No decision made on tax abatement

Bob and Toby Shaughnessy will have to wait at least another week to learn if Allen County commissioners will approve abatement of county property taxes for a restaurant they intend to build.
The restaurant, a Sam and Louie’s New York Pizzeria, will be built near the entrance to Walmart on North State Street. Iola, Allen Community College and USD 257 have agreed to give the tax break through the Neighborhood Revitalization Program. The program provides a 95 percent abatement of property taxes for five years, with reinstatement in 20 percent increments over the next five years.
Commissioners balked a week ago at joining the other governing bodies in giving the Shaughnessys a tax break, arguing that other nearby restaurants, Corleone’s and Pizza Hut, didn’t ask for the breaks.
Tuesday morning County Counselor Alan Weber questioned the new restaurant’s eligibility for an abatement. It is outside Iola’s neighborhood revitalization zone, which means to be eligible it would have to involve a dilapidated structure, Weber said.
“There isn’t a dilapidated structure in the area,” where the restaurant is to be built, he added.
Weber said he would check further into legal eligibility for the abatement.
“We have to comply with the law,” said Commission Chairman Dick Works.
Ron Boren, Corleone’s owner, told commissioners he could have applied for an abatement, but decided not to after he bought and started remodeling the old Ken’s Pizza building for Corleone’s.

IOLA FIRE Chief Don Leapheart told commissioners the shelf life was nearing an end for some supplies and equipment carried on the department’s hazardous materials response trailer and truck.
The unit, purchased through a grant attracted by the county about eight years ago, has 3,000 miles on the truck. It is used to contain oil and gas spills and to support remediation of methamphetamine labs.
Leapheart asked if the county would join with Iola in replacing equipment on the unit, kept at the Iola fire station and operated by firefighters. It is dispatched throughout the county.
Works said it was an opportune time to consider such a request, with budget preparation soon to occupy commissioners.
County Clerk Sherrie Riebel said the hazmat grant balance was $5,463.
Turning to other financial matters, at the request of Bill King, director of Public Works, commissioners agreed to raise the per-ton charge by 30 cents for trash carried to the county landfill from outside the county.
King noted the last increase was 20 cents a ton in 2011, and the current one was requested to meet expenses. Last year 31,033 tons of trash were disposed of at the landfill, with more than 14,000 tons from out-of-county haulers.
Commissioners accepted a bid of $9,192, including freight, to purchase 400 sign posts from National Sign Company, Ottawa.
King said a new fueling station opened at the county warehouse this morning, which would require users to identify themselves with a computer key. Also, a new flare, used to burn off methane gas at the landfill, should arrive soon, he said.

SUSAN RAINES, director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, asked that the county increase its support.
Allen County has given the center $2,500 a year the past five years; “basically a user fee,” said Raines.
She noted Iola gives the equivalent of 1 mill, $31,900 this year.
“The Bowlus brings in so much and benefits the whole county,” said Commissioner Tom Williams.
Commissioners said they would consider Raines’ request in preparation of their 2014 budget.