Hancock County Council : 8/12/26

Hancock Council 08/12/26

Terry Bynum

There were 8 non-compliant CF-1's (tax abatements) that the council dealt with today.  They had asked a representative from each business or organization to attend. In every case, the paperwork was either late and/or the paperwork reflected that the abated company was not meeting its stated goals. Several of these abatements were on spec warehouses that had been built and sat vacant for quite a while.

PARK 70 PARTNERS–voted compliant because they have two new leases remping up in 2027 and will meet the employee and salary numbers

CHILL PHARMA-Ambrose 2–voted compliant because they have a new tenant coming in next month and will meet the employee and salary numbers. 

TSUDA–late.  Exceeded employee and salary numbers. Yr 10 of 10 Voted compliant

CTC02 LLC-late–exceeded employee and salary numbers-voted compliant

MADISON RIVER INVESTMENTS-late(death of principal's mother)-exceeds employee and salary numbers Voted compliant

EXETER-MT. COMFORT-has been vacant for several years. Rep claims a lease in almost done. Projects 300-400 employees and several million in salary. Voted non-compliant–lost abatement for 1 year

AMAZON-RED ROCK–no rep appeared.  No explanation. Voted non-compliant

Lost abatement for 1 year

WALMART-#4 Late–just purchased building in last several months. Not in operation yet-currently renovating. Projecting 300 employees and 20 mill in salary.   Voted compliant after much discussion. 

Spent the rest of the meeting moving money around to achieve salary parity and to fulfill state mandates.

Judge Davis asked for additional money for mental health assessments. 

Sheriff Burkhart asked for additional money to pay bills for the drone program–$183K from Food & Beverage to be reimbursed by 2026 G.O. Bond

Also had a lot of discussion about Sheriff's Retirement Plan.  Sheriff wants to drop retirement age to 52, and offer COLA adjustments.  Heard an actuarial discussion about the investments supporting the plan.The retirement component is 88% funded, the extra benefits(long term disability and death benefits) is 183% funded.  Board asked Sheriff to order a few more actuarial studies .  Also discussed possibility of lump sum deposits to the fund over the next two years–approximately 2 ½ million dollars.

Board also approved 10K for new turnout gear for the Green Township Fire Dept.