April 11, 2010
WORK SESSION: Amazon Extension in One Year Increments
Larger Huntington Location Not Yet Available
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The City of Huntington has time to catch its breath and search for a new Jean Dean Municipal Building tenant. Amazon.com will extend its lease in one- year increments, based on statements at the Huntington City Council work session and earlier Finance Committee meeting.
That’s a good news, bad news situation.
The company wants to expand by adding 100-150 new jobs, but, “they want them on the same floor,” explained Tom Bell, economic development director. “There are plans for a location within the city,” Bell explained, “but it is not now available.”
The current three year lease expires April 30. The one year extensions allow for the company to cancel the lease with 60 days notice. However, the fall is their busy season, and, ultimately, the potential new structure likely will not be ready for Fall 2010.
Extending the agreement will prevent adding another gap in the city’s already stretched budget. Amazon has plans to move into a HADCO constructed building in West Huntington near the state welfare office.
City Attorney Scott McClure also asked for approval of a renewed lease on a mooring facility at 17th Street, near Steel of West Virginia. Rent would go from $4,836 to $26,000, which the company is eager to pay.
The finance committee unanimously approved requests from the Huntington Sanitary Board to replace various vehicles in need of transmission repairs and/or no longer in service. Purchase monies come from DEP grant funding on the Hal Greer expansion project, which came in under bid.
Loretta Covington, executive director of the Huntington Sanitary Board, first told the Finance Committee then the full council at the work session, that due to “dire need” they had made an emergency purchase of two vehicles and asked for permission to purchase a third vehicle.
The board asked for a total of five vehicles all of which would be covered by the DEP funding.
“I believe it was $750,000 under bid,” Covington said. “We hope to come back for a sludge press, but not until [further] into the project,” to ensure bid costs do not increase.
In addition, the Big Sandy Superstore Arena will acquire 1,000 stacking chairs and carts for the conference rooms. The $49,980 comes from a capitol contribution from SMG, which operates the Arena.
Councilwoman Sandra Clements asked to sit in the sample seat brought to the meeting. She said the older one’s at the center were uncomfortable. Both she and Mayor Kim Wolfe gave the new one a big thumbs up.
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WORK SESSION: Amazon Extension in One Year Increments
Larger Huntington Location Not Yet Available
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The City of Huntington has time to catch its breath and search for a new Jean Dean Municipal Building tenant. Amazon.com will extend its lease in one- year increments, based on statements at the Huntington City Council work session and earlier Finance Committee meeting.
That’s a good news, bad news situation.
The company wants to expand by adding 100-150 new jobs, but, “they want them on the same floor,” explained Tom Bell, economic development director. “There are plans for a location within the city,” Bell explained, “but it is not now available.”
The current three year lease expires April 30. The one year extensions allow for the company to cancel the lease with 60 days notice. However, the fall is their busy season, and, ultimately, the potential new structure likely will not be ready for Fall 2010.
Extending the agreement will prevent adding another gap in the city’s already stretched budget. Amazon has plans to move into a HADCO constructed building in West Huntington near the state welfare office.
City Attorney Scott McClure also asked for approval of a renewed lease on a mooring facility at 17th Street, near Steel of West Virginia. Rent would go from $4,836 to $26,000, which the company is eager to pay.
The finance committee unanimously approved requests from the Huntington Sanitary Board to replace various vehicles in need of transmission repairs and/or no longer in service. Purchase monies come from DEP grant funding on the Hal Greer expansion project, which came in under bid.
Loretta Covington, executive director of the Huntington Sanitary Board, first told the Finance Committee then the full council at the work session, that due to “dire need” they had made an emergency purchase of two vehicles and asked for permission to purchase a third vehicle.
The board asked for a total of five vehicles all of which would be covered by the DEP funding.
“I believe it was $750,000 under bid,” Covington said. “We hope to come back for a sludge press, but not until [further] into the project,” to ensure bid costs do not increase.
In addition, the Big Sandy Superstore Arena will acquire 1,000 stacking chairs and carts for the conference rooms. The $49,980 comes from a capitol contribution from SMG, which operates the Arena.
Councilwoman Sandra Clements asked to sit in the sample seat brought to the meeting. She said the older one’s at the center were uncomfortable. Both she and Mayor Kim Wolfe gave the new one a big thumbs up.
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