Published: August 11, 2008 09:29 pm      

County talks tax abatements

Abatement ability OK’d; guidelines, criteria for applicants tabled

Commissioners approved a required resolution Monday, one it hadn’t adopted when it approved a tax abatement policy in January, paving the way for the ability to legally grant a tax break to new industry if it is needed.

But commissioners also tabled consideration of the guidelines and criteria leveled on an abatement applicant, citing the need to take in the information and study it further before adopting anything.

“This issue is too important not to be sure about the nuts and bolts of abatement,” said Terry Jacobson, a local attorney who also serves as the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission chairman. “We need to be sure we get this right.”

Jacobson said approving the resolution for the abatement ability of the county makes sure it “doesn’t derail an abatement that you might approve, later on down the line.”

Deliberations on the two items came as supporters and opponents used public speaking time to voice their opinions on giving tax abatements to two power plants proposed for southern Navarro County.

For the opponents, their chief talking points came in connection with the impact of power plants on a way of life and on the environment.

Eddie Pevehouse, a resident of the Pisgah Ridge area proposed for the plants, said she’s not against abatements, “in fact I’m for them.”

But, she said, she’s in favor of them for “clean, green industry. Industry that will employ Navarro County residents. I’m against abatements for industry that puts out emissions that are dangerous to our health.”

Vicki Prater, head of the Citizens Opposing Power Plants (COPPS), cited the 15,288,000 pounds of emissions per year expected from the power plants and likened them to beans.

“Just think, if there were 15,288,000 bags of beans falling out of the sky, you wouldn’t like that too much,” Prater said.

She said construction workers and their paychecks would do good for the county — while they’re here — but they would go away after a while. And, Prater said, power plants would affect property values and the lifestyle of people on Pisgah Ridge.

“Don’t put a dollar value on the people of Pisgah Ridge or their lifestyle ... that’s in your hands ...,” she said.

On the supporters side, money gained from tax revenues and the addition of what at least two speakers called “the cleanest form of energy today” are just too good to pass up.

As for the emissions, it’s a choice of taking it here — along with the revenue — or seeing the plants go to Freestone or Ellis County and getting the emissions without the money, Roy Trink said.

“It’s not a question of who will get the plants. It’s a question of who will get the advantage,” on future economic acquisitions, he said. He said he was in favor of industry, abatements “and these two power plants.”

Frank Martinez said “it’s naive to think we’re going to grow and think we’re not going to have emissions,” adding that new residential neighborhoods and larger populations bring their own forms of pollution with them.

“I think we can’t believe that Navarro County will stay cattle, agriculture, for the next 50 years,” Martinez said, asserting that the power plants are a cash-free investment for the county. “This will get us the most tax base with the least amount of effort.”

Ronnie Willis, a local Realtor, said this issue is a landmark time for the county.

“What we’ve got coming up is possibly the defining moment for Navarro County,” he said in support of abatements and the power plants. “Fifty percent of something, beats nothing of nothing.”

In all, three people spoke against abatements and the power plants. Along with Pevehouse and Prater, local resident Ricky Day voiced opposition.

Eight spoke in favor of the plants. Along with Trink, Martinez and Willis, Mayor Larry Bailey of Rice (who presented a City Council resolution of support), local businessman Jim Acker, Leon Allerd, Corsicana Industrial Foundation president Mickey Hillock, and local businessman Lindsey King voiced their support.

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Loyd Cook may be reached via e-mail at lcook@corsicanadailysun.com