Council to call public hearing on Barrett expansion TIF to fund pretreatment plant

City staff told the council that Barrett plans a three-phase, 280,000-square-foot expansion that would add capacity and about 30–40 jobs, and that the company has requested a modification to the city's tax-increment financing (TIF) district to help pay for a pretreatment plant required by the expansion.

Staff member Alex said Barrett is losing warehouse space elsewhere and needs to move quickly; because the added production line would strain the wastewater system, Barrett agreed to include a pretreatment plant as part of the expansion. Alex told the council the proposed modification would create “TIF 148,” and estimated that development-generated increment could total about $3.5 million, with roughly $1.9 million of increment directed to the pretreatment plant over a maximum nine-year TIF shelf life. Alex said Barrett's current market value is about $4.8 million and the expansion could increase it to approximately $12.6 million.

Councilmembers asked whether the pretreatment plant could help other city wastewater facilities and staff said the unit is intended to remove grease and similar debris; staff will explore potential system-wide benefits but noted Barrett's schedule is tight. Alex said the city will bring a resolution calling for a public hearing on the TIF at the council meeting on June 1.

The council did not take a final vote on the TIF at the work session; staff said the next steps include preparing the TIF documentation, scheduling the public hearing and receiving public comment at the June meeting.