County supervisors approved two tax exemptions on two longstanding industries but declined to take action on a newcomer.

Supervisors unanimously approved tax exemptions for International Paper Co. and Eaton Electronics, formerly known as Cooper Lighting, while saying they needed more information before considering an exemption for CAM2.

The total valuation of the International Paper Plant for which the exemption was sought was just over $34.9 million in personal and real property million, said Randy Sherard, an attorney who is representing IP and Eaton Electronics. The plant opened in 1968 and has received exemptions since, he said.

“This will preserve approximately 300 jobs at the local mill, and if you’re familiar you’ve probably heard over the last few years how competitive the paper industry is. Not only between the United States and third world countries but in the International Paper system. This is one of the older mills they have and they continue to keep up with or outpace the newer mills,” Sherard said.

Annual payroll at International Paper is about $21 million.

Eaton sought exemption on a total valuation of $791,335.11 in person property.

“They added 51 employees to make their total 411,” Sherard said.

The company first sought tax exemption in 1987 and has an annual payroll of over $16 million, Sherard said.

“This is an old company that has been with us and supplied jobs to the community for years,” Board President Bill Lauderdale said. “We try to help our businesses that have come and made that effort.”

Supervisors said they needed to see some extra effort from CAM2 International, LLC before approving a tax exemption for $4.3 million in equipment.

Supervisors said the company only had “three or four” employees when supervisors toured the facility recently.

“We didn’t see a lot of activity. I’ve got a lot of questions for CAM2,” District 1 Supervisor John Arnold said.

No representative from the company showed up at the meeting. County Administrator John Smith said he was unable to reach company officials.

An email sent to CAM2 was not immediately returned Monday.

“Some of the items on the list to be exempted have been exempted in the past by previous companies,” Lauderdale said. “As a new company coming in, I think those items can be exempted but I would like to see some people put to work up there. Otherwise it would be easy for a company to come in and set up another company to avoid paying taxes. I’m not saying that’s happening.”

Several pieces of equipment were already in the plant at the Port of Vicksburg when the lubricant company purchased it, property appraiser John Lewis said

“Roughly $1.3 million was equipment that Quaker State or Pennzoil owned, and close to $3 million was new equipment,” Lewis said.

Supervisors took the proposed tax exemption under advisement until they can get more information about the company. CAM2 officials are expected to speak to supervisors at an informal meeting Monday at the board’s office on Jackson Street.

 

In other action:

• Approved estimates on the Haining Road Slide Repair Project and a change order request to modify the contract time.

• Approved two exemptions of the subdivision ordinance.

• Approved subcontract requests on the 2015 paving project.

• Approved an application for the VOCA grant.

• Authorized Board President Bill Lauderdale to sign a grant application for a $45 million Local Government Solid Waste Assistance Grant.

• Approved disbursement of checks for overpayment of Jan Daigre’s retirement contributions on fee income for calendar year 2014.  Warren County has received and deposited the full amount of $3,720.90 from Public Employee Retirement System and will disburse to Jan Daigre the amount of $1,441.51 and to Warren County the amount of $2,279.39

• Authorized issuance of a check from the Port Commission Fund payable to the Warren County Tax Collector in amount of $39,988.49 to pay the prorated share of 2014 taxes on the former Calsonic building.

• Approved the order of Circuit Judge M. James Chaney to hire Le brown as Staff Attorney effective July 1.

• Approved the claims docket and minutes from the Vicksburg Bridge Commission.

• Accepted a Tax Collector’s report of privilege tax collections for May

• Authorized Lauderdale to sign the Active Inmate Reimbursement Voucher for April 2015 in amount of $7,200.

• Acknowledged the designation of Friday, July 3 as a legal holiday to observe independence day.

• Rejected a check for rental of property at 169 Magnolia Lane.