KENDALLVILLE — The Kendallville City Council Tuesday granted a tax abatement to a rapidly growing local business.
The council voted unanimously to approve phasing in property taxes over five years on $255,000 in new equipment for Reliable Tool & Machine at 301 W. Ohio St. in Kendallville.
Reliable, also doing business as Reliable Production Machining & Welding, officially said on the abatement form that the new equipment would add two jobs.
But Reliable plans more growth than that. Company President Chuck Drerup told the Kendallville Economic Advisory Council earlier this month that the company is on track for a 20 percent increase in growth and expects to expand its workforce from 134 to 150 employees.
Also Tuesday, the council:
• Approved two grants to city projects from Community Development Block Grant funds.
The council unanimously approved $15,000 for use toward the facade work being done on the Kendallville City Hall annex as part of the city’s facade grant program.
Kendallville Mayor Suzanne Handshoe said the cost of the project will be more than $30,000. While facade grants can be for up to half a project’s cost, the maximum amount for a facade grant under the city’s program is $15,000, she said.
The council also unanimously approved using $10,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to connect the city sewer system to bathroom facilities at Bixler Lake Park.
The move is part of the Kendallville Park and Recreation Department five-year master plan, Director Jim Pankop said, adding, “This infrastructure improvement can be a key to public health and safety and also in protecting natural areas.”