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Developer Russell Mulvat seeks temporary tax abatement for $5 million Winneshiek County facility
Summary
Russell Mulvat asked the Winneshiek County board for a temporary urban revitalization tax abatement for a proposed roughly $5,000,000 consolidated facility south of town; supervisors indicated preliminary support and advised he complete zoning and legal steps before a formal county vote.
Russell Mulvat told the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors he is planning a roughly $5,000,000 consolidated facility south of town and asked the board to consider a temporary tax abatement to help absorb upfront construction and rural infrastructure costs. “We're looking at roughly a $5,000,000 projects that we're looking at doing,” Mulvat said, and added, “I'm not asking for any county money.”
Mulvat described a plan to combine showroom, administration and warehouse operations into one site and said the project could retain and add jobs, estimating “5 to 10 above average jobs ranging from 40 to $100,000 a year, with benefits.” He said the site under consideration is about 17 acres near Highway 52 and that the team is pursuing rezoning to commercial and expecting a zoning board meeting the following night.
County staff explained how the abatement choices work under Iowa law and emphasized procedure and timing. As staff described it, a commercial applicant can typically request either a three‑year full exemption — “no taxes for the first three years” — or a 10‑year sliding scale that “starts at, I remember 20 or 25% of the taxes … and goes up over 10 years to 80%,” after which full taxes apply. Staff also clarified that the urban revitalization designation and abatement are separate from zoning; the zoning process must be completed before the county can formally adopt the revitalization area.
Board members noted past county abatements and asked procedural questions about traffic access and utility costs — Mulvat estimated roughly $125,000 to bring three‑phase power to the site and additional costs for LP gas infrastructure. Supervisors said they were not taking formal action at the meeting but indicated interest in the project and advised Mulvat to proceed with the zoning and legal paperwork so staff can prepare any recommended abatement documents. The auditor said he would note the board’s interest so Mulvat could begin the abatement steps.
Mulvat said he would continue working with county staff and DOT on the entrance and engineering studies and would return with site plans and paperwork when ready.
