Wood County Commissioners unanimously approved a request by Mineola City Administrator Mercy Rushing on behalf of the city for a 10-year tax abatement for Sanderson Farms. The county will start year one through seven with 80 percent of the new investment value abated and years eight through 10 at 50 percent of new investment abated.

Sanderson Farms is buying 237.07 acres on Loop 564 southeast of downtown Mineola. The company will be building a feed mill at the Mineola property. It is part of a business bringing a hatchery plant to Lindale and the processing plant in the Winona area with a total employment of 1,700 people.

The Mineola feed mill will provide 36 new full-time jobs with full benefits for employees and their families. Additional economic growth for the area is estimated at $130 million. Sanderson Farms is the third largest poultry producer in the United States.

Rushing explained Sanderson Farms has been looking for an area in Texas to expand. “They did their research thoroughly before actually deciding. I mean they have been working on this for almost two years. They looked at 21 sites before actually deciding on the one off of east 564 in Mineola,” Rushing acknowledged. “This reason they decided this was because, first of all we had the rail available, the rail was important. It was the number one factor. The second factor was the trucking would not have to come inside the city. And the third factor is Loop 49 is coming between Lindale and Mineola so truckers can hit 69, go to 49 and be right on the interstate.”

Commissioners were pleased with the overall effort of different groups working together to bring the business to Wood County and East Texas. “I would like to say I had the privilege to sit in a meeting with Mercy and Wood County economic development, Smith County and some of the cities represented. These people have worked together very hard. They did not know where this was going. They looked at Smith County, Wood County and different places,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Russell Acker said. “These people have already spent a large amount of money in this area. I know that Kiki (Bettis of Wood County Industrial Commission) and everybody has worked together to get this done even though it was across county and city lines. I applaud them for all their hard work.”

County Judge Bryan Jeanes was also complimentary of the effort. “I would also like to echo what Commissioner Acker said. Everyone really needs to understand this has been a joint project. I know that two of my commissioners have been heavily involved working with the Wood County Industrial Commission on this,” Jeanes remarked. “I know how bad Mercy and the city of Mineola have worked on this. This is a win-win for everybody. I hope everyone is as excited about this as much as we are.”

In other matters commissioners approved:

• payroll of $313,059;

• claims and one personnel action, a change of position in the sheriff’s department for Lacy Ogle;

• road permit for logging on Wood County Roads 4330, 4620 and 4621;

• constables’ reports and treasurer’s report;

• an inter-local agreement with the city of Mineola for street repairs and materials through Dec. 31;

• recommendations of the selection committee for the award of contracts for administration services to Amazing Grants, Inc. and engineering services to Hayes Engineering Inc. for the County’s STEP project on behalf of Sharon Water Supply Company, and authorizing the selection committee to negotiate contracts as applicable.