Carol Czech, President of Airmate Company, Inc. of Bryan, met with the Williams County Commissioners on Monday, July 12, 2021.
Czech had Adam Holman, a manager in the company, along with her and had asked Dave Newcomer from the Airport Authority to be present as well.
She explained a good news/bad news situation in which the company finds itself. The good news is that they are growing and expanding.
The bad news is that as they want to build an addition, it is going to require a fire suppression system, a sprinkler system, and they do not have enough well water to supply it.
The company, along with the airport, are within the city limits but they do not have city water.
She was there to request that her company and the airport have city water. “It would help the airport as well as Airmate,” Czech said.
“Our business has been in that location since 1962 and we have added on three times. This is going to be another addition that is almost going to double the size of the company. “
“It is going to be about a 2 million initial investment in building and equipment and then we are going to add another, at least million within the next three to five years in equipment.”
“It will bring jobs. It will add to the tax base of the city and county, and I can’t afford to cover the cost of bringing the waterline out there.”
Czech went on to explain that the city quoted a half million dollars and S&S Boring gave her a quote of $360,000, which is still too much for the company to carry alone.
The company has looked into expanding in another location, checked Stryker, Archbold and Ft. Wayne, but they really would like to stay in Bryan.
“We’ve got a workforce here and we would hat to disrupt that, but it makes it really difficult when it is hard to attain our expansion goals with some of the road blocks,” she added.
There was some discussion as to the possibility of future businesses being built there and joining in on a waterline. It was pointed out that Airmate should not have to pay the full amount, but they are willing to pay some of it and hope the county and city would join in and help pay for it.
Airmate, which is presently around 40,000 square feet and wants to add on 26,000 more, is located at the end of the Industrial Park near County Road 16 and the airport.
Czech was concerned that after putting so much money into the project, the company would then have to deed it over to the city for maintenance and then it would be possible for other large buildings to be built by other companies and the airport, and they would want to tap into what their money did not build.
Mr. Newcomer commented that it would obviously benefit the airport. The airplane hangers do not require suppression but if in the future they wanted to allow anyone to put in a maintenance facility, they would require it and the date line would be there.
Comments about whether or not the ARP money can be used for it were made with the concensus that it might not be available for a year or two.
This project is for now and Czech said that if they can’t get the ball rolling soon, the company will need to move. “If we can’t get relief on this project then we will probably look at going to Angola.”
“The infrastructure is there. They just about give you the land, and we would just put up a new building that would be just exactly what we need.”
“It would be more costly, but it would be the building we need,” she said. The company has an opportunity right now that could double the size of the company, but a year from would be too late to take it.
The Commissioners agreed that they would like to keep the company in Bryan. Czech asked if the county would be willing to put a portion toward this project now and “hopefully the city might pitch in something as well.”
Commissioner Lew Hilkert asked if the city/county and the private money she could secure all kicked in $120,000, would that make it feasible? Airmate already has a $50,000 grant so that would help as well.
“That would make it more palatable for sure,” Czech said. Comparing the cost to stay and the cost to move and determining what is better for the long run for the business is what she is doing.
She stressed again that they really want to stay in Bryan, but it is hard.
It was agreed that the commissioners will consider her request over the next two weeks, for partial assistance, and address it again.
In other business during the Monday morning meeting, the Commissioners voted to approve:
-Resolution 248 Supplemental Appropriations on behalf of Commissioners
-Resolution 249 Entering into business credit account on behalf of Auditor’s office
-Resolution 250 Entering into a Stimulus Reconciliation Addendum on behalf of Hillside Country Living
-Also signed were – Notice from Ohio Division of Liquor Control regarding Change of Ownership from Mojos Grab N Go to Red Hen Country Market; Requests from Sheriff Kochert for transfer of unused patrol bicycles and for disposal of 1993 Suzuki Katana motorcycle; Request for Proposal (RFP) for PY 2021 CDBG Program and Letter to Maumee Valley Planning Organization regarding proposal and fee schedule for CDBG PY 2021
-Minutes dated July 8, 2021 and payment of bills
Commissioner Terry Rummel reported that he had a conversation with Brandi Frisbie of 911 Communications and was informed that the agile link was being connected on July 12th for the MARCs Tower to become active with the center.
He also said that Mike Levy, 911 IT, will be going to Florida for training with Spillman Mobile so he will be on top of the new system.