Crown considers $40M expansion

NEW BREMEN - Crown Equipment Corp. is seeking to expand its footprint in New Bremen through a proposed $40 million new building that would create 197 new jobs.

Economic Development Director Angela Hamberg presented a recommendation by the Community Improvement Corp. for the village to enter into a Community Reinvestment Act agreement with the local company. According to Hamberg, "the $40 million project is contingent on adequate state and local assistance."

The proposal includes plans for a 500,000-square-foot building and significant capital investment in equipment with 197 new jobs to be created in three years. The building would be north of Crown's Plant 4 production facility

The CRA agreement calls for a 100-percent, 10-year tax abatement, which would amount to roughly $7.6 million. In turn, Crown would donate about $2 million to the local school district. The plan and approvals also are subject to the local school board's accepting the proposal. The proposal states that the new building would increase capacity for lift truck assembly, storage and distribution capabilities.

Council members endorsed the agreement.

In other business, council members gave first reading of an ordinance to adjust the pay scale for both full- and part-time police patrolman. The intention would be to eliminate the Patrolman 1 positions and adjust the pay-scale range from $18.97 to $27.90 for the full-time officers and from $15.80 to $19 per hour for part-time officers, both based on experience. The department has found some of the village's current rates are not competitive with other local communities and has found it harder to retain part-time officers.

Council members passed after third reading an ordinance authorizing administrator Chris Dicke to apply for a $500,000 Ohio Public Works grant for possible improvements to North Franklin and Ash streets. If sufficient funding is acquired, the project calls for a complete rebuild of Ash Street from Main to Herman, including new water and sewer lines, curbs, roadway and streetlights. The area from North Franklin Street to Pearl Street would include the same improvements with the exception of the water line, which has already been replaced there. The third piece of the application is replacing the sewer main line from Knoxville Avenue to the treatment plant. The results of the application process are expected to be announced in May.

Members also approved a request by the NB/NK Rotary Club to install a sensory cocoon swing near the east shelter house at Bremenfest Park. The cocoon swing is for kids with attention deficit-hyperactivity, autism and sensory-processing disorders. The swing encourages motor planning, balance reactions, core stability, hand strengthening and sensory integration.

Councilors thanked club members for their continued projects for local communities.

Ordinances also receiving final approval on Monday include,

• annexing 2.04 acres known as the Gagel property from Jackson Township.

• accepting local government funds and rates from the Auglaize County Budget Commission in the amount of $71,435.

• adopting the American Legal Code of Ordinances for the village.

• purchasing a dump truck from Rush Truck Centers at a cost of $101,090.