Biomet is asking the county for a tax abatement to expand its Warsaw campus, which is a multi-million dollar plan.
At the Kosciusko County Council meeting this evening, Biomet legal counsel Richard Helm said, “We’re here for a tax abatement,” explaining that the medical device company plans to buy two tracts of land near its existing campus.
Biomet Vice President of Finance Richard Fradette came before the council to explain what the company hopes to achieve with the expansion. Biomet has four initiatives it wants achieve: Global Instrument Center of Excellence, Global Materials Advancement, One Patient Solutions and Global Information Systems.
“Clearly there are global challenges, but there are opportunities locally and globally,” said Fradette. The expansion would bring more job opportunities and revenue to Kosciusko County.
George Robertson, president of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, dropped by the meeting to offer his opinion. “We’re really excited about this project. It’s a real win-win for the community,” he said.
The council approved a public hearing on the tax abatement to take place at the next county council meeting, scheduled for Thursday, April 10. At that meeting, the public will be invited to raise any questions or concerns regarding Biomet’s expansion.
Also during tonight’s meeting, a transfer of $300,000 from the rainy day fund to the Kosciusko County Highway Department was approved. The money is to compensate for expenses incurred from the harsh winter. The funds will be applied to overtime pay, gas and other motor supplies, road salt and weed spray.
County treasurer Sue Ann Mitchell came before the council to let them know that tax bills for 2013 are being mailed out next week.
Mitchell said if all taxes were paid on time, it should bring in about $77 million. However, she pointed out that there’s a fair amount of delinquency in property tax payments. She reported around 20 percent on real estate and 30 percent on mobile homes.
Mitchell also reported that at last weekend’s Builders Association of Kosciusko Fulton County Home and Outdoor Show, the county government booth received over 200 visitors. “We had very good participation,” she said.
The final order of business at the meeting was rather tense. Council president Robert Sanders brought up a leaked email penned by councilman Jon Fussle. Apparently Fussle posted a comment that the other council members felt discredited the county council.
The discussion was heated. Fussle explained the email was not directed at his fellow councilmen and was not supposed to be a public communication, however several of the councilmen took offense to some of the comments.
Finally, Sanders put a stop to the discussion, and apologized to Fussle for “beating up on him” in public. Fussle exited the chambers as soon as the meeting was adjourned.