WINNSBORO – In a special called meeting Monday evening, county council passed second reading on two economic development incentive agreements.
With a vote of 6-1, with Councilman Mikel Trapp against, council authorized a fee in lieu of tax agreement with Mekra Lang for the expansion of the truck-mirror manufacturer’s facility which is located in the Walter Brown Industrial Park.
“This is an existing company effected by the tariff increase,” the county’s Economic Development Director Ty Davenport explained. Some of the parts they use in making truck mirrors are under the tariff and since they have a facility in Mexico that they could move to, we are offering them a tax incentive for them to stay here. We will be keeping the employees here and Mekra Lang will be adding 15 more plus they will be making a $7.7M investment instead of us losing them.”
The vote unanimous, however, for a second ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a fee in lieu of tax agreement for a company code-named New Nightingale, LLC. Because the county was required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, neither the company nor the project will be identified until after the third and final vote, according to County Administrator Jason Taylor. That vote is expected to be taken Monday, Nov. 11.