Wood County Commissioners Court
Ozarka "Outstanding
Corporate Neighbor"
By JOHN SPARKS
Meeting in regular session Friday, June 26, Wood County Commissioners Court received the 2009 Annual Report of the Wood County Industrial Commission (WCIC) and acted upon a 12 item agenda with dispatch.
The WCIC's annual report reflected a positive tone in spite of the general economic downturn that is impacting the country. Three local items cited in the report are: 1) the continued role of Ozarka as an employer and corporate citizen; 2) the TECTRAN Manufacturing relocation to Winnsboro, and 3) the expansion plans of Praxair, Inc.
The Nestle Waters of North America plant north of Hawkins accounts for about five percent of direct (250) and indirect employment (800) in the county-accounting for a payroll of $29-million. Originally built in 2002 at a cost of approximately $150-million, an expansion of the Ozarka plant in 2005 accounts for a 15 percent increase in commercial tax valuation for the county. The report concludes, "The company has been an outstanding corporate neighbor for Hawkins and Wood County."
The relocation of TECTRAN Manufacturing to Winnsboro demonstrates the effectiveness of a pro-business approach and partnerships by the county, the city and supporting industries. The county and city provided tax abatement while Peoples Communication provided for an expansion of their DSL system to facilitate high speed internet encouraged the selection of Winnsboro as the relocation site for TECTRAN. An additional benefit to bringing new jobs and new people into the county is the construction of "The Leaves," a new apartment complex in Winnsboro.
Praxair also received tax abatement incentive from the county for a proposed $150-million expansion of their industrial gas production facilities in Hawkins.
The WCIC annual report concludes: "The oil and gas industrial sector continues to lead the overall economy with high clustering effects and employment opportunities." As for tourism, the report demonstrates both the impact of the economic downturn and the importance of continued promotion of the county as a tourist destination. Lake Fork has been the site of the first three years of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic which last year drew an estimated 31,000 people to the three-day fishing event. The relocation of that tournament to Lake Conroe effective this next spring "will be an asset that is sorely missed" according to the report. The WCIC plans to continue an aggressive promotion of Lake Fork as a premier bass fishing destination with an expanded local, regional and national advertising program for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Finally, the board of the Wood County Industrial Commission officially recommended that Commissioners Court increase in the Hotel Occupancy tax rate to seven percent (up from four percent) effective October 1, 2009. The increase would generate an estimated $45,000 a year that would be utilized by WCIC is promoting tourism in the county.
In other action the court approved:
- a two-week County payroll of $275,552.90
- claims totaling $408,612.26.
- employee and family health care claims of $27,772.42.
- service agreement with Suddenlink for data communications services at a cost of $609.80 per month.
- interlocal agreement with City of Yantis for services and materials.
- acceptance of minimum bid offer of $300 for tax sale of properties in Sun Eagle Bay in Precinct-1.
- order of exemption from inscription for county-owned vehicles.
Personnel actions included:
- Kerry Paul Allenm, resignation, Community Supervision Officer, Probation Department.
- Willie Earl McQueen, new hire, seasonal temporary help, Precinct-1 road & bridge, $9.00/hour.
The next regular meeting of the Wood County Commissioners Court will be Friday, July 10, 2009 at 10 a.m. A special meeting of the court can be called with 72-hour public notice.
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