Rotek mulls additions, but may move

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by Ken Lahmers

Editor

Aurora -- Rotek Inc. unveiled plans last week to more than double its existing square footage on the west side of Route 43 in the southern industrial zone.

However, company officials have not made a commitment to go ahead with the project and are also considering the possibility of moving the local operation to Florence, Ky.

Rotek President Len Osborne said the proposed expansion would be a $93 million investment, with 150 new jobs possible. Rotek has been in Aurora since 1978 and employs about 215 people.

At its April 2 meeting, the city's planning commission approved a preliminary site plan for a 299,000-square-foot expansion. The existing facilities cover about 181,000 square feet.

But at an April 3 meeting of the city's economic development board, Osborne said railroad and Ohio River access to its existing Florence plant is a major advantage to relocating.

He also said there is a wider pool of skilled machine tool workers in that area, which is just south of Cincinnati.

Rotek makes large bearing rings, some of which measure 13 feet in diameter.

THE ECONOMIC development board favored offering a 15-year, 100 percent tax abatement and city funding for Route 43 improvements in front of its property to keep Rotek here.

The incentive package will be forwarded to Council.

City Finance Director Bob Paul said the tax abatement to Rotek would amount to about $4 million. The Route 43 project would include adding left-turn and deceleration lanes in front of the Rotek property.

Paul said the Route 43 improvements are estimated to cost about $400,000, and the city could take its share out of its 2008 road repairs budget. He added the city also may be able to share the cost with the state.

Paul said Rotek contributes about $400,000 per year in income and other taxes to the city, and the expansion would increase that by about $150,000.

Osborne said Rotek is seeking an economic development grant from the state. He added officials hope to make a decision on staying in Aurora or moving by May 30.

The city board said it would support efforts to have a rail spur run from the Wheeling & Lake Erie line, which runs across Old Mill Road, to the Rotek property.

At the planning panel's meeting, Chad Graber of Foresight Engineering said 152,384 square feet would be added to the existing rolling mill building and 105,609 square feet to the existing bearing plant.

ALSO, 12,367 square feet would be added to an existing office building and a 12,800-square-foot office building and 12,500-square-foot covered truck dock would be added.

In approving the preliminary plan, panelists granted Rotek three zoning exceptions, the first of which would allow 372 parking spaces on the property instead of the 650 required by the code.

The second exception would allow three access driveways instead of the minimum of two, and the third would permit parking in front of one of the buildings.

Rotek representative Ray Kelly said the facilities are expected to have five loading docks and a concrete pad on the northwest corner of the rolling mill addition to accommodate trucks.

Rotek will go before the board of zoning appeals April 23 to request three variances for the rolling mill addition -- one related to height, the other to the setback from the northern property line and the third to allow the five loading docks instead of the required 22.

City planner Denise Januska said the city will require improvement, stormwater, landscape and lighting plans before final site plan approval.

E-mail:

klahmers@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3155