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County Council approves abatement on Buzzi addition
A $30 million improvement to the Buzzi Unicem plant south of Greencastle will receive a property tax abatement from the county.
On Tuesday, the Putnam County Council approved a requested 10-year abatement on the construction of a new clinker facility at the cement plant.
The investment includes $20 million in real property (structure) and $10 million in personal property (equipment). The abatement will include a traditional phase in of the taxes due on the property, which will be abated 100 percent in the first year, 90 percent in the second year, 80 percent in the third year and so on until the full assessed amount is being paid on the property.
The motion for approval was made by Councilman Keith Berry and seconded by Councilman Wayne Huffman. It was approved unanimously.
Following a public hearing at which no members of the public spoke, Greencastle-Putnam County Economic Development Director Kristin Clary made a presentation on behalf of the cement producer. She acknowledged that while the investment represents an increase in assessed value in the county, there are no promises of job creation.
Clary said that in conversations with Plant Manager Tim Menke she has learned that since 2020, Buzzi has created eight new jobs — two engineers, three supervisors and three hourly employees — bringing its total number of employees to 185, with three unfilled positions.
“That is really why there are no job creation numbers,” Clary said. “They’ve been creating jobs along the way.”
Calling Buzzi “a premier employer” that pays above the county median income, Clary said more jobs would be likely if and when such employees become available.
“They can’t find enough employees,” Clary said. “They said, ‘If we said we would create jobs, we would be out of compliance every year when we come to you.’”
However, Clary echoed her comments from November — when the preliminary step of declaring Buzzi an economic revitalization zone was approved — that Buzzi is adding to its facilities to help keep up with demand. Menke has told her that the plant is maxed out on production and cannot take any more customers.
Ideally, she said, the plant would be able to add between five and seven positions should qualified candidates apply.
This is where the need for employees dovetails with another concern for Clary — housing. She briefly noted that a coming housing study should help address these needs and, in turn, draw more quality employees.
The study will be funded by $150,000 in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) grant funds as well as $25,000 each from Putnam County and the City of Greencastle
In other business, the council:
• Approved a $650,000 appropriation to the Putnam County Highway Department for the 2024 road plan.
While appearing before the council for the appropriation, County Engineer Jim Peck also presented the members with the findings of the local road safety plan and the bridge inventory, both of which were recently presented to the Putnam County Commissioners. These outline some of the funding needs the council will have to consider in the coming years as it applies to roads and bridges.
The local road safety plan in particular should open some doors for the county when it comes to state and federal funding, as Putnam is one of just five counties to have completed such a plan. It gives the county empirical evidence as to why particular improvements might be needed.
“I’m glad we’re ahead of the game on something, for once,” Council President Stephanie Campbell said.
• Officially approved an $8,500 expenditure by the Putnam County Commissioners on a used van for new weights and measures director Brandon White to transport equipment. The move was approved in principle in January but made official on Tuesday after it had been appropriately advertised.
• Briefly touched upon the discussions of salary increases throughout county departments that has been the subject of several recent special meetings.
The council is now ready to turn its suggestions over to the Auditor’s Office in order to see its overall effect on the county budget.
Final decisions on the salaries could be made at the March meeting, though council members are striving to be thorough before moving forward.
Councilman Phil Gick did, however, caution his fellow members against trying too hard to make the salaries “perfect,” noting that they should acknowledge that the coming pay raises are a first step and can be adjusted year-by-year.
Consideration of the matter will continue.
Campbell, Gick, Berry and Huffman were joined by fellow members Jay Alcorn, Danny Wallace and Larry Parker, as well as Deputy Auditor Evelyn Williams and council attorney Trudy Selvia for the hour-long meeting.
The next meeting of the Putnam County Council is set for 4:30 p.m., two hours earlier than normal, on Tuesday, March 19 in the Commissioners Room on the first floor of the Putnam County Courthouse.