HomeMy WebLinkAbout17-16 Resolution No. 17-16
RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN
ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENT WITH
AMERICAN FORGE & FOUNDRY, INC.
(300-330 Corporate Drive)
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN,ILLINOIS,that
David J. Kaptain, Mayor, and Kimberly A. Dewis, City Clerk, be and are hereby authorized and
directed to execute an Economic Incentive Agreement with American Forge & Foundry, Inc. on
behalf of the City of Elgin for economic development assistance in connection with the development
of 300-330 Corporate Drive,a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference.
s/David J. Kaptain
David J. Kaptain, Mayor
Presented: February 8, 2017
Adopted: February 8, 2017
Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0
Attest:
s/Kimberly Dewis
Kimberly Dewis, City Clerk
ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENT
This Economic Incentive Agreement(the"Agreement") is made and entered into as of this
8th day of February 2017, by and between the City of Elgin, an Illinois municipal corporation
(hereinafter referred to as the "City"), and American Forge & Foundry, Inc. ("AFF"), a New York
corporation.
WHEREAS,AFF has been serving the US market from its Albany-based headquarters since
1963 and is a leading provider of automotive lifting equipment in that marketplace; and
WHERAS, AFF is a wholly owned subsidiary of JET Equipment and Tools, Ltd., which oper-
ates a significant tool, equipment and safety products business in Canada, using the marketing
identity SureWerx; and
WHEREAS, AFF acquired Sellstrom Manufacturing Co. ("SMC") effective November 2,
2015, and
WHEREAS, SMC was founded in Illinois in 1923 and is currently located in a leased ware-
house and headquarters facility in Schaumburg, Illinois.
WHEREAS,AFF has been recognized as one of the best-managed Canadian companies for
the past two consecutive years in 2015 and 2016; and
WHEREAS, AFF and SMC are seeking to expand operations in the U.S. market and have
selected a vacant, 90,000 square-foot facility at 300-330 Corporate Drive as headquarters, and
will make approximately$4.1 million in improvements to that facility that will ultimately create
approximately 45 full-time positions ("Subject Project"); and
WHEREAS, to induce AFF into proceeding with the Subject Project, the City will provide
"fast-track" permitting and waive all City building permit fees associated with the construction
of the Subject Project; and
WHEREAS, AFF would not proceed with the Subject Project in Elgin without certain eco-
nomic development assistance from the City; and
WHEREAS, section 8-11-20 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/8-11-20) authorizes
municipalities, including the City, to enter into economic incentive agreements relating to the
development or redevelopment of lands within the corporate limits of a municipality; and
WHEREAS, the City is a home rule unit of government authorized to exercise any power
and perform any function, including without limitation the provision of incentives for economic
development, relating to its government and affairs; and
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WHEREAS, economic incentive agreements including the incentives and other provisions
set forth in this Agreement pertain to the government and affairs of the City; and
WHEREAS,the Subject Project is expected to create job opportunities within the City; and
WHEREAS, the Subject Project will serve to further the development of adjacent areas;
and
WHEREAS,without this Agreement,the Subject Project would not be possible; and
WHEREAS, AFF meets high standards of credit worthiness and financial strength; and
WHEREAS, the Subject Project will strengthen the commercial and industrial sectors of
the City; and
WHEREAS,the Subject Project will enhance the tax base of the City; and
WHEREAS,this Agreement is made in the best interests of the City.
NOW,THEREFORE,for and in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings con-
tained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are incorporated into this Agreement in their
entirety.
2. Subject Project. AFF, at its cost, shall develop the Subject Project. The development of
the Subject Project shall substantially conform in all material respects with all applicable legal
requirements, including, but not limited to, city ordinances and codes, the terms of this Agree-
ment, or as otherwise directed by the City as is necessary to comply with ordinances, building
codes or other requirements of law. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all costs
and expenses relating to the Subject Project shall be the responsibility of and shall be paid for by
AFF,and from any tenant improvement funds that may be provided by AFF's landlord in connec-
tion with the lease to be entered into to facilitate the Subject Project.
