DUBOIS – A current DuBois business is looking to continue its growth in the City of DuBois.
At Monday night’s meeting of DuBois City Council, council agreed to sell a plot of land near the post office on Beaver Avenue, Area 5, for $1 to Paris Companies.
Paris Chief Financial Officer Jason McCoy said that the proposed state-of-the-art facility would return 120 jobs from Ohio to the DuBois area. He said that in between three to five years, the facility would hire an additional 50 people from the DuBois area.
Paris operates facilities in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. The company offers uniform services and has a healthcare linen division. The proposed facility in DuBois would be part of their healthcare linen division.
McCoy said that the project would cost around $10.
“It’s been a pleasure,” said John “Herm” Suplizio.
The mayor indicated that the city has had problems with Area 5 in the past, most notably with the Department of Environmental Protection.
“We have a good opportunity to keep a business in DuBois,” said Gary Gilbert, councilman.
One sticking point, brought up by Dave Stern of Paris, was the sewer and water fees that the company pays at their current facility. Stern indicated that the company had a 300 percent increase in their fees. He asked the city to consider an industrial rate, otherwise the project would not go through.
Suplizio indicated that issue is the next step council will look at, and stated that council knows that was a sticking point with Paris.
Stern also indicated that 40 percent of the land is unusable due to wetlands. The remaining land needs a heavy amount of fill material before it is usable.
During the motion to give the land to Paris for $1, council also waived sewage tap fees provided Paris meets all of their prior obligations. Another part of the motion put a two-year timetable on the project. If Paris does not build their plant, the land reverts back to the city.