Agenda Item # 4

Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting

11/10/2015

Agenda Report # 48


TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Enterprise Zone: Ankerpak, LLC, 3961 Cusseta Road

INITIATED BY: Planning Department

Recommendation: Approval is requested for Ankerpak, LLC, to receive enterprise zone tax abatements at their new facility at 3961 Cusseta Road.

Background: Ankerpak is a packaging company currently operating at 1323 11th Avenue in Columbus. The company is expanding and has acquired an additional facility at 3961 Cusseta Road. Ankerpak plans on utilizing this facility to increase capacity in order to serve new and existing customers throughout the U.S. The project will retain 65 jobs and create an additional 15 positions. Initial investment is estimated to be 1.04 million dollars.

Analysis: Ankerpak has met the necessary requirements set forth in ordinance 98-30 to receive a 10 year abatement on property taxes as part of the Columbus Business Development Center.

Financial Considerations: Ankerpak will be investing $1,040,000.00 into the project and will create 15 new jobs over the ten year period. They will be occupying a once vacant building and will be making investments into the property which will be completed by December 2016.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: For the Ankerpak property, the City will forfeit about $14,922.77 in property taxes for the first 5 years. School and other taxes will not be affected. Job growth and the improvements made to the properties can offset the loss in property taxes.

Legal Considerations: The application has been reviewed and meets or will meet the requirements per the Enterprise Zone Employment Act of 1997 prior to receiving tax abatements.

Recommendations/ Actions: Approve the resolution for Ankerpak to receive property tax abatements through the Columbus Business Development Center per ordinance #98-30


Ankerpak EZ Application.pdfSite Plan Drawing.pdf


A RESOLUTION

NO.



A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST FOR ANKERPAK, AN EXPANSION LOCATED AT 3961 CUSSETA Road, TO RECEIVE TAX ABATEMENTS UNDER THE STATE OF GEORGIA ENTERPRISE ZONE ACT.

WHEREAS, Ankerpak expansion at 3961 Cusseta Road is located within the boundaries of the Columbus Business Development Center (Enterprise Zone); and,

WHEREAS, Ankerpak reports making an additional investment in land, buildings and machinery and equipment at their 3961 Cusseta Road location in the amount of $1,040,000.00; and,

WHEREAS, the project meets the Enterprise Zone business type criteria; and,

 WHEREAS, Ankerpak reports that they will create at least 5 jobs (approximately 15 jobs) at this particular location prior to the tax abatement period, and maintain the 5 jobs (net) during the full length of the tax abatement period in order to provide additional economic stimulus to the area; and,

 WHEREAS, Ankerpak, will provide operating statements, income and expense information, as well as before and after photographs to the Board of Tax Assessors at the stage of completion as of the January 1 valuation date as set by Georgia code; and,

 WHEREAS, the project will incorporate and maintain the facade requirement for the duration of the tax exemption period, as established by local Ordinance #98-30.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the Council of the Consolidated Government of Columbus hereby authorizes and approves Ankerpak, located at 3961 Cusseta Road, to receive abatement of taxes as allowed by law under the Enterprise Zone Employment Act of the State of Georgia. Ankerpak, shall comply with the listed requirements in order to receive those tax abatements:


1.
Ankerpak, will show proof to The Board of Tax Assessors every year that they are maintaining those five (5) new jobs required under the Enterprise Zone Employment Act. Failure to maintain those new jobs will result in the termination of the tax abatements.
2.
The Board of Tax Assessors also requires recipients to provide notice of the status of the project as of January 1 of each year in order to grant the abatement. This information enables the Board to value the property at the stage of completion as of the January 1 valuation date as set by Georgia code. The Board would need to know when the project is considered completed.
3.
The project will incorporate and maintain the landscape requirement, for the duration of the tax exemption period, as established by local ordinance# 98-30. The applicant shall also be required to follow any additional requirements as determined by the City.
4.
Facade enhancement shall be approved by the City official prior to the granting of the tax abatements.
____________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the _________ day of _____________ 2015, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Buck voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.

______________________________ __________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor