County Approves Tax Abatement
The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court, meeting in regular session July 12, designated Sections 4, 6, 10 and 12, Blk. 32, T-3-S as a reinvestment zone (Marck Schafer abstaining). Wind Plus, Inc. intends to construct an electricity generating facility consisting of a wind turbine farm and ancillary equipment in the zone.
The court also approved a tax abatement contract with Wind Plus (Shafer abstaining). The 10-year, 70 percent abatement will begin when the project is completed and on the tax rolls. The abatement applies to ad valorem taxes assessed against all real property, including improvements, owned or leased by Wind Plus within the reinvestment zone. Taxes abated are those assessed solely by virtue of the improvements to the extent such improvements increase the fair market value of the real property over and above that value on Jan. 1, 2005. No taxes will be abated that are not a direct result of the improvements.
The resolution creating the reinvestment zone states that the designation will contribute to expansion of employment and attract major investment in the zone, benefit property included in the zone and contribute to the economic development of the county. It also says the designation will protect existing jobs and increase the tax base, giving some relief to present property owners’ tax rate.
In exchange, Wind Plus, Inc. agrees to construct an electricity generating facility at a minimum capital expenditure of $50 million and possibly as much as $105 million. The project is expected to consist of 42 turbines that will generate 75 mega watts of electrical power. Completion of construction is estimated to be January 2007.
County Judge Wilburn Bednar said another wind company is also interested in building a turbine facility in the county, but no details were available.
Roberts Replaces Palmer
The court agreed to hire Wanda Roberts as a part-time employee to replace retiring Curtis Palmer as the overseer of the county’s two dump grounds. Roberts has been filling in for Palmer as needed for some time.
Commissioners again discussed insurance rules regarding non-employees in county vehicles, but wanted clarification of wording from the county’s risk management organization before adopting a policy.
County to Pay for 4-H Trip
The court agreed to pay transportation costs for a 4-H group to attend a leadership event in Tennessee/Kentucky. Due to safety concerns, the court recommended that two minivans (no Suburbans were available) be leased rather than one 12-passenger van. Lease was estimated at $850 total for two seven-passenger minivans. In addition to the two leased vehicles, County Extension Agent Randall Rakowitz plans to take luggage along in the county’s 4-H pickup.
The court decided to continue its practice of not adding an optional local fee to vehicle registrations. Commissioners again agreed that many out-of-county vehicles are registered here because it’s less expensive than in other counties, and that volume provides more revenue than an added fee would generate.
The court appointed the following election judges: Anne Hoelscher, Jo Ann Turner, Helen Glass, Maritha Blalock and Betty Pate. Barbara Fuchs, Doris Schwartz, Sandy Allen, Diane Havlak and Kathleen Schniers are alternates.
Commissioner Mark Halfmann said he hopes to get fence posts set in concrete at the Garden City Cemetery this week.