10-17-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--October 17, 2005 2991 Mr. Novacek addressed the board and said the Dakota Ag Cooperative feels they are a good contributor of taxes to the county and the school district. He said they did not request a tax exemption when they purchased the grain facility from a producer in 2002 and renovated it with high-speed machinery. The annual tax liability on this property is $20,593. Mr. Novacek indicated employment positions will be added and current ones will be more secure with this expansion project. The application indicates the business will have one full. time and one part-time position in the years 2006-2008; and there will be two full-time employees and one part-time employee in the years 2009 and 2010. He concluded by asking for a favorable review by the county commission on the application for property tax incentives for Dakota Ag Cooperative. Mr. Bennett asked about increased economic benefit to the community, and Mr. Novacek said that was a factor in the first phase much more than in the second phase. Mr. Pawluk asked Mr. Novacek to provide background information on Dakota Ag Cooperative, formerly Cenex Harvest States, and the board learned the business was relocated from West Fargo. Mr. Pawluk asked about job history and Mr. Novacek said four employees were added since first leasing the Kindred Grain and Oil Company in the year 2000. Mr. Pawluk noted the related job gains are new to Kindred but not to Cass County, and Mr. Novacek concurred. Mr. Vanyo invited comments from anyone wishing to speak against the tax incentive application, and he mentioned the letter commissioners received from the Kindred School District. Hearing no other comments, the public hearing was closed. MOTION, passed Referencing county policy 34.00, tax incentives, and specifically jobs creation, as well as County Highway 15 improvements benefiting the business, and considering the effective tax rate of only 1.5%, Mr. Wagner moved and Mr. Pawluk seconded to deny the Application for Property Tax Incentives for Dakota Ag Cooperative of Kindred. On roll call vote, the motion carried with four members voting "Aye" and Mr. Bennett opposing. Mr. Vanyo wished him well and said this is certainly a good project; however, the board looks at job creation under the incentive policy, and there are not a lot of jobs being created in this project. Mr. Novacek said he appreciates the commission taking time to review his application and he respects the board's decision. 10. COMMISSION POLICY MANUAL, Amend Section 4.00, Advisory Boards Mr. Pawluk asked to move this item from the consent agenda to the regular agenda for clarification on the procedure for appointing members to advisory boards. In the matter of the School Reorganization Committee, there has been a vacancy in Commission District #2, and Mr. Bennett said he will serve on the committee unless he or other commissioners could find someone who lives in his commission district boundaries to serve.