Council tables Wagler abatement request for new I‑69 manufacturing facility; staff asked to update values

Bob, an economic-development representative, and company owner Jeremy Wagler presented an abatement application for a new manufacturing facility at the I‑69/58 interchange and described plans for local workforce training.

Jeremy said the business purchased property two years ago and has obtained a government contract requiring large parts; he told the council he expects to install a $1.2 million machining center (without tooling) soon and to expand capacity rapidly to meet contracts. He said the firm currently employs about 22 people and projected 25% growth in five years, with potential further increases as contracts expand.

The proposal includes a training partnership with Twin Rivers and Vincennes (Brandon Small) to bring high-school students into machining programs on-site. Financial entries on the application list current values of $2.0 million, estimated project value of $1.5 million and estimated value on completion of about $5.0 million; Jeremy and staff said those personal-property numbers are changing rapidly and must be updated before the council acts.

During the presentation Jeremy also made remarks about hiring priorities, saying he favored training and hiring local residents and rejecting proposals to recruit from outside the community. In his words: "I think we should try to help our kids and our families right here." The transcript also records Jeremy stating, "a lot of the community is trying to find Mexican community, the Asians to bring into this community. In my opinion, that's not what we need," a remark that drew no formal response in the recorded discussion.

Council members asked detailed questions about depreciation rules for machinery, potential abatement terms (including the customary 10% real-property schedule), and wage levels; they asked staff to update the personal-property valuations and the wage information before a final decision. The council voted to table the application and work with staff and the applicant on updated numbers.