Ashland County Commissioners approve tax abatement for Charles River's $212M project
ASHLAND - Ashland Area Economic Development Coordinator Aaron Pauly gave a brief presentation Thursday, June 9 to commissioners on Charles River Laboratories' plans for a $212 million expansion project.
Pauly presented an enterprise zone agreement plan with the expansion being built at its current site, which all three commissioners approved, entering into agreement with the City of Ashland and Charles River Laboratories.
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“This expansion project will add approximately 450 new full-time positions along with 50 part-time and temporary positions,” Pauly said. “It will add $22.8 million to the full-time payroll as well as $1.2 million in part-time and temporary payroll. We will be adding quite a bit of money to the Ashland community. They are requesting a 75% property tax exemption for a 10-year period.”
Pauly also said Charles River Laboratories is the largest and highest payroll employer in the county.
“They have been a real good corporate citizen for 45 years,” said Commissioner Mike Welch. “This is great news.”
New hires at Job and Family Services
Sharyn Barfield was appointed to the position of eligibility referral specialist 3 with a starting wage of $18.04 an hour. Michelle Steele was also appointed as an eligibility referral specialist 3 with a starting wage of $18.11 per hour. Both jobs begin June 13.
Keith Clark was hired as a maintenance repair worker 2 with a starting wage of $16 per hour beginning June 27. All three positions are with J&FS.
Advertising to accept bids until 9:15 a.m. on June 30 to occupy, and use, for agricultural purposes only, real estate located at 675 County Road 1754 was approved. There are approximately 80 acres for the purpose of mowing and baling hay for the 2022 season.
A contract with Trinity Services Group for inmate food service at the county jail was approved. The contract is for one year and is renewable and per meal price is dictated on how many meals are served per day.
Dennis Harris and Jordan Stroub were approved for travel to Plain City for a summer meeting at a cost of $55.
Three appropriations were made. One each for Emergency Management Grants, Emergency Management and the American Rescue Plan Act.
Plans and specifications for a Mohican Township bridge replacement were approved as was the advertising for the job. Bids will be accepted until 9:20 a.m. on June 30.
Commissioners also approved advertising to accept bids until 9:15 a.m. on July 7 for the 2022 Guardrail Installation and Upgrade Project.
Ashland County Solid Waste District Director Jim Skora spoke on a potential grant for an agricultural tire event day for county residents. Commissioners then authorized a Community and Litter Grant Agreement between the ACSWMD and the Ohio EPA.
County Dog Shelter has pair of employee resignations
Both Tracy Tober and Kristen Fussner submitted letters of resignation as employees of the County Dog Shelter effective June 8. The letters were accepted.
Because of a price increase since the original resolution, an additional $5,000 was approved for the purchase of a humidifier to be replaced at the county jail. The original purchase price was $44,980.
A lease with Soil & Water for space at the County Office Building was approved at a monthly amount of $636.66 and will run from June 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022.
J&FS Director Peter Stefaniuk spoke on an amendment to the Prevention, Retention and Contingency Plan for J&FS. The amendment was authorized. Commissioners then approved a sub grant agreement for J&FS for the Ashland County CCMEP/WIOA Youth Program.
UP NEXT The commissioners will meet Thursday, June 16 at 9 a.m. in the Commissioner’s Conference Room on the second floor of the County Office Building. The meetings are open to the public, but also live-streamed on the Ashland, OH County Government Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Charles River Laboratories to add 500 jobs with expansion project
