BabyNov Request for PILOT Extension Denied
By Misty Green
Lafayette, TN, August 5, 2024 – BabyNov USA, a subsidiary of French organic baby food manufacturer Global Baby, established its first U.S. production facility in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee in October 2020, after the company purchased the former Nestle Waters plant in Red Boiling Springs, beginning operations in mid-2021.
Fast forward to 2024… Hard times have pressed the BabyNov company to request an extension of their PILOT program (payment in-lieu-of taxes). “This was issued to them as an incentive to bring them here to this county,” Macon County Mayor Steve Jones said.
The request to extend their non-payment of taxes was then sent to the Industrial Development Board for their decision. During the July 15th, Legislative Body session, it was stated by the mayor that the board notified him they agreed to approve the request and that Mayor Jones was waiting on the minutes from that meeting, so the request was deferred to the August 5th meeting.
Highlights from the July 15th meeting: “How long have they been getting this tax break,” District 2 Commissioner Keith Newberry asked. “Since they have been here,” Mayor Jones replied. “The way this body is spending money, you are going to have to bring in some money somewhere,” District 6 Commissioner Michael Slayton stated, “Or you are going to go bankrupt.”
Under the County Mayor section of the August 5th agenda, BabyNov’s request to extend the PILOT program was announced.
“They went before the Industrial Development Board and they agreed to extend for this three more years because they are struggling over there,” Macon County Mayor Steve Jones said, “They still have not fully recovered from the Covid pandemic, along with this being their first venture in the U.S., they have had 100% turnover, and are having issues with their wastewater leaving, and that has caused the City of Red Boiling Springs, numbers to be out of control and they need to work on that, but the big problem is getting people to work… That’s everybody’s problem, but it’s the incentives that you give them to keep them in there that’s what it is all about… If we don’t help them out by these incentives… You have not had anything from them in three years, so it’s starting now and you would start taking and collecting from them… But we don’t want to lose the factory over there… I can tell you, if they had known things would have been the way they are now, they probably wouldn’t be over there, but I can’t speak for the factory, but I know 100% turnover is unreal.”
“So, do you think this amount will make them leave,” one commissioner asked.
“I don’t know that it would make them leave, but you are doing your part in showing them…”
“We raised taxes for everybody,” Commissioner Wendell Jones commented, “I don’t believe in cutting anybody slack.”
“What are the yearly taxes for them,” another commissioner asked.
“I do not have the figures… I’ve got the percentages,” Mayor Jones said, “Rick Shoulders would probably have to give the exact… Ballpark, I think you’re talking $50-60,000.00.”
“There’s everybody’s raises,” District 6 Commissioner Michael Slayton stated, and a few chuckles followed from the audience.
“If you would like to have BabyNov come to the next meeting and talk we can do that,” Mayor Jones advised, “Or we can get you some numbers, or if you just refuse to send it on, then that’s your decision.”
“I got a phone call from a former employee over there,” District 7 Commissioner Jeff Hughes shared, “And basically, he got run off because of the immigrant workers around him… He said they are hiring them all of the time and ain’t hiring white people because he had a good friend that wanted a job over there and he recommended him and they wouldn’t hire him, because something about it, that pertains to some money they are getting over there… I don’t know what kind of program it is called, but it was to entice the hiring of the immigrant worker… They’re getting extra money from working them instead of white people.”
“They have to hire legally,” Mayor Jones said, “They can’t hire illegally because the state is watching them on that.”
Discussion ensued with several commissioners recalling that they had also heard of similar stories. “Regardless, this is an opportunity to put money in our hands,” District 6 Commissioner Michael Slayton said.
“I am all for helping, but my understanding is that now they pay zero taxes, is that correct,” District 2 Commissioner Keith Newberry questioned.
“Right,” Mayor Jones replied. “If we were going to do it for three years, I’d give them another year for nothing, then start a little something the next two.”
“They need to start paying now,” Commissioner Ethan Flippin exclaimed, and discussion ensued.
“We can set it up for them (BabyNov) to be here,” Mayor Jones said, “It may be in September.”
