CLEARFIELD – Although they expected $150,000 in permit fees and other reimbursements, the Clearfield Borough Council was told by Operations Manager Leslie Stott that Bionol felt it was too high. Bionol Clearfield requested that the council accept $100,000 instead.
There was silence after the council heard the news as a motion had to be made before any discussion could officially take place.
“I make a motion that we discuss it,” joked council member Fred Wisor to break the silence.
This amount includes services and expenses made by the borough toward the ethanol plant’s construction. It included permit fees, vehicle maintenance and the code enforcement officer’s time and similar since November 2007 to present.
“I am coming up with $101,970.42,” said Stott after doing her own calculations. “I’m over their estimate, but not by much.”
Stott had been communicating with Bionol Clearfield’s Controller Robert Dippel. She had mentioned that her estimate was a little over their estimate at the time. Stott said she did not give them the full.
“He said, ‘if you go over $100 thousand we’ll force you to pay the costs by state law’,” said Stott.
Stott and James Leitzinger, council president, mentioned a state law that required the reimbursement requests to be near at cost.
“The other thing we have to consider is this entity is coming to this community and providing a lot,” said John Naddeo, council vice president.
The thinking was the borough would be losing $2,000 to Bionol Clearfield, but would make out in the long run. Possibilities included accepting just the $100,000, asking for $101,000 or the break even amount of $101,970.42.
“We’ve given them discount enough already. We should at least get back what we put in it. A $1,000 is worth more to us than to them,” said Wisor.
The council voted to offer Bionol the break even estimate as a counter proposal.
