Recognizing the value Ramco Supply brings to the community, the Fulton County Council on Tuesday broke from tradition and granted the company a 10-year tax abatement on personal property.
The company, which specializes in manufacturing metal roofing and siding panels, plans to invest roughly $3 million into its Rochester property at Old U.S. 31 and County Road 450 North. That includes an estimated $1.2 million in new equipment and $1.85 million for a 68,000-square-foot addition.
That addition will be to the company’s current manufacturing building, which sits on the southwest corner of its property. It too was granted a 10-year tax abatement. The estimated completion date is Sept. 30, with a new panel line to start in early October.
“The reason for the expansion is probably my favorite part of the request,” said Lauren Adley, of Perkins & Adley law firm, speaking on behalf of the company. “This expansion and this equipment is being sought to increase their production without adding a third shift.”
She was joined by Ramco Supply founder and owner Marvin Ramer.
The council was initially split, 3-3, on a vote to grant the company a 10-year tax abatement on personal property – the new machinery coming in. Council President Ron Dittman was absent due to sickness.
“To do 10 years on both is a pretty hard hit on the county on loss of taxes,” Councilwoman Lorie Hurst said prior to the vote. “I may be a lone wolf on this, but I know it hurts us in the long run when we go 10 years, and a lot of us may not be here in 10 years to live with what we’ve done. I have nothing against the business, I just know what it does to us tax-wise if we start giving everything away.”
Council Vice President Phyl Olinger noted the council has typically granted a 5-year tax abatement on personal property. She was joined by Hurst and Councilman Pete Karas in voting “no,” but would later change her vote to break the tie.
“I think we should help out as much as we can,” Councilman Steve Fishburn said, adding Ramco is one of the county’s largest employers and it continues to grow.
Councilman Randy Gundrum acknowledged the company is not only providing good wages, but also over-delivering on its promise of hiring new employees in his support for a 10-year tax abatement.
“I like to see that he’s had one before and lived up to his end of the bargain,” Councilman Chayse Thompson said of Ramer, adding a 10-year abatement for him wasn’t out of the question.
To add to each of their points, Adley noted that Ramco nearly doubled its estimate of new hires under a previously approved tax abatement and will likely hire more than estimated this time around.
After the split vote, Ramer spoke on how the expansion will allow his company to make more product for its other locations in Allen and Elkhart counties; thus, keeping jobs here instead of those counties.
To give the council an idea of Ramco’s growth, Ramer noted the company had 12 employees when it began operating at the Old U.S. 31 property in March 2011. Today, it employs about 104 people.
“We’ll be thankful for whatever the county does for us,” he added. “Whatever you decide, we love Fulton County and we like being here.”
“Thank you, and you’re appreciated,” Olinger responded before changing her vote.
The council shared no concerns in granting a 10-year tax abatement on the real estate improvements, which was unanimously approved.
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