To counter recent manufacturing and employment news, it was announced that one local company is planning a new product line. Aisin Drivetrain in Crothersville will be making drivetrain components for Yamaha all-terrian vehicles which will help keep local workers on the payroll, it was announced at last Tuesday’s Crothersville Town Council meeting.
The town council approved a 10-year tax abatement for $3.3 million in new machinery for Aisin Drivetrain.
“This is going to be a new business for us and we are very excited about it,” Larry Summa, administration division manager of Aisin Drivetrain told the council.
Aisin will use the new equipment to make rear and front differentials for Yamaha side-by-side all-terrain vehicles that are made in the United States, Summa said.
With tax abatements, increases in real or personal property taxes paid on new equipment is phased in over 10 years. Existing taxes are not reduced through abatements.
The new business does not mean new jobs but keeing exiting sowrkers employed. “We would be mainly retaining existing jobs,” Summa said.
“I think as a council we support any expansion and development of the industry,” council President Ardell Mitchell said. “We know that the people at Aisin are great neighbors and supporters of the town.”
Aisin Drivetrain makes drivetrain components for industrial markets and brake and chassis components for automotive markets.
As of January 2008, it employed 226 residents. Overall in the county, Aisin USA, headquartered in Seymour, employed 2,052.
Some cutbacks in temporary workers have occurred since, however.
In other business the council approved continuing the trash and recycling contract with Rumpke of Indiana.
The 2009 contract will increase the town’s cost for trash & recycling from $8.25 to $8.41 per household per month. Clerk-Treasurer NaLona Bush said that no increase to residents is expected.
“Residents pay $9 a month for trash & recycling. The seventy-five cents extra is used to pay for the semi-annual large trash pick ups,” she said.
While no increase is anticipated for 2009, residents might expect an increase in those services in 2010.
The town continues to deal with improving the Combined Sewer Overflow problem at the sewer plant.
“Some lines are plugged resulting in flooding and we have some maintenance and design issues,” said council president Mitchell. “But regardless, we have got to get the plant back to where it was when new in order to comply with the Long Term Control Plan.”
Some of the work we can do ourselves, some will need to be contracted, said Mitchell.
In other matters the town council:
•Reported two applicants, Paul Hammond and Donald Spicer, are so far seeking the job to replace Chief of Police Norman Ford who is planning to retire next April. Other applicants are expected, it was reported. The position is to be posted on the police website, it was determined.
•Approved purchasing anti-virus software from Redneck Computers of Crothersville for $305.
•Set the year-end council meeting for Thursday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m.
