Economic incentive deals for two companies, Jacksonville Lime LLC and Advanced Disposal Services Inc., were voted on by three City Council committees this week, but one committee has yet to approve one of the deals.
Advanced Disposal is seeking $695,000 in total incentives to support the expansion of the company’s Jacksonville headquarters and creation of 85 jobs.
Of the request, $595,000 would come from the Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund program and include a High Impact Sector bonus, with the City contributing $119,000 and the state providing the remaining $476,000.
The remaining $100,000 would be provided through a Recapture Enhanced Value grant, also known as a REV grant, and is an incentive based on increased taxes generated by property improvements and is paid after a company pays its taxes.
The deal was approved by the Council Rules and Recreation and Community Development committees, but was deferred in Finance following questions from Council member John Crescimbeni, committee chairman, and discussion about potential hosting fees owed to the City because of non-recycled waste tonnage.
Jeff Foster of the City’s Public Works department told the committee Tuesday he drafted a letter to the company asking for a complete account of its recycling. Public Works Director Jim Robinson followed Foster and said the City needs to engage with the provider and have more discussion and learn the facts before offering any recommendation.
Mary O’Brien, Advanced Disposal chief marketing officer, told the committee the company learned of the concern Monday. She said she was surprised about the issue and called the company “good public partners.”
Crescimbeni deferred the item and will hold a special Finance meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, before the 5 p.m. full Council meeting, to further discuss the issue.
Rules passed the deal Monday and Recreation and Community Development passed it Tuesday afternoon.
Paul Crawford, City Office of Economic Development interim director, appeared before the Recreation and Community Development committee and said the legislation and issue were two different concerns, one dealing with management and the other operations.
Crawford told the committee he doubted the regulatory compliance issue would be settled by Tuesday.
He said Advanced Disposal is offering to create the type of jobs the City is seeking and that the City is in a “very tight competition” with Atlanta, Milwaukee and Charlotte, N.C., for the headquarters. The company has its headquarters in the Baymeadows area and employs 35 people there, part of its 370 member workforce.
Committees also weighed in on Jacksonville Lime LLC’s $1.19 million total of incentive requests to create 22 jobs and construct a lime manufacturing plant with a $36 million investment.
The agreement is between Keystone Properties and Keystone Port Terminals, and Carmeuse North America, which operates under Carmeuse Lime & Stone. Listed managers for Jacksonville Lime are management with the Pittsburgh-based Carmeuse.
Joe Whitaker, with the City Office of Economic Development, said the company would create a new industry in Jacksonville
and Florida, which would manufacture lime and ship throughout Florida, Georgia and the Caribbean.
The majority of the company’s request comes from a $1.136 million REV grant, with the other $55,000 coming from the Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus program. Of the $55,000, the City would contribute $11,000 with the state paying the remaining $44,000.
All three committees passed the legislation.
Each could potentially be approved Tuesday by the full Council.
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