By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – Late Monday afternoon, the Wabash County Council voted to approve a continuing tax abatement for Advanced Ag Resources, Inc. Council Chairman Mike Ridenour recommended the county’s tax abatament committee look to the information given by Bobby Hettmansperger, President of Advanced Ag Resources, to make sure that they are actually complying with the conditions of the 10-year tax abatement originally granted in 2014.
Keith Gillenwater, CEO of the Economic Group of Wabash County, told the council that governing bodies usually simply rely on the info giving by the business or person receiving the tax abatement regarding whether they are in compliance. The council voted to approve the tax abatement 6 to 1, with only Ridenour voting no.
Gillenwater then gave the Economic Development Group of Wabash County’s 2015 year-end report. The said that 2015 was a very good year for the county, and pointed to EDG’s 11 “wins” which, he said, created 46 new jobs. He also stated that work by EDG in 2015 helped retain 700 jobs in the county. The new jobs had an average salary of $17.72 per hour, Gillenwater added. He mentioned the group’s recent projects, like the American’s Best Communities Competition which failed to make it out of the quarter-final round, the seven Stellar projects underway and the Regional Cities Program.
Other projects specifically mentioned include the All-Inclusive Park, the North Manchester Early Learning Center, the Eagles Theatre renovations, work to the park in Roann and extending the Riverwalk in Wabash out to Lagro. Looking forward to the rest of 2016, Gillenwater pointed to the development of the city’s Industrial Parks and continuing on the Stellar projects.
The Wabash County Council also appropriated $7,738.00 out of the county’s General Fund to the Drainage Board for the Watershed Drain Layer project. In years past, the money for the continuing contract for the project was budgeted, but that ended this budget year. Thus, an additional appropriation was necessary at Monday afternoon’s meeting. The council also appropriated $758 out of the Solid Waste Administration Fees Fund for computer equipment and $554 for equipment out of the county’s Local Health Trust.