The St. Clair County Commission Tuesday approved contracting for professional services connected to a grant to assist in the expansion of Yachiyo Manufacturing in Steele.The $200,000 Community Development Block Grant will enable Yachiyo to double the size of its 78,000 square-feet manufacturing plant and add about 78 jobs over the next five years. The grant will help with site preparation and correct drainage issues on the property selected for the 72-square-foot expansion.
The County Commission has also pledged local support in the form of a $40,000 grant match. The commission is also responsible for choosing contractors for professional services including those that handle administrative issues and conduct the engineering for the site preparation.
Commissioners voted Tuesday to contract with Roth McHugh and Associates, LLC for the provision of professional services for administration of the grant. The company was the sole responsible bidder for the contract at a cost of $22,500.
Commissioners also approved Forsythe Long Engineering, Inc. for the engineering services at the project.
Yachiyo Manufacturing, a Tier 1 supplier of welded frame components for Honda’s Odyssey minivan and Pilot SUV, announced their plans for expansion last month. The expansion, when completed, is expected to immediately provide 40 new jobs. There are currently 120 employees at the manufacturing facility.
Ground clearing and work have already begun at the expansion site. Yachiyo officials expect the expansion plant to come online in the early summer 2008.
In other business, the Commission:
? Approved a transfer of retail table wine license (off-premise) for the Pleasant Valley Quick Stop located on Old Coal City Road.
? Approved a contract with Imagination Library as requested by District Judge Phil Seay. The will funds come from the Juvenile Court Services Fund.
? Approved a partial payment of $76,839.42 to Windstream for the Voice Over IP phone system. A balance of $50,074 owed to the company once services are completed.
? Approved recommendation of Sheriff Terry Surles to award uniform bids to Brook’s Uniform effective through Sept. 30, 2007.
? Approved Surles’ recommendation to award bids for a patrol ca to Adamson Ford in the amount of $18,596.65.
? Re-appointed Sue Clark to the Wolf Creek Water, Sewer, and Fire Protection Authority.
? Tabled a discussion involving a request for $10,000 to help provide funding for the 2007 Spotlight on the Czech Republic Arts in Education program.
