By Nate Smith, Washington Times-Herald Staff Writer
SHOALS - The Martin County Council approved a 10-year tax abatement Monday for another new building at the WestGate @ Crane Technology Park.
The abatement is for a 30,000 square foot building on the Martin County side of the park. J.R. Kendall with WestGate Development said the building already has one tenant wanting to rent a part or the entire building.
The building will bring 30 to 60 new employees to the tech park.
"Our company is also the general contractor so we did our best to hire local subcontractors," Kendall said.
Kendall also said 60 percent of the building will be built with local construction firms.
"We plan to start (construction) Nov. 1," Kendall said. "We hope to be finished early next year."
The council approved the abatement for 10 years with decreasing discounts of property taxes each year. Last month, the county's Redevelopment Commission approved the abatement.
But the council could not agree on another issue at WestGate, approving the WestGate @ Crane Authority to create a sewer district, removing sewer control from the county.
The council, which has been at work on the issue for six months, said the sewer should be leased to the authority and the county will create the sewer district. A council subcommittee had met earlier to discuss the issue.
The issue was tabled again since one of the subcommittee members, Randy Wininger, was not at the council meeting. Some council members voted to table the agreement, but want a resolution soon.
"If we want to enter a lease, we need to pursue a lease agreement," Councilman Floyd "Lonnie" Hawkins said. "It's not an issue that is going to go away and someone needs to form a sewer district."