Regular Meeting Closes- Public Hearing Begins at 7:10 p.m.

2. Public Hearing for the City of Seymour, to consider providing for the availability of tax abatement to both new and existing facilities and expansions of existing facilities and for the expansion or modernization of existing facilities and structures located in the enterprise/reinvestment zone. Said property being considered for tax abatement is located at or near the northwest intersection of FM 422 and U.S. 277. Legal description is as follows: Lots Six (6) and South 40 feet of Lot Five (5), Seymour Industrial Park, out of Southwest Quarter of Section 136, T & NO Co. Survey, Baylor County, Texas.

Mayor Craighead asked to address the enterprise/reinvestment zone as to the
location of that particular area. Mayor stated he was sure we could explain to
local businesses concerned, as to why this particular area and stated this is a
legal description and can only be approved by the state, as an enterprise/reinvestment zone. He asked City Administrator Joe Shephard to comment.

City Administrator Shephard commented that he didn’t have the complete legal description, but, that it basically ran from the Seymour Industrial Park, down through where McLain and East Street are. CA Shephard also commented that the state has set the rules and regulations as to what can be in the enterprise/reinvestment zone and that at this time the City is doing some research to see whether the state will allow the expansion of the reinvestment zone and sometimes it takes quiet some time to get answers back from them and the City has not received an answer yet.

Mayor Craighead also included that in most communities and cities, Economic Development has an opportunity to collect a portion of the sales tax, and they use that sales tax money to encourage companies/businesses to locate within the area or to improve local businesses.

Mayor Craighead also stated that our Economic Development does not have access to that sales tax money. Many years ago there was a local election that determined that one half cent sales tax would go to the Hospital District, which over the years I’m sure has been put to good use for the community, in that particular area. In order to encourage businesses to the area, to improve employment, to improve opportunities for tourists to come and visit our community, it becomes necessary for the city and other taxing entities to come up with some way to entice those people to come to our community. I’m sure if you’ve kept up with the news around the country, this is not an unusual situation to offer a tax abatement for a facility to come in and this council has talked about this tax abatement, has advertised it in the paper, and now we are holding a Public hearing. I think from my standpoint and how I look at it, and anyone is welcome to address the council to discuss their viewpoints, is that we currently don’t have the taxes on that piece of property, except for raw land, and since the property is owned by the city there is no taxes on it, so, it’s not that we are giving away something we currently have, we are making an investment into the future. We can make an investment into the future for 5 years for a facility to move here and offer amenities to the traveling public, to pull off the highway and have a nice place to stay, not that we don’t have nice places for them to stay , but, for them to have more nice places available. I think in the long run, down the road we could be well rewarded financially for extending or considering the tax abatement.

Mayor Craighead asked if any one from the council would like to address the issue.

Council Member Nan Gilbert-Mathis asked if the hotel would include a restaurant.

Economic Director John Studer stated that that was unknown at this time.
All the details were not clear yet, but, that it may or may not. It could be up to a 65 room hotel.

No other questions or comments were made.

Public Hearing Closes- Regular Meeting Resumes at 7:23 p.m.


3. Discuss, Consider and take action for the City of Seymour,
to provide for the availability of tax abatement to both new and existing facilities and expansions of existing facilities and for the expansion or modernization of existing facilities andstructures located in the enterprise/reinvestment zone.

Motion:
Motion made by Council Member Nan Gilbert-Mathis and
seconded by Council Member Donald Coltharp, to provide the availability of tax abatement to bothnew and existing facilities and for the expansion or modernization of existing facilities
and structures located in the enterprise/reinvestment zone at 100% for five (5) years.

Vote on motion:
passed unanimously.

4. Discuss, Consider and give direction to City Staff concerning information received from Chamber of Commerce, on,
on-location filming as provided by The Texas Film
Commission and Texas Leadership Institute.

Motion:
Motion made by Council Member Billy Henricks, seconded by MPT Rose
Tankersley, to adopt a film policy by the Texas Film Commission and Texas
Leadership Institute.

Vote on motion:
passed unanimously.

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