The city council unanimously agreed to a 10-year ad valorem tax exemption for Burford Electric Service, Inc.’s planned $2.5 million expansion.
Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins appeared before the council Tuesday night on behalf of Burford owners Jonathan Burford Robinson and Amaris Robinson. In the days leading up to the meeting, the collective decided to shirk the codename, “Project Cassette,” and use the company’s real name.
“They said, ‘We want you to tell our story. We want them to know who we are. There’s no sense in doing a cloak and dagger codename. We’re here in Columbus,’” Higgins said.
Burford is an electromechanical solutions company based in East Columbus that rebuilds large electric motors, among other things. It was founded in 1959. But with demand growing, the company needs additional space for “remanufacturing and processing capabilities,” according to the resolution of intent for the exemption.
“They service the steel mill. They service the big electricity companies like Southern Corporation, Weyerhaeuser, a bunch of different places,” Higgins said.
The expansion would create about 15 new jobs. The average salary is $70,000 per year for each of the new positions, the resolution said.
The resolution states the city plans to provide a 10-year tax exemption on the additions, totaling roughly $14,600 per year. Burford will still pay about $17,000 per year in taxes to the Columbus Municipal School District, Higgins said.
Vice Mayor and Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens presided over the discussion in place of Mayor Keith Gaskin, who was absent from the meeting.
Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones questioned the urgency of the resolution.
“Is this something we need to vote on tonight?” Jones asked. “Because this is the first time we’re seeing it and it’s a lot of reading.”
Higgins retorted with a blunt response, referencing LINK COO Meryl Fisackerly’s appearance at the county board of supervisors meeting Monday, where the county board unanimously voted to approve a similar abatement.
“It’s pretty simple,” Higgins said. “It’s a 10-year tax exemption. Supervisors saw it for the first time at 9 a.m. and had it passed by 9:10 a.m. These are routine things that are done.”
City Attorney Jeff Turnage added the exemption would only apply to the new construction.
“You’re still going to be collecting taxes of significant sums,” Turnage said.
Ward 1 Councilwoman Ethel Taylor Stewart asked whether the company planned to relocate or stay in Columbus.
Higgins said in the early stages, relocation was an option, but the company has landed on staying at their existing location on Hwy. 69, near the intersection with Yorkville Road.
Stewart also voiced her concern about the diversity of the workforce.
“My next concern out there is the workforce,” Stewart said. “Will there be a diverse workforce? My concern is how diversified are we with this expansion and these new jobs?”
Higgins said, while some would like to enact and enforce diversity hiring practices, it is ultimately up to the company.
“That’s a Burford decision,” Higgins said. “It’s hard to legislate and mandate diversity in the hires. I know a lot of people want to do that. I do not know what their current workforce is. I will tell you, if you go around to the manufacturers in the area, you’re generally going to see a pretty diverse workforce.”
He added that the work may lend itself to a particular portion of the population though.
“The nature of the business is sometimes hot, dirty and nasty,” Higgins said. “I think some of this (work), you are going to have to have some ‘umph’ to you to be able to do it. It may be more males than females.”
While you’re at it?
Along with the tax exemption, Higgins also asked that the city consider repairs to Cooper Street, where Burford is located, to better accommodate business.
Higgins worked with City Engineer Kevin Stafford to come up with a plan for what it would take to complete the repairs.
“We went out and looked at it,” Stafford said. “There’s some base failures where Greyhound and Cooper come together. That’s the biggest cost in this. The whole road needs to be overlaid.”
The council voted unanimously to table the discussion on the road, a result Higgins was prepared for.
“I didn’t expect an answer on that,” Higgins said. “You’ve got to go back and talk to (City CFO Jim Brigham) and crunch some numbers.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
