Council approves three tax-abatement compliance reports, notes split EDC vote on Orthoamerica personal property

Franklin City Council voted May 19 to approve three tax-abatement compliance reports, including two unanimous recommendations from the Economic Development Commission (EDC) and a personal-property abatement for Orthoamerica that had drawn a split vote at the EDC.

The council approved compliance reports C2025-13 (GH Wire) and C2025-37 (PRJ Properties/Orthoamerica real property) by unanimous voice vote after the EDC recommended both items. The third compliance item, C2025-38 (Orthoamerica personal property), had been recommended for approval by the EDC by a 3–1 vote; the council moved and approved the item during the meeting.

City staff presented the programs and EDC findings. Community Development Specialist Dana Monson said the first two reports were unanimously recommended because the companies had “plans in place to go forward” and had met hiring and investment expectations. Monson noted the third item — Orthoamerica’s personal property filing — had produced concern at the EDC because the company had not yet invested planned personal-property amounts.

Councilmember Sean Taylor, who represents the district on the EDC, told the council he voted against the personal-property approval at the EDC because Orthoamerica still had roughly $1,800,000 of planned personal-property investment with “no plans to build at this time.” Devin McSearley, an Orthoamerica representative, told the council the company began the project in 2022 and that an anticipated acquisition later fell through, which delayed some real-property and equipment investments. McSearley said, “it was anticipated to be completed by the end of this year,” and that Orthoamerica still expects to invest and hire, though the jobs mix has shifted toward sales and remote work.

Monson clarified the mechanics: abatements apply only to the investments a company has actually made; Orthoamerica “will only get an abatement on the amount that they have invested,” she said. The council approved C2025-38 after discussion; councilmembers also noted the EDC’s split vote and said the company was “on notice” to complete filings and investments.

The council did not record a roll-call vote for individual members in the meeting minutes provided; the public record shows motions, seconds and voice votes approving the three items. The EDC record attached to the staff memo showed the personal-property report passed the commission 3–1.

Council members emphasized continued monitoring: staff and the EDC will track Orthoamerica’s filings and investments and report back if compliance questions recur.

Details recorded at the meeting included that Orthoamerica had reported approximately $491,000 of real-property investment to date and that about $1,800,000 of planned personal-property investment remained unspent at the time of the EDC review. The council split earlier at the commission level but approved all three compliance reports on May 19.