“I make a motion NOT to extend,” District 6 Commissioner Michael Slayton stated, and a second was quickly heard.
Calling the roll, the following commissioners voted yes, NOT to extend: District 4 Commissioner Billy Wilmore, District 4 Commissioner Justin Dyer, District 5 Commissioner Dan Hill, District 5 Commissioner Barry Marshall, District 6 Commissioner Tony Wix, District 6 Commissioner Michael Slayton, District 7 Commissioner Jeff Hughes, District 7 Commissioner Barry King, District 8 Commissioner Bobby Ray King, District 8 Commissioner Kyle Petty, District 9 Commissioner Wendell Jones, District 9 Commissioner Jarhea Wilmore, District 10 Commissioner Helen Hesson, District 10 Commissioner Larry West, District 1 Commissioner Phillip Snow, District 2 Commissioner Mike Jenkins, District 3 Commissioner Ethan Flippin. Voting yes: District 2 Commissioner Keith Newberry. Absent: District 1 Commissioner Todd Gentry and District 3 Commissioner Benton Bartley.
Commissioners voted to rescind the Clearview Lane extension motion and approve a motion extending McNabb Lane, from Maple Grove Road and sent them to the full body meeting. This was done to prevent residents from having to change their address once the Clearview Lane extension had been completed. Macon County Mayor Steve Jones asked Road Supervisor, Audie Cook if he had anything else he would like to discuss and Mr. Cook shared with the commission that this meeting might be his last to attend as he is due to retire and wanted to thank everyone for the last 16 years.
Moving on in the agenda to the Macon County Sheriff
“We are going through the (State) accreditation process with the jail,” Macon County Sheriff Joey Wilburn said, “And one of the things that we have to have is a Community Corrections Partnership, and we have established that back a few years ago and quarterly, some people from the Macon County Commissioners, Lafayette City Council, Red Boiling Springs City Council, and some citizens, will all get together and kind of get to understand the workings in and out of the jail and stuff like that, and we have come up with a list of names to be appointed to that committee…”
“We already got the list that the Sheriff and I put together today,” Mayor Jones said, we need seven members to be on there and we will bring it back in two weeks for final approval when we know everyone that has accepted positions.”
“Alright, So,” Sheriff Wilburn began to announce the committee list, “Dan Hill, Phillip Snow, Erik Hernandez, Michael Slayton, Justin Dyer, George McCrary, Jarhea Wilmore, Rory Wallace, Roger Jones, Mike Mitchell.” The motion was carried on to the full body.
“Also, the vehicle with the bad transmission that was discussed during the last meeting,” Sheriff Wilburn said, “You all already approved for us to sell it, well, the Red Boiling Springs Fire Department contacted me and said they would like to have that vehicle, so I wanted to bring it back up to you all and see if we could donate it to them.” The motion to approve the donation quickly received a second and was unanimously sent on to the full body.
“Also, about two and a half hours ago I was contacted,” Macon County Sheriff Joey Wilburn added, “By the Chief Deputy from Sumner County to see if we could possibly help cover the Sumner County roads and their jail this coming Friday for the funeral of their Sheriff (Sonny Weatherford) (… I don’t know what the over-time cost for that would be but I definitely would like to help them… When Sgt. (William) Cherry passed away, they helped cover the road for us, so it is definitely something that I would want to do if it is possible… Maybe I could come back with some revenues to offset whatever cost that would incur.”
“Motion,” and, “Second,” quickly came, and the motion was unanimously approved.
“How long of a shift,” one commissioner asked, “Three hours.”
“Eight-hour shift,” Sheriff Wilburn replied, “It would pretty well take just about everybody that is not going to be already working here to help… I think their jail takes sixteen to work it and they have probably twenty road officers.”
“Anytime we can help our neighboring counties, then that’s a good thing,” Mayor Jones replied, “And it is unfortunate what happened to the Sheriff there.”
Macon County Mayor Steve Jones told the governing body that the Schools and the County were closing at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6th on behalf of the funeral of former Macon County Director of Schools Tony Boles.
The next Legislative Body Meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 19, 2024, at the City of Lafayette meeting room at 6:30 p.m.
