(KTNC) -- Holt County officials are continuing to negotiate possible tax incentives for a wind farm proposed in the county.
Element Power has proposed building a 200-megawatt wind farm that would include 100 turbines and be the largest such installation in the state of Missouri.
Negotiations between the company and the county have been ongoing since last fall. Holt County Commissioners have decided to not create an Enhanced Enterprise Zone the wind company could take advantage of. They are also not interested in forming a Renewable Energy Green Zone. Both would provide 60-percent tax abatement and an additional 50-percent abatement for a period of years, leaving only 20-percent of the construction value on the tax roles. Element Power has offered to make a payment in Lieu of Taxes of one million dollars per year for 20 years.
That’s something commissioners, and others in the county, are also not in favor of. County Clerk Kathy Kunkel says county school districts have concerns about assurances that they would receive a certain amount of dollars associated with the payment, and she says the county has concerns about the payment as well.
The Missouri State Tax Commission recognizes three methods for determining the value of a property. Kunkel says Element Power has asked the county to consider an income-based approach, which looks at three years of proven income for a commercial property.
The other two methods are one based on the construction costs of a property and another based on the sales costs of similar properties. The construction cost method would result in a higher tax liability than the company would like, while the income-based approach would result in a lower tax bill. Kunkel says none of the options is likely to result in a fixed payment as the company would like.
Holt County Assessor LaDonna Jones is meeting with company officials to reach an agreement as to how the facility will be taxed.
Element Power has agreed to sell the electricity from the Mill Creek Wind Farm to KCP-and-L. The schedule calls for the wind farm to be built and operational by December 2015.
© Many Signals Communications
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Atchison apt fire claim's toddler's life, injures others
Four arrested for illegal activity on Kickapoo Reservation
Two search warrants, two Horton homes, two arrests
Document forgery alleged in ATCO's Walnut Township
Two Brown Co officers honored for their bravery
Whiting woman pleads to theft of fire dept. funds
Flags across KS to fly half-staff Sunday
Wetmore man arrested on child sex-related charge
Severe storms reported Tuesday in NE KS
Atchison man nabbed for neighbor's 4 wheeler theft
Winning lottery ticket sold in Falls City about to expire
Two men arrested in Jackson Co for distribute of meth
Tornado damage surveyed in NE KS
Trail rides ending at Indian Cave State Park
KS replacement plates see long wait times
Local judge files for re-election
Atchison's BC names Educator of the Year
LATEST STORIES
Walnut Township Treasurer removed; votes unofficial until canvass
Nebraska approved for Summer EBT program
Testing for Blue Green Algae begins in SE Nebraska
Richardson County Board receives update from Road Dept
Bridge work begins Wed in Doniphan Co
TX man to stand trial on charges in fatal Jackson Co crash
Atchison in running for national fireworks honors
Local judge files for re-election
RELATED STORIES
Enel Green Power donates to Tarkio
Holt County Mitigation Plan Update
Golf Legend Involved in Holt County Building Project
Holt Co Fair Launches This Week
Law Enforcement Memorial Planned in Holt County MO.
Holt Co Approves Financing For Patrol Unit
Holt County Board Approves Patrol Vehicle Financing