Caledonia Argus

County board approves Sno-Pac tax abatement

Posted: 7/15/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The County Board has given its approval to a 10-year tax abatement for Sno-Pac Foods in Caledonia.

The board held a public hearing on July 8 to discuss the abatement, but there were no comments from the public on the matter.

Sno-Pac, a Caledonia industry which processes organic fruits and vegetables, plans to build a 90 x 90 freezer warehouse which will be connected to the Sno-Pac processing plant in Caledoniaís industrial park. The construction of the freezer/warehouse is the first phase of what is expected to be a two-phase project. Sno-Pac is owned by brothers Peter and Nick Gengler and their mother, Darlene Rommes.

The improvements are expected to increase the countyís share of taxes on the property by $4,874 per year. Under the agreement approved by commissioners, the owners would pay all property taxes up front and then be reimbursed for the countyís share.

County board president David Corcoran commented to Sno-Pac president Peter Gengler, who was present at the meeting, ìyou have a lot of employees and rent a lot of land. That benefits many people in the county.î

Following the expansion, Sno-Pac will add two full-time employees. Once the second phase is complete, another six are expected to be hired. The Caledonia City Council recently approved a business subsidy loan for the project.

The city held a public hearing on the Sno-Pac tax abatement on Monday evening, July 14. The school district will not be approached for an abatement.

Top of Page