HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County commissioners couldn’t agree on a tax incentives amount for a Medora-area company and its expansion project.

After considerable discussion, commissioners still couldn’t agree on an amount. Commission Chair Bob Bush called helping Wifco Steel “a home run opportunity.” But Commissioner Ron Sellers didn’t agree. He wanted 100% abatement the first year dropped by 10% every year over the 10-year period. In the end, commissioners agreed to compromise and give 75% tax abatement for Wifco Steel for 10 years.

The company wants to build a new 5,400-square-foot office complex, tear down the old office space and make that area into more space for manufacturing. The plan to spend $845,000 is only part of the plans and budget. Wifco also plans on spending as much as $1.45 million to purchase new state-of-the-art precision manufacturing machinery and equipment this year.

The expansion will include adding 10 new jobs in 2020 with a salary of $15 per hour. They then plan to add five more jobs in the second year.