NEWBERRY — Kiswire has a new steel cord facility, located on CR Koon Highway, which will add 50 new jobs.
In response to the new facility, Newberry County Council approved a first reading of an ordinance authorizing the extension of the term of two fee in lieu of tax agreements
“The proposed fee agreement will consolidate and extend existing fee agreements for all Kiswire facilities in Newberry County. Most significantly, however, the agreement will provide a combination of variable amount credits (year three to five) and fixed percentage (40%) credits (year six to 20) against the future fee stream relating to the new steel cord facility located on CR Koon Highway at Twin Spring Road,” said County Administrator Wayne Adams.
The variable credits would limit fee payments for this property to one million dollars from 2018-2020. The subsequent four years’ annual fee payments would average an estimated $840,000, after which the annual payments would level off at around $720,000 for the remainder of the fee term, ending in 2036. This proposal represents an enhancement of an existing deal and, according to Adams, is recommended because the company has greatly exceeded its original investment estimates for the steel cord plant. Originally estimated as a project totaling less than $20 million, the investment to date exceeds $80 million.
Kiswire employs 238 full time personnel, and 37 part time employees in Newberry County. They expect to add as many as 50 new jobs at the steel cord facility over the next several years.
The first reading of the ordinance as approved after Councilman Scott Cain made a motion and Councilman Travis Reeder seconded.
In other business Council approved a resolution amending the Newberry County employee handbook, making two changes to the handbook. The first change would allow for a greater accumulation of leave hours for employees increasing the year-to-year carryover limit from 240 hours to 360 hours.
“This reduces lost leave by employees while allowing them to increase their average final compensation, through leave payout, for purposes of calculating retirement pay,” Adams said. “The new policy would also increase the county’s financial liability.”
The second change advises employees that work business conducted on their private electronic devices, computers, laptops, phones, can make those devices subject to information request under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act.
The resolution was approved after Councilman Kirksey Koon made a motion and Cain seconded.
Other business
• Council recognized the following employees Latonya Williams, sheriff’s office, five years, Betty Honeycutt, sheriff’s office, 20 years, Kelly Nobles, probate judge, 20 years.
• Council approved a second reading of an ordinance authorizing the acceptance of the transfer of the authority for conducting municipal elections for the Town of Prosperity. The Town of Prosperity is willing to reimburse the county for costs associated with the elections.
• Council approved two second readings to rezone two parcels located on Highway 391, near Prosperity town limits, from General Commercial to Rural.
• Council approved a second reading to rezone a parcel near the Chappells crossroads, from Rural to General Commercial.
• Council approved Board of Rescue Capital purchases in the amount of $60,000.
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