Pierceton Continues To Work On Paragon Abatement Requests
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews
PIERCETON — Pierceton has continued the process related to granting tax abatements to Paragon Medical.
At its meeting on Monday, Nov. 8, at the Pierceton Community Building, the council approved a declaratory resolution related to two abatements for the company. Paragon’s attorney Steve Snyder was present.
Paragon is expanding at its Pierceton location by constructing a 34,000-square-foot building, which “will be dedicated to 3-D printing,” according to information from the company.
For the project, Paragon is seeking one real estate abatement on new construction costing $8.5 million and one personal property tax abatement on items costing $10.5 million. Both are for 10 years.
The council gave initial approval for granting an abatement in September. It will have a public hearing on the abatements at its next meeting on Monday, Dec. 13, before a vote.
Community Crossings
The council also heard during the meeting roadwork around town will be completed via the town getting an Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings Matching Grant.
“We ended up getting the Community Crossings Matching Grant for everything we submitted for; $156,888.75 is what we will be receiving,” said Town Superintendent Casey Boggs.
The total amount the town has available for the roadwork through the grant is actually $209,185, which includes a 25% match of $52,296.25 the town had to provide to be eligible for the grant.
Town Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast told InkFreeNews the following streets will be worked on:
- Market Street from First Street to the railroad approach;
- Elm/Maple streets from First Street to Church Street;
- Second Street from the south alley to Catholic Street;
- East Tulip Street from First Street to Grant Street;
- North Grant Street From Tulip Street to Wayne Street;
- East Wayne Street from First Street to Oak Street;
- North Oak Street from Wayne Street to Keith Street;
- North Second Street from Columbia Street to Tulip Street;
- West Market Street from First Street to Seventh Street.
Christmas
The council also heard an update from Stephanie Campbell on the town getting new Christmas decorations.
She’s involved with a committee that has fund-raised for the decorations. She said the committee has raised more than $22,000, which is well past its original $20,000 goal.
“We’ve purchased eight big displays,” she said. “Right now we’re working on string lights for the trees and small trees for the pots outside local businesses. The goal for this year is to basically hit all the important buildings, the fire department, the library, the police department along with Brower Park. That’s the small goal and we’ll add to it every year.”
She said people were to start decorating on Sunday, Nov. 28, and volunteers were needed to help. The plan is for people to show up at the Pierceton Community Building at 1 p.m. that day.
“Dec. 4, we’ll have a light-up ceremony at Brower Park,” she added. “Hot chocolate, we’ll have the Whitko choir singing Christmas carols hopefully and we want to … hopefully, start a tradition and have a small Christmas parade.”
The committee also hopes to put some Christmas decorations atop American Legion Post 258 in Pierceton.
Campbell also said there would be a Letters to Santa box near the Pierceton and Washington Township Library. Children can write letters to the Jolly Old Elf and receive a response back from him from Nov. 28 to Dec. 10.
Forms for the letters are to be given out at school or found in the clerk-treasurer’s office.
The council’s next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, at the Pierceton Community Building.