Kosciusko County Council approved abatements Thursday for a $5.6 million expansion that an orthopedic manufacturer expects will triple its payroll.
Council voted in favor of a five-year abatement for personal property and 10 years for real estate for Alpha Manufacturing and Design LLC, which plans to build an addition to its Cessna Road facility and invest in new manufacturing and information technology equipment. The company expects the growth will add at least 25 employees to its existing 13, council heard.
“I don’t know that anybody else has been up here and said they will triple their workforce,” Richard Helm, an attorney representing the company, told council. He also noted that Alpha has been courted to move to other towns but has chosen to stay in Warsaw.
Council members expressed thanks to the company, including Councilman Jon Fussle, who said he wished they could would approve a 10-year abatement for personal property.
“We appreciate you guys doing business in Kosciusko County and I wish we could do more for you,” he said.
Also Thursday, council approved the creation of a temporary assistant county administrator position at the suggestion of Commissioner Ron Truex, who said current Administrator Ron Robinson plans to retire in a few years. Truex said the county would benefit from having someone gain some experience in the position, which would last two years, before eventually taking over as administrator.
Council members agreed that it was a good idea. Brad Tandy remarked that the position is critically important to the county, overseeing everything from personnel to buildings. Larry Teghtmeyer noted that the administrator has to be a jack of all trades and that the county is better off now than before the position was established 20 years ago.
Council also heard that newly elected officials will be sworn in at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the courthouse, followed by a reception for departing officials.
(Story By The Times Union)
