AUSTINTOWN Trustees approve tax abatement

The plant is moving because it needs more space, a company official said.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- A 57 percent, eight-year, property tax abatement for a company that is moving from Youngstown to Austintown would cause a loss, not only of tax revenues, but also of an indoor soccer facility for local youth.
The abatement is for Formetco Inc., a billboard manufacturer and stainless steel processor, which leases space on Crescent Street in Youngstown.
It is buying a 14,000-square-foot building at 102 Maple Ave. in Austintown, site of Western Reserve Sports Complex. Township trustees approved the tax break Monday.
The Atlanta-based company employs six people and plans to add seven more jobs over the next three years at the Austintown facility, in which it will invest $1.1 million in new equipment, said Matt Xander, vice president of finance.
The company, which opened its Youngstown plant in February 2000, is moving because it needs more space.
The Austintown site has six acres available for growth, he said.
The abatement must be approved by Mahoning County commissioners.
The enterprise zone tax abatement is on new investment in the building, machinery, equipment and inventory, said Walter Good, an economic development specialist with the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber.
"We always ask that you evaluate Austintown residents for employment, first and foremost, and make that a focus, because Austintown is giving up future tax dollars," said Trustee David Ditzler, who also sits on the county's tax incentive review board.
Trustee Bo Pritchard said he supports the abatement but lamented the loss of an indoor soccer facility for area youths, who will now have to travel to Struthers or Cortland to play indoors. "If the opportunity comes along for your company to be involved in helping the local soccer groups out, I hope you take advantage of that," he told Xander.
Order: Trustees ordered repair of a fence and outdoor brick grill and removal of backyard debris in seven days at a house Gary Bauschatz owns at 51 N. Beverly Ave., or the township will arrange to have the work done and put a lien against the property to cover the cost.
A judge sent Bauschatz to the Massillon Psychiatric Center in December 1998 after accepting his plea of innocent by reason of insanity in a 13-hour armed standoff with police in March 1997.
New cops: Also, Township Clerk Michael Kurish swore in James R. Siegfried as a new reserve policeman. Police Chief Gordon Ellis said the township has hired three full-time police officers, William Halase, Ron McComb and Christopher Collins, who will be sworn in at the trustees' March 26 meeting, bringing the total complement to 42 full-time officers.