South Alabamian

Sales and use tax abatements for PCA’s conversion project approved by Jackson council

Portion of sales taxes abated for Tractor Supply, Taco Bell



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The Jackson City Council voted Tuesday evening to proceed with sales and user tax abatements for Packaging Corporation of America’s announced $460 million conversion of a Jackson mill paper machine from making white paper to making linerboard.

The abatement will be for 20 years and Mayor Paul South said it was a small offering for the investment PCA is making in Jackson.

South again noted that this will be the largest project in the state, dollar-wise, when the conversion work starts.

The abatement is to Boise White Paper, LLC, a PCA company.

South asked the council to note the wording on the documents, that part of the PCA mill is in the Jackson city limits and part in the police jurisdiction. He said the city boundary runs right through the mill and suggested that may need to be addressed in the future.

Tractor Supply, Tacco Bell

The council also agreed to proceed with rebating 2 of 4 percent of the city’s sales taxes to Tractor Supply and Taco Bell, companies that have recently opened in the city.

Those abatements are for three years. Public notices regarding these are in today’s newspaper.

The measures will be voted on at the April 13 meeting.

Again, South said the concessions were a small price to pay for new businesses for Jackson and said the jobs and revenues generated by the new businesses are all new for the city.

In the only other agenda matter requiring a council vote, South asked that two lawn mowers be declared surplus. He said one would be given to the golf course to use there and the other would be sold. Two new mowers were recently purchased. They were in this year’s budget.

The council approved the surplus declaration.

Cleanup work continues

In his report, South said the old A-1 Cleaners on Carroll Street has been torn down and a warehouse in the same block, behind the old Faulkner’s store, has been removed this week as well. He said the cleanup of old buildings in the city is going well.

If Gov. Kay Ivey’s relaxation of mandates continues, the municipal pool and splash pad will open Memorial Day weekend, South said. However, no food will be allowed at either location.

A planning meeting for the Cemetery Road project will be April 22 with bids let for opening on April 29. The improvement project will be funded by a $460,000 grant.

A pole barn has been erected on Kimbell Avenue and will be used by the Farmer’s Market and possibly other public events. South said electricity has been added and fans will be installed.

Lots of vaccines!

South said Jackson Medical Center and related clinics have administered 4,200 vaccinations to date, a remarkable accomplishment.

Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Audra Raybon said Jackson High School held its prom at the community house. She said it was good to start getting back to normal activities and complimented the recent renovations of the building.

Rezoning requesets

Council member Jane James, who serves on the planning commission, said two rezoning requests have been approved by that body and will be considered by the city council on April 13. They include rezoning a lot o Hannon Drive from R-3 to R-4 and on West Point Drive from R-2 to R-4, both to allow for mobile homes.

Council member Daron Bolen was absent Tuesday.

Police Chief Jerry Taylor and a newspaper reporter were the only ones in attendance other than the council members and City Clerk Reta Corley on the rainy evening.

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