Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Midcontinent Communications will receive a five-year 100 percent property tax break on its technical operations center under construction in West Fargo, city commissioners decided Monday.
Midcontinent, which is expanding its cable TV, digital telephone and Internet services citywide, expects to serve the entire city by year's end.
The 5-0 decision came after a public hearing on Midcontinent's application.
City Assessor Wanda Wilcox said the Economic Development Advisory Committee approved the tax break in February.
The exemption covers Midcontinent's 13,500-square-foot technical operations center being built southwest of Main Avenue and 45th Street South. The center is expected
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to cost
$1.8 million.
Midcontinent projects employing about 20 people full time and one part time at the center by 2011, according to its application for the incentive.
No one else spoke during the public hearing.
The City Commission approved a cable TV franchise with Midcontinent last summer so the company could offer citywide services, per a city ordinance mandating cable companies to offer citywide service. Before the expansion, Midcontinent served areas that were recently annexed into West Fargo.
In other business, the commission unanimously denied another request for a conditional use permit for stockpiling building materials on Seventh Street Northeast, east of Center Street.
Tom Martin of Key Contracting applied for the permit for concrete crushing operations and for stockpiling building materials last month.
The commission denied the request.
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Monday's request asked only to allow stockpiling operations.
Also on Monday, commissioners decided to pursue mediation with Opps Construction LLC.
The Grand Forks, N.D.,-based company is suing the city in Cass County District Court for additional costs associated with a 2003 road project it performed after submitting bids and winning the contract.
The decision came after a 15-minute executive session with legal counsel, Mayor Rich Mattern said.
The company alleges the city owes fees for overtime and additional equipment costs after work was delayed on repair work on 13th Avenue and Sheyenne Street, court papers say.
The city denied the company's allegations in a written response.
It's unknown when mediation sessions will begin. A court date is set for June 30 unless the city and the company settle the case.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Benny Polacca at (701) 241-5504
