In their request for the abatement, Regan Ford of Regan Ford Enterprises Inc., economic development consultants, Kendallville, said Symmetry will add approximately 34 local jobs with an average salary of approximately $59,000.
The abatement will be for research and development equipment.
The economic development revitalization area is in Plain Township, outside the Warsaw city limits.
County council chairman Harold Jones said the abatement for a five-year period is "traditionally what the council has done - a five-year abatement.."
Ford said the resolution also allows the county council to rescind the abatement if they ever change their mind.
"I see no problem with this particular one," said Jones. "It is in line with what we've done in the past."
Larry Teghtmeyer, county councilman, said the salaries total more than $2 million for the 34 new employees expected. "This is not just adding jobs, it's adding careers."
He made the motion to approve the abatement. The council approved by a vote of five to zero. Councilmen Brad Tandy and Tom Anglin were not at the meeting.
In other business, the county council:
• Heard a request from Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau President Deb Wiggins for $5,000 for the CVB commission's administrative fees and $25,000 for local grants. The county council approved $10,000 for fees and $50,000 for grants.
• Approved the following transfers: Tippecanoe Township Assessor, $21,987 from a deputy pay account to part time and overtime; county auditor, $3,000 from book binding to overtime, and $6,654.94 from two counter deputy accounts to the Geographical Imaging System Coordinator; 911 Emergency Telephone System, $1,407.22 from dispatcher to Warsaw contract.
• Approved the following additional appropriations: county prosecutor, $19,233; county prosecutor, $2,180; county prosecutor, $3,216; and county sheriff, $11,000.
• Heard a report from Joan Younce, county extension office, on what the office has done in the past year.
• Approved a special meeting for 7 p.m. May 6 to hear Mentone Library's capital projects.
The next regular meeting is 7 p.m. May 13 at the county courthouse, Warsaw.
Kosciusko County Council members are Harold Jones, John Kinsey, Larry Teghtmeyer, Charlene Knispel, Maurice Beer, Brad Tandy and Tom Anglin.
