The Cass County Council approved a seven-year tax abatement for The Andersons Renewables on Sept. 19 after hearing from the company's tax manager about planned equipment upgrades. The council approved the measure 4-1.

Dan, tax manager for The Andersons, told the council the company proposes a $25,000,000 equipment investment at its local facility that would include new loading racks, processing equipment, pumps and valves, corn oil upgrades, sieves and instrumentation. "Continuation of ... new equipment and some additional upgrades ... keeping the plant ... at the cutting edge is the goal," Dan said.

Council members reviewed a Baker Tilly recommendation and the abatement schedule the consultant proposed. The abatement is structured over seven years with the county presentation showing year 1 at 55%; year 2 at 40%; year 3 at 40%; year 4 at 45%; year 5 at 50%; year 6 at 60%; and year 7 at 50%.

A motion to approve the abatement was moved and seconded, and the council recorded the outcome as approved with a 4-1 tally. The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript excerpt; the clerk announced the result as "4 to 1." Dan and company representatives thanked the council after the vote.

The council did not discuss a separate appropriation tied to the abatement in the same action; any related budget or TIF adjustments were not specified on the record.

The council also noted Jeremy from the company had apologized for being unable to attend because the plant is in a fall shutdown period. No further conditions, amendments or implementation deadlines were stated on the record.