Two local companies could have gone elsewhere, but they decided to stay in Mansfield.
Mansfield City Council voted Tuesday to enter into community reinvestment area agreements with Baker’s Collision Repair and Ohio Valley Manufacturing.
“We don’t want to take our business out of Mansfield,” said Charlie Powell, vice president and general manager of Baker’s, a family-owned business.
Baker’s will receive a 15-year, 50% tax abatement.
Powell said Baker’s plans to add a new facility at 705 Fifth Ave. near U.S. 30.
“It’s quite a large investment for a family-owned business, but we feel like the time is now and there is no better place to do it than Mansfield,” he said.
Powell said the new facility will have a fountain.
“One of the compliments we get all the time is that when you come to Baker’s, it doesn’t feel like a regular body shop,” he said. “We’re going to continue that in the new facility. We want it to be very pleasing to the eye.”
Powell said customer safety is their top priority.
Ohio Valley Manufacturing could have gone to Kentucky
Ohio Valley Manufacturing had a request from a customer in Kentucky to move down there.
“They said, ‘No, we’re from Ohio. We really want to stay in Ohio,”’ said Barrett Thomas, economic development director.
Ohio Valley Manufacturing will receive a 12-year, 75% tax abatement to stay. The company will add a new industrial building at 1501 Harrington Memorial Road.
City council also amended community reinvestment area agreement with three companies because the property valuations were not as high as expected.
K.E. McCartney & Associates will have its tax agreement reduced from 100% to 50%. The tax agreements for 1027 Trimble LLC and Edge Plastics will be reduced from 100% to 55%.
Council honors retired firefighter
Maybe the most popular part of Tuesday’s city council meeting was the honoring of firefighter Phil Dollish, who retired last month after 33 years serving the city.
“I grew up in the city, loved the city,” Dollish said. “It’s a great job.”
More than 15 of his colleagues filled half the courtroom for his recognition, prompting Councilwoman Laura Burns to say she had never seen that many people turn out for a retirement ceremony.
Councilwoman Shari Robertson also noted the large number of people.
“That speaks volumes about you as a person, a leader and a firefighter,” she told Dollish.
All eight council members congratulated Dollish, known for his work ethic, professionalism and high standards.
Dollish was named Firefighter of the Year in 2017. He also served as president of the IAFF Local 266. During the 2009 layoffs that affected 20 firefighters, Dollish stayed in contact with each one, making sure they felt supported.
“We all know that Phil is tough as nails,” Chief Dan Crow said, adding in his 20 years with the department, he has never seen a more generous servant leader.
Council also approved an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for resurfacing a 5.75-mile portion of Ohio 13 from Timmerman Road to Diamond Street, and Diamond Street from Main to Fourth Street.
Of the $2.7 million needed for the project, ODOT will contribute $1.25 million and the remaining $1.45 million will come from local funds. City Engineer Bob Bianchi said the local money will come from the street resurfacing, sewer and water funds.
He said a big change involves the city having to design the project, which is scheduled to begin in August 2026 and be completed in November 2026.
Council also entered into a small government enterprise agreement with Environmental Systems Research Institute for GIS software licensing and support services.
GIS stands for Geographic Information System. It’s a computer system that captures, stores, analyzes, manages and displays geographically referenced information, essentially linking maps to data. This allows users to visualize, analyze and understand spatial relationships and patterns, revealing insights that might be missed with other data analysis methods.
“It’s the backbone for our water, sanitary and storm water systems,” Bianchi said, adding the cost would be $47,000 a year for each of the three years of the deal. It will be paid out of the water and sewer funds.
The city also entered into a contract for GIS base mapping, which is for aerial imagery and will cost $121,000.
CIC will be city’s lead agency for economic development
After a talk from Mayor Jodie Perry, council approved the Mansfield Community Improvement Corporation as the agency for the city’s industrial, commercial, distribution and research development.
Perry said the paperwork has been filed with the secretary of state’s office. The CIC will be a 60% private and 40% public partnership. Shelby and Lexington already have such organizations.
The mayor said council will consider appointing five members to the CIC at the July meeting.
In other business, council:
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
X: @MarkCau32059251
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: City council approves tax abatements with Baker’s Collision and Ohio Valley Manufacturing
Reporting by Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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