Seven is magic number for community, too

The number seven can be magnificent -- especially if you're into cool Western movies.

The number seven can also be majestic. Think baseball legend Mickey Mantle.

And those seven brides and seven brothers? A marriage made in heaven.

Seven also has become a magic number for the Greencastle/Putnam County community these days.

Seven resolutions for seven companies and their tax-abatement status. It's been like seventh heaven when you soak up the statistics included in the compliance-of-benefits forms the seven companies have presented to the City of Greencastle to substantiate those abatements.

At the June City Council session, seven resolutions affirming compliance were approved after Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center Executive Director Bill Dory presented documents reaffirming abatements for Ascena Retail Group, Chiyoda USA, Crown Equipment Corp., Garmong Development, Heartland Automotive, IAC (International Automotive Components) and Phoenix Closures.

Receipt of those abatements on personal property and real estate represent 2,367 fulltime jobs for Putnam County, Dory said. And that does not include part-time positions in place at Ascena and 400 fulltime temporary jobs at Heartland and Chiyoda.

The total payroll for those 2,367 positions, Dory reported, is $86.6 million.

Meanwhile, the investments involved in those abatements for the seven companies exceed $172 million -- $142.5 million of which is equipment and the other $29.5 million real estate.

"Those are mind-numbing numbers," City Council President Adam Cohen responded. "It's great."

Those numbers, however, do not include properties like Walmart Distribution, Dory said, that no longer have an ongoing abatement in place.

"For the most part," Dory told the Council, "our companies are meeting and some are exceeding their investment and job-creation targets.

"I would recommend approval of all of these reports," he added. "I believe all of our companies have made a good-faith effort to reach their goals. Fortunately, the continued improvement in the economy over the past 12-18 months has helped."

It was also pointed out -- since it had been referenced in some political rhetoric before the primary -- that the so-called spec building off the west side of Fillmore Road is owned by Garmong and not the City of Greencastle. And contrary to other statements, it is still being leased to Dixie Chopper for its parts department.

The Council passed the seven resolutions -- ranging from 2015-9 for Ascena to 2015-15 for Phoenix Closures -- on unanimous votes.