A Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with NUCOR Steel for a transload and processing facility north of New Cumberland was approved on a 2 to 1 vote at Thursday, June 9th County Commission Meeting.
Commissioner Eron Chek voted no and had questions for the Nucor Steel controller Dave Rinehart who was in attendance. Chek questioned that the PILOT agreement was for 30 years while Hancock County had never signed an agreement for more than 10 years. She said the agreement was fashioned after Mason County’s agreement where the central plant was located. Mason County is 455 square miles with an annual budget of $72,294,546.00 while Hancock County is 88 square feet with a budget of $11,879,563.00, according to Chek.
In questioning NUCOR, Chek asked about the number of jobs that would be created, “Thats a very important information for me. I don’t want to give the baby away with the bathwater.” Rinehart was unable to provide a specific number of jobs.
Assessor Joe Alongi explained that the NUCOR is leasing the property from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority who actually owns the property and will own the facility. As a non-profit, the EDA is exempt from taxes and thus NUCOR does not have to pay taxes. The EDA often incentivizes companies to locate to West Virginia in that manner to lure companies to the State. The PILOT agreement is negotiated with NUCOR to lessen the burden and create good public relations. The PILOT agreement states “That while the County and the Company deem it necessary and proper, that so long as the Site, the Facility, and the Personal Property are exempt from such “ad valorem real and personal property tax during the period it is leased by the Company, the Company should make certain payments in lieu of taxes to the County, for the benefit of the County and its citizens.”
The first PILOT payment will be made July 1, 2025 of $12,500.00 The agreement continues to provide increasing payment based upon the company’s capital investment.
Commission President Jeff Davis said that the transloader is the 1st stage of development and spins-off industries are expected to follow. Options are being taken on the property in the area of the transloader right now according to Davis .
“Although NUCOR’S specifics are vague, I believe a lot of good can come of this.” Davis noted that the additional development of the raw land in the area surrounding the transloader could move the county forward.
In other business, the Commission:
**Approved the EMS Salary Enhancement Funds Policy;
**Agreed to advertise for a vacancy for the Tomlinson PSD;
**Accepted the resignation of Nicole Glass from the Hancock County Health Board and agreed to advertise for her position;
**Approved a grant application for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 with the WV Department of Health & Human Resources on behalf of the Juvenile Mediation Program;
**Approved a request for the Hancock County Emergency Planning Commitee to apply for 2024 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant Program;
**Approved a request to apply for the 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program;
**Approved a change in employment status of Traci Hinzman from part-time to full-time;
**Hired James Bennadetto as Security/Bailiff;
**Approved the hiring of Alexis Swan and Josh Duffy as summer help in the Circuit Clerk’s office;
**Approved a Rabies and Microchip Clinic to be held on Friday, June 7 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Hancock County Dog Park.
