The Western Texas College board of trustees approved an updated tax abatement guidelines and criteria it can use during discussions with companies in Scurry County.
On Monday, the board approved the updated criteria to include guidelines for projects inside the city limits of Snyder and those outside the city limits.
Chief Financial Officer Patricia Claxton said the major change for the abatement outside the city limits is adding that companies may install “renewable energy sources,” which would cover solar energy projects. The college did not have a separate abatement guidelines for projects inside the city limits until Monday, she said.
Claxton said the administration has not received a proposed abatement agreement from Midwest Solar Power, LLC, which has received abatements from the City of Snyder and Scurry County for a solar array in the SnTx Industrial Park. She said the agreement could be presented to the WTC board as early as the Dec. 12 meeting.
Last week, the Snyder City Council approved a 10-year, 100-percent property tax abatement for Midwest Solar Power. Today, the Scurry County Commissioners’ Court approved the same 10-year, 100-percent tax abatement.
Jim Chandler had told the council that he was investing $550,000 in a solar array.
Big Country General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Mark McClain said at the city council meeting it was a good project for the cooperative to enter the solar energy field, and hoped it would lead to a partnership with Western Texas College similar to the lineman training program.
The board also approved the college’s strategic plan and learned the credit rating for bonds was upgrades to BBB+ by Standard’s and Poor.
“With the tax values the way they are, I thought we would be doing good to maintain our current rating,” Claxton said. “It was good news to hear we went up.”
The $15 million infrastructure improvement project is nearing completion.
Mike Thornton, the chief operating officer at the college, said the plant work, grounds maintenance, domestic water line and air handling unit installation are complete and only minor work needs to be done in some areas.
The new cafeteria is nearing completion and only minor work is left in the health/physical education building.
Thornton said the board of trustees will be able to tour the building during the Dec. 12 meeting.
The plaza and corridor areas are receiving touch up work by crews and they are currently cleaning up the work sites.
The administration is planning a public open house in the spring, but no date has been set.
The board also approved hiring Erin Dierker as the chemistry/criminal justice instructor.
Dean of Instructional Affairs Stephanie Ducheneaux said Dierker, a native of Missouri, will teach chemistry in the spring and begin writing the curriculum for the criminal justice program that will be presented to the Coordinating Board for review.
Ducheneaux said she hopes the criminal justice program will begin classes in the fall semester.
WTC President Dr. Barbara Beebe announced the retirement of Donny Brown, an English teacher who has been with the college for 28 years.
Brown will teach through the spring semester, Beebe said.
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