A 12-year industrial facilities exemption certificate granted to Creative Foam, 55210 Rudy Rd., by Dowagiac City Council Monday night lets the employer invest in $311,774 of new equipment.

The abatement on real and personal property is expected to create seven jobs.

Creative Foam’s application scored a nine based on the amount of money invested, total jobs created or retained and annual payroll.

Years 7-12 of the abatement require annual documentation that original criteria continue to be met.

“This new investment will contribute approximately $935 in new taxes for the city and an additional $668 for other taxing entities per year,” according to City Manager Kevin Anderson.

 

Public arts trust fund

 

As Dowagiac’s public art collection expands, Anderson said there is growing concern about long-term maintenance, since volunteer boards change over time or difficult financial conditions arise.

Council adopted a resolution authorizing establishment of a public arts non-reverting trust fund.

Several private individuals are beginning an effort to address this concern by collecting dollars to support long-term care of the public art collection, Anderson said.

“The best vehicle for holding these funds would be for City Council to establish a non-reverting fund similar to the perpetual care fund for the cemetery,” the city manager said. “By establishing a public arts trust fund, individual donors would be eligible for appropriate tax deductions under current IRS laws.

“Donations designated for long-term care of the public art would be placed into this fund and all interest earned would remain in the fund. Donors can be assured that donations will only be used for the stated purpose of the fund, which is the long-term care and maintenance of public art.”

 

Jackson proclamation

 

Mayor Donald Lyons issued a proclamation remembering “distinguished jazz legend” Franz Jackson, who lived in Dowagiac.

The sixth annual Franz Jackson Jazz Celebration: Blowin’ the Blues Away” takes place Nov. 10 at Wood Fire for the 100th anniversary of his birth.

In 2005, the American Heritage Jazz Series named him one of the greatest living tenor saxophonists. He played with virtually every jazz great, including Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Fletcher Henderson, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. He died in May 2008 at 95.