The Cleveland City Council will consider a tax abatement agreement with Mars Chocolate for its $67 million expansion of the Peerless Road manufacturing plant during the Monday meeting.
The two-year project announced in April 2011 is expected to add 38 full-time positions to the existing 493 jobs, resulting in a total annual payroll of $40.5 million.
The Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes agreement covers all personal property acquired in connection with the installation of two new assembly lines for its M&Ms and Twix products, and to expand an existing line for its newest candy, Pretzel M&Ms.
The agreement reduces the manufacturer’s annual tax payments 50 percent on the new equipment for seven years between Jan. 1, and Dec. 31, 2018. The reduction results in taxes owed to Bradley County in the estimated amount of $652,588 and $542,755 to the city of Cleveland.
The City Council plans to tour the animal shelter after the 1 p.m. work session and discuss transitioning to a no-kill animal shelter under new business in the 3 p.m. regular voting session.
Other agenda items include amending Title 20 of the Municipal Code to add a new chapter establishing the Office of Municipal Administrative Hearing Officer to hear certain building and property maintenance code violations.
The administrative hearing officer would be unauthorized to hear violation of codes adopted by the state fire marshal enforced by a deputy. Utilization of the administrative hearing officer will be at the discretion of the city manager as an alternative to enforcement included in the Cleveland Municipal Code.
The City Council could adopt “Cherokee Gateway” as the name of LIC North and LIC South roads planned between APD 40 and the proposed Spring Branch Industrial Park. The two roads will open the northeast and southeast quadrants of Exit 20 and APD 40 for commercial development.
Adopting the name is in response to a request from Tennessee Department of Transportation so design staff can determine the size of overhead highway signs.
Bradley County commissioners will consider a similar resolution since the roads extend beyond the city limits.
