Kokomo council adopts tax abatement for Sang A America; public raises IDEM, SB‑1 form concerns

The Common Council of the City of Kokomo voted to adopt Resolution 28‑29, approving a five‑year real property tax abatement and declaring 20 acres at 1501 East 200 North an economic revitalization area for Sang A America Incorporated.

The action, presented and moved by Councilwoman Sandburn and adopted by voice vote, follows a public hearing during which residents urged the council to press the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to open a public review of a nearby plant’s VOC releases and questioned whether the city’s SB‑1 tax‑abatement forms were fully available online.

Resolution 28‑29, read aloud by the city clerk, describes a proposed real investment of $10,150,000 at the Sang A America site and projects 120 new jobs at wages of $20 to $25 per hour. Councilwoman Sandburn said the council’s action confirms that the site meets the qualifications for an economic revitalization area and that the abatement will be a five‑year stepped real property tax exemption. "With this investment, they bring 120 jobs to the area at a pay rate of $20 $25 per hour," Sandburn said before moving adoption.

During public comment, Anne Eames, a Kokomo resident, asked the council to join community requests for an IDEM public hearing on the safety of a plant and on VOC releases. Eames told the council that IDEM had opened a 30‑day public comment period and said the facility’s line and liquid capacities require correction. "They've opened up a 30 day, period for public comment on the safety of this plant. It's exactly what I brought to you in January," Eames said.

Joe Russo, also a Kokomo resident, questioned whether the SB‑1 forms required for tax abatements — which are supposed to document community benefits such as job numbers and wages — were complete on the city website for the companies referenced in the hearing. "The SB 1 forms for the companies that are gonna be looked at tonight, none of that information is filled out," Russo said, adding that he had spoken with the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance about state review requirements.

Weston Reed, director of development for the City of Kokomo, responded that the SB‑1 forms submitted with the ordinances are completed, "including jobs, including wages, and signed off by the companies," and said he would verify that the correct versions were posted online.

After public comment closed, the council proceeded with its regular meeting. Councilwoman Sandburn moved to adopt Resolution 28‑29 and a second was recorded; the presiding officer called for the ayes and declared the motion carried by voice vote. The clerk then read additional resolution titles that had been part of the public hearing agenda, including items identified as Resolution 28‑31, Resolution 28‑32 and Resolution 28‑37; those items were read for public notice but action on them was not recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

Separately, the council noted the appointment of Rob Bloom, president and CEO of Community First Bank, to the city’s Merit Board earlier in the meeting.

The public hearing and subsequent regular meeting record show the council adopted the Sang A America abatement and that residents raised environmental and transparency concerns; the city’s development director said he would make sure the complete SB‑1 documentation is available online.