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Ennis approves $1.5M for Project 300 infrastructure; two larger TIRZ incentive requests continued
Summary
The commission approved up to $1.5 million for Project 300 water and sewer upgrades and opened but continued public hearings on two major Chapter 380/3-80 incentive requests (tabled to July 16) after staff described TIRZ board voting irregularities. Developers described multi-million-dollar investments and job projections.
The Ennis City Commission on June 18 approved a resolution to authorize Project 300 as an economic development project and to spend up to $1.5 million for water and sewer upgrades to serve industrial acreage.
Economic Development Director Jim Wehmeyer said the work includes about 2,600 feet of oversized gravity sewer from the sewer plant and roughly 6,500 feet of water line to complete a loop and serve roughly 300 industrial acres. He told the commission the total project is about $2,000,000 and that the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has approved a not-to-exceed $1,500,000 contribution. "It does delay the need for an immediate regional lift station," Wehmeyer said, describing system benefits in circulation and future capacity.
With no public speakers, the commission closed the Project 300 hearing and approved the resolution by voice vote.
Two larger incentive items — listed as G2 and G3 on the agenda — drew fuller staff presentations and developer remarks but were not approved. Wehmeyer said both items had been considered earlier that afternoon by Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 3 and that the TIRZ meeting initially misreported the outcome: three votes in favor, one dissent and two absences did not constitute a majority, so the TIRZ board concluded the items failed. To avoid re-noticing and to allow legal review, the commission opened the public hearings and then continued them to July 16 at 6:00 p.m.
Wehmeyer described one of the projects (Project Rogala) as a manufacturing site needing sewer and water that could reduce near-term lift-station needs. He also presented a second large, two-phase distribution project (on about 120 acres) with a proposed capital investment of approximately $107.5 million and hundreds of jobs. Developer Steve McKee, who identified himself as the general manager for the company, told the commission the incentive is "critical to our final decision to . . . come here and develop," and said the facility would create significant employment opportunities, including both manual labor and higher-paid executive positions.
Why it matters: Project 300 adds near-term infrastructure to open industrial acreage, while the two larger incentives could bring large investments and hundreds of jobs if approved. The commission tabled the larger incentive requests to give staff time to address TIRZ procedural questions and to allow additional public-review time.
What's next: The commission approved Project 300 and will revisit G2 and G3 at the July 16 meeting. The items will go to Ellis County and other bodies as required before final action.
