US: The Brady City Council has voted to authorise two proposed sales tax rebate incentives for a US Cement proposed white cement plant and quarry that would be built in McCulloch, Texas.
The city sales tax rebate economic development incentive for the proposed plant would not exceed US$297,000 over nine years, or up to US$33,000/yr. The Brady Economic Development Corporation incentive would be a one-time payment of US$250,000, plus US$34,000 up to nine years, which would be a total package of US$556,000 over 10 years. The vote passed 4-1.
The council has authorised the city's Director of Community Services and EDC Director Peter Lamont to pursue negotiations with US Cement before it goes back to the city council for final approval. "I'm sure that there will be some back and forth on some of the qualifications," said Lamont. "Once we get all the language, terms and conditions and all the attorneys agree, it will be brought to the council for final approval."
Some of the qualifications are that US Cement generates a plant and quarry that improves the property value of its location by US$175m and provides 200 permanent, full-time jobs. There will have to be a 100ft buffer zone away from anything it doesn't own and the plant will have to purchase all of its natural gas from the city.
Those opposed to the cement plant are not against the plant itself, but where it will be located. There are 37 homes within 3000ft of the proposed plant and residents are worried about strobe lighting, blasting in the quarry, noise and dust pollution, truck traffic, emissions and a decrease in property values.
"We still have hope that Royal White Cement (the parent company of US Cement) will look for another piece of property," said Dale Matthews, an Austin-based attorney who is helping the opposition. "That there will be no approval of the incentive package if they insist on this location and find one that isn't disruptive to the people living here." Lamont said that finding another location will be up to US Cement and at present, there are no active offers of other properties on the table.