Brazos County Commissioners addressed two economic development projects at this week’s meeting.
County Judge Duane Peters says the commission unanimously passed a resolution intervening in a lawsuit attempting to limit operating hours of the new Axis Pipe and Tube production and distribution center to between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
19 plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in Robertson County, even though the $150 million dollar plant is in Brazos County.
Peters says they’ll also seek a change in venue to Brazos or Harris County, where Axis corporate office is located.
According to the economic development agreement with the county and the city of Bryan, Axis will generate at least 285 jobs with a minimum annual payroll of $10.5 million dollars.
Click HERE to read the Axis Pipe and Tube resolution adopted by Brazos County Commissioners.
The commission also voted to terminate a tax abatement agreement with Gunler Foods, located south of Axis along Highway 6 near FM 2818.
The last time Peters heard from Gunler officials, 1.5 to 2 months ago, they were hoping to resume production.
According to Brazos County Tax Assessor-Collector Kristy Roe, Gunler currently owes rollback taxes for years 2007 through 2009. The original bill was for $7,824.41, but the taxes are now delinquent. With penalty and interest for May, the balance is now $8,841.58. The tax will continue to accrue penalty and interest until July when it will reach 18%. If not paid by July 1, there will also be the additional 15% attorney fee calculated and added to the balance. After that, the penalty will not increase, but the interest continues to accrue at 1% per month (calculated on the balance) until paid. Gunler paid the 2013 taxes of $23,498.15, and the partial year 2012 taxes of $2,131.22. These balances reflect taxes for Brazos County, Bryan ISD and Emergency Services District #4.
Click below for comments from Duane Peters, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
The President of Gunler Foods and Paper announced during groundbreaking the facility was supposed to generate as many as 250 jobs with an $8 million dollar annual payroll.
The Gunler Food division called Nature Nutrition promoted its Bryan plant as recently as March 15th.
The Nature Nutrition website was not working as of Thursday, and the Nature Nutrition Facebook page posted cancellation of its contest where winners were supposed to see Mexico’s soccer team at the World Cup.
