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County approves fee‑in‑lieu framework as manufacturer plans $70M investment in Gluckstadt area
Summary
County officials approved forms for a fee‑in‑lieu and project cooperation agreement as a century‑old overseas manufacturer announced plans for its first U.S. manufacturing operation near Gluckstadt, a $70 million investment projected to create roughly 30 new jobs and retain about 104 existing positions.
The Madison County Board of Supervisors on July 27 approved forms of a fee‑in‑lieu agreement and a project cooperation agreement to support a proposed $70 million manufacturing investment near Gluckstadt.
Chris Dason, who introduced the project to the board, said the company — a century‑old manufacturer with about 2,000 employees worldwide — will open its first U.S. manufacturing operations and will also acquire the existing PureLink/DBC facility. "They're opening up their 1st, US manufacturing operations," Dason told the board. He said the company will add about 30 new employees averaging roughly $65,000 a year and retain approximately 104 of the existing workforce.
County legal counsel explained the two agreements before the board. Counsel said the project cooperation agreement formalizes the county’s role in taking ownership of a short road that the company will construct once it meets county road standards, and described two versions of the fee‑in‑lieu paperwork: a county‑only agreement and a county‑and‑city form to be used if the city elects to participate. "The fee in lieu is 0.333 of ordinary taxes for the new facility," counsel said.
The board moved and approved the forms in a voice vote. Officials said they will present a county‑city version to the City of Gluckstadt and request the city join the fee‑in‑lieu as a participant for municipal taxes; the county‑only form would be executed if the city does not join. The county also confirmed an announcement was planned the same morning to provide additional details and that the city’s mayor and other local officials were invited.
Next steps: the board approved the agreement forms and authorized staff to move forward with the paperwork; the county will seek the city’s participation before executing a joint agreement if the city signs on.
