Aurora Council mulls Automation Plastics tax break
AURORA – Automation Plastics Corp. is seeking a tax abatement so it can invest $5.8 million in a facility at 225 Lena Drive and increase its employment from 120 to 180 by 2025.
The tax abatement legislation was introduced to City Council on May 9. It would be a 100 percent, 15-year agreement.
Four of the current 120 employees would be moved from a facility in Streetsboro and the remainder from the firm’s current location at 150 Lena Drive. Plans are to purchase the 225 Lena Drive building from Swagelok.
Automation Plastics is involved in custom injection molding operations and precision plastic machining. According to owner Harry Smith, it has been in operation for 42 years.
“The 225 Lena Drive building has sat relatively idle for almost 15 years and needs repairs like a new roof, parking lot and air handling system,” said Smith. “In addition, upgrades must be made to meet the needs of our business.”
Smith said if the abatement is granted, renovations are expected to begin in August. The firm’s current payroll is listed at $6.28 million annually, and would increase by $3.42 million by 2025.
“We have no room at our current or leased facilities to expand, hence we needed to find additional space,” said Smith. “The tax incentives will allow us to grow, and retain and increase the number of good paying jobs in Aurora.”
The abatement legislation will be on second reading at Council’s May 23 meeting.
LEGISLATION OK’D
Council authorized selling two city-owned parcels of 2.8 and 2.7 acres on Page Road, which are part of some 80 acres the city bought from the Pennock family a few months ago. The sale is an attempt to recoup some costs from the Pennock purchase.
The mayor was authorized to execute a development agreement with Pulte Homes of Ohio LLC for Renaissance Park at Geauga Lake Phase 1B, and a final plat for that phase was approved.
Also approved were the new ward boundaries map, which must be revised after every 10-year U.S. Census, and revisions to 2022 income level exemptions as determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
As a result of the latter, households are entitled to fee payment exemptions/reductions and/or services without charge if their income is less than $23,030 for one to three people, less than $27,750 for four people and less than $27,750 plus $4,720 per person for more than four.
Council renewed the contract with UCC/U.S. Specialty Insurance Co. and Travelers Insurance through June 1, 2023 for property/casualty and cyber insurance coverage at a premium of $199,297. Edward Sutton Insurance handles the account locally.
Leah Cellura was approved as interim finance director until a replacement can be found for finance director Tim Clymer. Her salary will be $45 per hour, and she will serve until two weeks after a new finance director is on the job.
Melissa Davis-Stanton was hired as executive administrative assistant for the fire department, replacing the retired Joyce Smolen; Christopher Toflinski will be the new wastewater maintenance supervisor; and Megan Powell will be a service department secretary, Curtis Biltz a service technician II, James Halladay a part-time van driver and Tyler Shanholtzer a summer parks worker.
TO NEXT READINGS
Several other pieces of legislation went to their next readings, including naming Frank Vitale to the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority board, the 2023 tax budget and a rezoning request for property on the west side of Route 43 south across from Aurora Industrial Parkway from R-4 residential to I-1 industrial.
Public hearings for the rezoning request and tax budget were scheduled for June 13. Action on revising several zoning code chapters was postponed, and a public hearing will take place May 23.
Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin presented a proclamation recognizing Leighton School’s Positive Protons robotics team for being the Ohio state champion and participating at the FIRST Lego League World Championships in Houston.
Team members are Aadhav Sathyamurthy, Diya Kumar, Diya Shah, Josh Bowen, Paul Berendt, Sarah Bown and Tevona Sesuraj.
Contact the newspaper at auroraadvocate@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Tax break for Automation Plastics in Aurora sought
