NILES Taylor's plan has officials angry

It is not illegal for the company to request another abatement.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Officials here say they have nothing against the local workers of Taylor Steel but are still against the parent company's moving operations to Lordstown.
The biggest complaint Mayor Ralph A. Infante and council members have about the recently announced move is the company's request for a new tax abatement. Taylor Steel's Niles plant already has a 100 percent, 10-year abatement that expires this year.
Taylor Steel fulfilled its obligation on the Niles tax abatement, and it is not illegal for the company to request another abatement. Still, Niles officials are not happy about it.
"They already got one from us, this county and this state," Infante said. "I don't have anything against the workers, but the company shouldn't ask for another [tax abatement] from the same county."
Under the tax abatement granted in Niles, the city, board of education and county forgave more than $1.4 million in personal property and real estate taxes.
Taylor Steel, which employs 40 union workers at its facility on state Route 169, plans to move its operations and workers to its Lordstown facility by the end of the year. The Lordstown location is a nonunion shop, which also concerns Infante.
Recent request
The parent company in Canada requested a 75 percent, 10-year tax abatement from Lordstown council on a proposed $12.7 million expansion, as well as the relocation from Niles. Village council, which is in favor of the abatement, is expected to introduce the measure at its Tuesday meeting.
Infante has already forwarded a letter expressing his concerns to Trumbull County commissioners, who must also approve the abatement, and council members sent a copy of a resolution from last week's council meeting saying they disapprove too.
"It's not over," said Councilman Tom Scarnecchia. "I think regardless of the outcome, we should let them know we aren't happy."
Commissioners are expected to address the abatement at their September meeting.
slshaulis@vindy.com