City and county advance on major economic development project  

Sysco zoning and development agreements addressed

[JUNE 17, 2005]  It was another busy evening for officials as simultaneous meetings took place in buildings kitty-corner to one another. At Lincoln City Hall and the Logan County Courthouse check marks were placed on lengthy to-do lists for the coming Sysco development.

It was anything but the first time, and not likely to be the last, that Lincoln and Logan County Development Partnership director Rob Orr walked across the Broadway and McLean Street corner to go from one meeting to the next. Last evening he was trying to be available to answer any questions that might remain on the Sysco project. That project is in its final stages with a staggering pile of complex details, most to be completed by the July 1 groundbreaking, some others at later dates.

Timeline more intense than an Irish jig

The primary Sysco development agreement is between the city of Lincoln, Logan County, Lincoln and Logan County Development Partnership, and Robert's Sysco Inc. A number of other agreements between the various parties complete the package.

The county is purchasing the property, which consists of 52 agriculture acres and a small private property. These will be sold to Sysco for $1 per acre for the company to build its warehouse and distribution center.

Timing quandary

With all sights set on a July 1 groundbreaking, there is a time crunch in getting the land purchased.

The city and county will be financing the project by debt certificates. But debt certificates take 60 to 90 days to acquire.

The money is needed to purchase the land before the money is available from the debt certificates.

The county has restrictions that the city does not in borrowing money in such a case. So the city will take out a short-term loan on behalf of the county. An additional intergovernmental agreement has been added.

While the obvious focus has been on what the city and county are doing in this process, Sysco has committed itself and is taking risks as well. In the agreement the company agrees to build within two years or reimburse the city and county for their costs. And if in 20 years they do not have 150 employees, they will reimburse the city and county for their expense in the project at $500,000 each.

The final drafts of the agreements were reviewed by the various members of the board, Terry Werth, county coordinator Dewey Colter and State's Attorney Tim Huyett yesterday afternoon (Thursday). Werth presented it for tentative board approval last night.

A few clarifying questions were raised, but there were no objections.

Colter took a moment to address the board. He said that since becoming county coordinator he has seen great cooperation between all agencies and government entities. He complimented everyone who has worked on the Sysco project, from the county and city officials, lawyers and the development partnership to financial institutions that have been involved. "I think we're going to see considerable advancements down the line," he said. "Thank you."

A straw vote showed unanimous approval of all agreements. Official vote will be taken next Tuesday, June 21.

Zoning approvals

Across the street the Lincoln Planning Commission approved a zoning classification change from County Ag to City I-1 (light industrial) for the acreage that will be purchased for Sysco.

The planning commission also approved special use for a real estate office in a residential district at 512 Wyatt Ave. for Nellie Tillman.

A request to approve the final plat for the Wal-Mart Supercenter was postponed due to ongoing negotiations with adjacent landowners. That property is also located in the same vicinity as the future Sysco property. It is southwest of Burger King.

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