By Eric Stock

NORMAL – The Normal Township Board voted 3-to-2 on Wednesday to approve tax incentives for Brandt Industries to build a new manufacturing plant in rural Hudson.

The board delayed a vote last week to request more time to study the proposal which several board members suggested was being rushed.

Township Supervisor Sarah Grammer voted against the deal, even as some county board members told her a ‘no’ vote could kill the deal.

“I found that alarming, seeing how our portion on that land that’s there now is only $5,000,” Grammer said. “To think that a billion dollar company would not locate there over a couple thousand dollars from the township made me wonder what kind of community partner they are going to be in the long run.”

Gramnmer added the deal lacks protections which local taxing bodies agreed to several years ago for deals like this.

“We are not really sure how long (Brandt) is going to be here and we are not sure that in 10 years we won’t be asked to come around the table again and be told this factory is leaving and we have to ask in desparation to get another owner in here and we need to do another 10-year abatement,” Grammer said.

The township joins McLean County, Unit 5, Heartland Community College in approving the deal.

The village of Hudson and the Hudson Fire Protection District will vote next week.

Brandt must hire a minimum 50 full-time workers the first year and at least 300 full-timers by the seventh year to get the tax breaks.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].