Company preparing for $69M expansion

“This new expansion, they want to put under an existing fee-in-lieu” of taxes agreement, County Attorney Jerrod Anderson said Tuesday. The existing agreement was signed in 2013.

Project Leopard wants to invest $29 million in buildings and $40 million in other expenses in the county, Anderson said.

The fee-in-lieu of taxes incentive allows industries to pay a fee based on a lower tax assessment than the standard 10.5 percent.

Anderson said with county approval, the investment period can expand from five years to ten.

Project Leopard also looks to extend the remaining term of the special source revenue credit.

The company previously promised a minimum investment of 25 new jobs. This new expansion will not bring any more jobs but will secure the 25.

“They will request that this expansion be placed in a multicounty industrial park,” Anderson said. The multicounty park is not a physical park, but an entity created on paper that allows industries to receive additional incentives.

County Council passed first reading of the ordinance setting up the incentives.

Also in the meeting:

• County Council gave first-reading approval to changes in incentives for an expansion by SI Group, which bought out Albemarle’s Orangeburg operations.

“They want to move the promised $65 million investment to a maximum or a ceiling of $55 million,” Anderson said. “They have invested $40.9 million but they won’t be able to reach that goal of $65 million after the assumption of the fee-in-lieu and so that’s why they’re asking to move it back.”

They also look to scale the special source revenue credit back from $58 million to $55 million for a period of 30 years.

• Councilmember Janie Cooper-Smith reported that the county will begin making rounds to remove debris left by Hurricane Matthew.

“Any vegetation debris from Hurricane Matthew should be placed on the right of way for removal,” Cooper-Smith said.

She noted that this service is only for county-maintained roads. Debris by state roads will not be collected.

Cooper-Smith said the county will only come through areas once and look to conclude the clean up by January.

Henry Summers, who is over Public Services, said the county will make an exception for areas where employees have already made a pass since the citizens were not made aware.

There is no schedule for the pickup, but citizens are encouraged to place their debris in the right-of-way as soon as possible.

• Council approved carrying forward budgets for projects approved in 2016 but have a completion date in 2017.
• Council approved $50,000 to renew software for the GIS website. The software works with the county’s other departments and services.

• Council approved the renewal of the transportation system agreement with Santee Wateree RTA in order to request funding from the federal government.

• Council approved a recommendation for a Surrey Severe Weather Training Trailer. About $43,000 of the $53,000 cost will be paid for with a grant.

The trailer will be used to teach the community about fire safety and severe weather hazards.

• Wimberly announced a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Orangeburg County–Branchville Sports Complex at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15.