Commissioners help Clow move along with expansion project

COSHOCTON – Clow Water Systems is excited about a new project and the Coshocton County Commissioners are ready to help them move forward with it in any way they can.

The company is making electric poles that are stronger than wooden ones and needs more space to really push the product.

“We have expansion opportunities with this product,” said Tom Crawford, vice president/general manager at Clow. “We could have built a new building on our own site, but the old Pretty Product building is just across the street and vacant. It just made sense to be good community members and use it.”

After the building is purchased it will need repairs done to its roof, utilities rerouted and offices, but then it will be the perfect location to get the product moving along.

“We are excited about the business and our future,” said Keith Mallett, director of McWane Poles, which is in charge of the new product. “The great advantage to this building is that it will allow us the opportunity to grow. We will have space to add jobs and (manufacturing) lines.”

The poles will start out in 18 foot sections that are made at Clow and then put together at McWane Poles to create 50-70 foot poles.

“We drill them to utility specs from places like AEP and Frontier Power,” Mallett said.

The poles have about a 75 year life expectancy.

“We’ve had semis hit these poles and they were still okay,” Crawford said. “It’s amazing what ours can take compared to the wooden poles.”

Representatives from the two companies were at the Commissioners Jan. 16 meeting to make an enterprise zone request.

According to information from Dorothy Skowrunski, executive director of the Coshocton Port Authority, “The Coshocton County Enterprise Zone (EZ) program allows companies to locate a facility in any township, village or city of Coshocton and receive a partial property tax exemption on new investments in new or significantly improved buildings. The business must create at least two new full-time jobs. The rate and term of the exemption is negotiated by the Coshocton Port Authority along with the impacted local governmental jurisdiction, which would include the township, village or the city and Coshocton County as well as the public school districts.”

Jeff McNealey, an attorney at law with Porter Wright, who is helping Clow and McWane Poles move the venture along, discussed with the Commissioners that the two companies plan to do all they can to work together with the county, city and school districts.

“We want to be good stewards and take care of the kids,” Crawford said.

The Commissioners are part of the Enterprise Zone Committee, which gave Clow its ok to proceed. Mayor Steve Mercer also fully backed Clow.

“We (the city) approve and are willing to help where we can,” he said.

Commissioner Dane Shryock also was happy to help Clow move forward with its plans.

“I think this is great for Coshocton and is what we need,” he said. “They probably could have found other alternatives so I’m glad they decided to stay here. We need what we can get and to grow.”

During the meeting the Commissioners also:

–          Requested a motion to appoint Traci Dennis to fulfill the unexpired term of Kyle Hamilton on the Coshocton County Board of DD. Dennis’ term will be effective immediately.

–          Requested a motion to sign Resolution 2013-04 to nominate Daniel N. Hardy to the Coshocton County Local Emergency Planning Commission.

–          Requested a motion to pay an animal claim for Annette Wyler of Fresno, in the amount of $500 as requested by Rusty Dreher, dog warden.

josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com

Category: Government