Despite a sluggish economy a second Crothersville industry has announced an expansion to its local facility.
A $475,000 tax abatement was approved for Cerro Wire at last Tuesday night’s special meeting of the Crothersville Town Council.
The abatement is part of a 4,200 square foot office expansion of the company¹s operations.
Rob Kennedy, vice president of finance for Cerro Wire, told council members the company has grown since its opening in 1998.
This past year, 30 hourly and four salaried positions were added.
Council members Karen Mains and Bill Nagle voted in favor of the abatement addition. Council President Ardell Mitchell was not present at the meeting.
The announcement is the second this year for the industrial park south of Crothersville. Aisin Chemical Indiana is currently constructing a manufacturing facility just west of the Cerro plant on Industrial Way.
In the Aisin Chemical expansion project, the council approved a $2,720 payment to town engineer, Jim Wayman, for his additional work on the sewer
and road project on Industrial Way. Funding of $10,590 was also approved to raise 13 manholes in the industrial area.
“It’s cheaper to do it now while the contractor is there,” town attorney, Travis Thompson, said.
Council member Karen Mains agreed, saying, “It has to be done sooner or later.”
Wayman said the infrastructure project should be finished in three to four weeks.
In other business the council adopted the 2011 town budget and made reductions to the 2010 budget.
Cuts included a reduction of $129,000 of the general fund, $4,000 from the motor vehicle highway fund and $3,900 from the cumulative capital fund.
In a final matter, Debbie Hackman, executive director of Jackson County Solid Waste District, presented council with an option to set up compost piles in the community for leaves.
Because of the county wide burn ban, leaves cannot be burned and there is no curbside pickup of leaves. Hackman said the best way to dispose of the leaves is to mow over them. The council did not take action to set up the compost piles.
