Crystal City passes James Hardie tax abatement agreement

(Crystal City) The Crystal City city council is ready to take the next steps after the passage of the James Hardie tax abatement agreement. The agreement was finalized officially at Monday night’s city council meeting. Several business owners and members of different county entities were on hand to speak in favor of it. It was well documented the Jefferson R-7 School District had issues with the abatement agreement mostly due to wanting and needing more information about everything involved with it. Crystal City City Administrator Jason Eisenbeis says he had many conversations and discussions with Superintendent Dr. David Haug over the weekend leading up to the vote on Monday night.

Officials with Jefferson schools were concerned not only about the numbers but for traffic safety around the entrances of the plant that will be sharing the road with school buses and students who drive to school. Superintendent Dr. David Haug..

Dr. Haug says he was pleased by the recent conversations and encouraged with future plans.

Eisenbeis understands some of the concerns of some residents and others may have when it comes to bringing in a manufacturing company known throughout the globe.

Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon says many local business owners spoke on behalf of supporting the James Hardie project.

Eisenbeis says while the Form 303 tax abatement agreement will benefit James Hardie with savings in real estate taxes over the next 20 years, the personal property tax monies that will be generated will be significant to the taxing entities in the area.

The Crystal City city council voted to approve to tax abatement agreement with a vote of 7-0. James Hardie is expected to break ground on the manufacturing plant next year.