HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioners will hold a public hearing then take possible action on a request from Wifco Steel to get some tax relief for an expansion project.

The Medora company wants to build a new 5,400-square-foot office complex.

If the project goes through, the existing office space would be removed providing additional manufacturing space that would allow Wifco the floor space to manufacture longer products, such as 50-foot skids and longer structural steel components.

The office addition is part of a major expansion plan for Wifco that includes $1.45 million for the purchase of new state-of-the-art precision manufacturing machinery and equipment in 2019.

Because of cost concerns, the proposed building will not be built if the Real Estate Tax Exemption is not approved, according to the proposal.

Wifco currently has 72 employees. Management believes the proposed building would add 10 or more additional employees during the year 2020. The average pay for each new employee would easily exceed $25,000 per year.

The matter is part of Monday’s County Commission meeting at 9 a.m. in the Reno County Courthouse.