The Western Texas College board of trustees will vote on amendments to the tax abatement guidelines and criteria during Monday night’s meeting.
The board last updated the criteria in December 2015. Representatives from Midwest Solar Power, LLC, have approached city and county officials about abatements for a solar array in the SnTx Industrial Park. During those meetings, the company said they will approach WTC and the Scurry County Hospital District about an abatement.
Before approving the abatements, Scurry County Commissioners’ Court had to update abatement criteria for projects inside and outside the city limits. Those changes will be presented to the WTC board on Monday. The commissioners’ court is scheduled to vote on the final version of the abatement with Midwest Solar Power Tuesday morning.
On Monday, the city council approved a 10-year, 100-percent property tax abatement for Midwest Solar Power.
Jim Chandler had told the council that he was investing $550,000 in a solar array in the industrial park on land owned by Big Country Electric Cooperative. Big Country has agreed to purchase the electricity generated by the array and to later purchase the equipment after the abatement and a 30 percent tax credit expire.
Big Country General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Mark McClain said at a 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 WTC, similar to the lineman program.
The WTC board, on Monday, will not be presented an abatement application from Midwest Solar Power.
Trustees will also vote on the updated strategic plan and hear updates on the infrastructure improvement project and personnel. The current credit rating by Standard’s and Poor will be provided to the board and Stephanie Ducheneaux, dean of instructional affairs, will discuss a four-day academic week. No action is scheduled to be taken on the academic week.
Members of the baseball and golf teams, athletic trainers and student support services will be introduced during the meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. in the Palmer Hall boardroom. The meeting is open to the public.
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