City Council members approved a tax abatement for Busche Enterprises Division, Inc., during their regular meeting held Dec. 11 at City Hall. The City of Hartselle granted the tax abatement after the company announced a “major addition to their existing facility” and pursued the Tax Incentive Reform Act of 1992 requesting that the city abate all state and local non-educational property taxes, and all construction related transaction taxes, except those construction related transaction taxes levied for educational purposes or for capital improvement for education.

The state and local non educational property taxes will be extended for a period of 10 years. Non educational property taxes are expected to be approximately $534,224 over the 10 years, and the construction related taxes are expected to be about $475,000.

The council voted unanimously for the abatement siting that the benefits out weighted the cost.

The new addition to the business located on the Thompson Road in Hartselle is estimated to be completed by Dec. 31, 2017. The $20 million project will include $18 million in manufacturing machinery, $1 million is used equipment, and $1 million in new non-manufacturing equipment.

The company is moving the $1 million of used equipment from Indiana along with 27 jobs.

Busche bought the 263,000 square foot building located on 48 acres from CR Compressors LLC, a company in Emerson Electric’s Climate Technologies on Oct. 22, 2012. The company does long-term machining contract work. Busche retained former Emerson employees. The company plans to add the $19 million of new equipment and hire an additional 173 new employees over the next five years.

In other business, City Council also:

• Held a public hearing for the rezoning of acreage on Mallone Road for a private trucking terminal.

• Held a public hearing to annex 15 acres and a single family residence on Tunsel Road, currently surrounded by the city on three sides.

• Held a public hearing to zone the Tunsel Road property.

• Held a public hearing to annex a one-acre island within the new Morgan Center Business Park. Plans for the property are for the house to be demolished and the acre incorporated into one of the larger tracts fronting the new Byrd Road.

• Held a public hearing to zone the one-acre island within the new Morgan Center Business Park.

• Accepted and adopted a resolution for the newly realigned segment of Byrd Road within Morgan Center Business Park as city infrastructure for public maintenance. Morgan County EDA provided warranty for 12 months against defects.

• Levied a special assessment in the amount of $8,557.43, after a public hearing, against 503 Pine Street for costs uncured for demolition and cleanup of an unoccupied, dilapidated and condemned dwelling.

• Authorized the mayor to execute ALDOT permit and maintenance agreement for Bethel Road Project. The project will include the modification of the existing traffic signal at Alabama 36 at Bethel Road and McClanahan Street intersection, and the operation and maintenance of the existing traffic signal at Alabama 36 at Bethel Road/ McClanahan Street intersection.

• Authorized a special event permit for West Hartselle Baptist Church to hold a Run for Life 5K for fundraising for Relay for Life. The event will be held beginning at 6 a.m. March 16, 2013.