Tax abatements OK'd despite missed deadline

Rochester Iron & Metal is to receive a strongly worded letter after missing the deadline to submit compliance forms for tax abatements.

"Make it harsh," Fulton County Council President Phyl Olinger directed Auditor Christina Horton, who is to draft the letter. 

Olinger explained at the council's meeting Tuesday that Rochester Iron & Metal, just as other companies receiving tax abatements, is required to file with the auditor's office a Compliance with Statement of Benefits form by May 15 each year for the duration of a given abatement. 

"We still have several abatements out there that are in different stages of their abatement, and they have all sent their compliance forms timely to Christina's office, so there's no need for them to come before us," Olinger said. "However, both of the Rochester Iron & Metal compliance forms did not come to Christina's office until last Friday, June 14, so they're a month late."

The late compliance forms were for Rochester Iron & Metal's properties at 1552 E. Lucas St. and 4366 N. Old U.S. 31 — the former Acument Global Technologies building, purchased to expand the company's fabricating business. 

"They were meeting all the terms of the Statement of Benefits. They were just late in filing these compliance forms," Olinger said. 

She adding that the council could decide to remove the abatement for the year. 

"If it were me all by myself, I would probably grant the abatement for this year, but I would definitely tell somebody if you don't give it to us on time next year by May 15, we will definitely take the abatement away from you for that year," she said. 

All but one of her fellow council members agreed. 

Councilman Pete Karas, who voted no on such a motion, found it puzzling that someone from the company wasn't present to explain what happened. 

"It's not like it was two or three days late, or a week late," he said. He also pointed out that one of the 10-year tax abatements was in its seventh year.

Horton speculated that the retirement of Rochester attorney Ted Waggoner, who had been handling tax abatement business for Rochester Iron & Metal, possibly had something to do with the compliance forms being late. 

"Well, that's a very viable reason, but it seems like if it's important enough for you to get an abatement that you'd be here to explain that," Karas said. 

Olinger said she didn't know if the company was aware it would be on the agenda, to which Horton responded by noting she had advised the company's new counsel to attend and request an extension.