BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The recent City Council Committee meetings in Bucyrus, Ohio, featured a dispute among local officials regarding the number of jobs associated with IB Tech’s planned expansion and the impact of a proposed tax abatement. Economic Development Chairwoman Clarissa Slater claimed that misinformation and breaches of confidentiality led to IB Tech reducing its job creation projections by about 50 positions. Council President Kurt Fankhauser and City Law Director Brandon Gobrecht contested these claims, asserting that the job numbers were consistent and that accusations against council members were unfounded.
Points of the Dispute
– Clarissa Slater alleged that leaked information from a confidential executive session undermined trust and caused state and regional partners to withdraw from the Community Revitalization Act (CRA), which she said would have created approximately 50 additional jobs.
– Kurt Fankhauser stated that IB Tech never planned to create more than 170 new jobs at the Bucyrus plant, referencing a press release by FreeWire confirming 170 jobs, not 220 as Slater claimed.
– Brandon Gobrecht accused Fankhauser and another council member of disrupting the project due to improper conduct during city business.
– Slater maintained that the total proposed jobs were 220 and criticized Fankhauser and others for interfering with the project.
– Tensions escalated over the source of the leaked information, with Gobrecht threatening legal action if the responsible party was not named. No formal action was taken.
Clarification from The Crawford Partnership
Makenna Laser, Executive Director of The Crawford Partnership, provided an official statement to clarify the situation:
– The job creation projection for IB Tech’s Bucyrus expansion has consistently been 170 new jobs linked to a 53,000-square-foot facility expansion.
– There was no change in job numbers communicated at any point, nor was the figure influenced by City Council members or local residents.
– Workforce projections depend on multiple factors determined solely by the company, such as phased construction, operational ramp-up, and market demand.
– Although local tax abatement discussions occurred, the absence of a local incentive did not affect IB Tech’s commitment to the expansion.
– State-level incentives significantly supported the project.
– The Crawford Partnership remains neutral on City Council matters and emphasizes the importance of focusing on the positive economic impact of IB Tech’s expansion.
The controversy over job numbers and tax abatements surrounding IB Tech’s expansion in Bucyrus has been clarified by The Crawford Partnership, confirming a steady projection of 170 new jobs. The dispute among local officials involved accusations of misinformation and breaches of confidentiality, but official statements indicate that the company’s plans and commitments remain unchanged. The focus is now on the economic benefits the expansion will bring to the community.