Minutes-07/08/1987

property and buildings to A-Jem. State or Federal grants could be applied for. West Liberty already has existing space which does not need remodeling but Tiffin is a better location. The city must make application on behalf of the corporation. The company would employ 35 people the first year with growth to 60 employees during the second year. Fifty-one percent of the employees would need to come from low-to-moderate income families. The work would involve electrical assembly. The company has a list of 15 products it is currently making or in various stages of development. The first step is for Tiffin to apply for grant money to purchase the property and buildings. Not all the money could come from grants. State will look at participation by town and by corporation. Stoner did not have firm estimate of dollar amount at this time. No city funds would be involved with purchase of the building or grounds. Hart stated that there is not time to hold a special election to sell general obligation bonds and industrial revenue bonds are not selling well at this time. The city would only get involved if other grants are applied for, such as street or sewer improvements. This application would be for the buildings and site only. The company has to come up with a portion of the money, depending on the grant. The city has to apply on behalf of the company. Later, the city could apply for RISE grant for utility improvements for access to industrial park, with only a 20% match of city funds. City would only apply for this after it had a firm commitment from A-Jem. Stoner stated that the projected market for the products is good. Company is already getting orders from Europe and Asia. Currently there is nothing else like these products on the market. Within two years, their products will be duplicated by other companies. This is why A-Jem is developing new products, too. Dave Sidwell is in charge of the company. He likes the location and size of buildings in Tiffin. Motion Runge second Stratton to direct Stoner to make application for State and Federal grants on behalf of A-Jem, Inc. for relocation at Bream Bins and Buildings. Roll call vote: Runge, aye; Stoner, aye; Stratton, aye; Morgan, absent. Carried unanimously. Stoner asked for rezoning of 141 Railroad Street, Bream Bins, from R-1 (single-family residential) and A-1 (agricultural) to M-1 (industrial). Clerk explained that if the request was made now, the earliest that a public hearing could be held would be after the next regular council meeting on August 12th and that approval for rezoning could come at the regular council meeting in September. Ted Spivey: What happens if A-Jem does not go in and the property is rezoned to M-1? Potter: It is still up to the council what goes in there. We have ordinances against chemicals and animals. Stratton: So if this is zoned M-1 and this company does not go in, we still have control? Hart: If city does not get grants for A-Jen, council could still have time to deny the rezoning request.