3. Economic incentives. In consideration for AFF's undertaking of the Subject Project,the
City agrees to provide economic incentives to AFF to be used by AFF solely and only for the Sub-
ject Project. Such economic incentives shall consist of and be distributed to AFF as follows:
"Fast-Track"Permitting Process and Waiver of Development Building Permit Fees
The City will conduct a "fast-track" permitting process for AFF and waive any building per-
mit fees which would otherwise be due and payable to the City in connection with the
proposed $4.1 million expansion of AFF's facility at 300-330 Corporate Drive. Any other
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governmental agency fees(other than those of the City) and any third-party engineering
review fees shall be paid by AFF or SMC.
4. Miscellaneous.
A.That this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to create an employment,joint
venture, partnership, or other agency relationship between the parties hereto.
B.That all notices or other communications hereunder shall be made in writing and shall
be deemed given if personally delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the parties at the following addresses, or at such other addressed for a party as
shall be specified by like notice, and shall be deemed received on the date of such personal de-
livery or the second business day following the date of such mailing:
TO THE CITY: TO AFF:
Richard G. Kozal Chris Baby
City Manager President and CEO
City of Elgin American Forge & Foundry, Inc.
150 Dexter Court 300-330 Corporate Drive
Elgin, IL 60120-5555 Elgin, IL 60123
847.931.6633
With a copy of any such notice to:
William A. Cogley
Corporation Counsel and Chief Development Officer
City of Elgin
150 Dexter Court
Elgin, IL 60120-5555
C.That the failure by a party to enforce any provision of this Agreement against the other
party shall not be deemed a waiver of the right to do so thereafter.
D. That this Agreement may be modified or amended only in writing signed by both par-
ties hereto, or their permitted successors or assigns, as the case may be.
E. That this Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter as set forth herein, all prior agreements and under-
standings having been merged herein and extinguished hereby.
F.That this Agreement is and shall be deemed and construed to be a joint and collective
work product of the City and AFF and, as such,this Agreement shall not be construed against the
other party, as the otherwise purported drafter of same, by any court of competent jurisdiction
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in order to resolve any inconsistency, ambiguity, vagueness or conflict, if any, in the terms or
provisions contained herein.
G. That this Agreement is subject to and shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Illinois.
H.That this Agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and their respective succes-
sors and permitted assigns.This Agreement and the obligations herein may not be assigned with-
out the express written consent of each of the parties hereto, which consent may be withheld at
the sole discretion of either the parties hereto.
I.The City and AFF agree that, in the event of a default by the other party,the other party
shall, prior to taking any such actions as may be available to it, provide written notice to the
defaulting party stating that they are giving the defaulting party thirty (30) days within which to
cure such default. If the default shall not be cured within the thirty (30) days period aforesaid,
then the party giving such notice shall be permitted to avail itself of remedies to which it may be
entitled under this Agreement.
J. If either party fails or refuses to carry out any of the material covenants or obligations
hereunder,the other party shall be entitled to pursue any and all available remedies as specified
herein or otherwise available at law, equity or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any-
thing else to the contrary in this Agreement, with the sole exception of an action to recover the
fees the City has agreed to waive pursuant to the preceding paragraph 3 of this Agreement, no
action shall be commenced by AFF against the City for monetary damages.Venue for the resolu-
tion of any disputes or the enforcement of any rights pursuant to this Agreement shall be in the
Circuit Court of Kane County, Illinois. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated herein or
otherwise,AFF'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENTAND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS
RECEIPT OF THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE DESCRIBED HEREIN SHALL BE EXPRESSLY LIMITED TO THE
VALUE OF THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPACT AND BUILDING FEE WAIVERS RECEIVED BY AFF FROM
THE CITY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND SUCH ECONOMIC INCENTIVE. AFF shall
have no other liability whatsoever,whether based on breach of contract, negligence,strict liabil-
ity or any other claim and under no circumstances shall AFF be liable for lost profits or revenues,
special incidental, indirect,consequential or exemplary damages incurred by the City or any third
party.
K.Time is of the essence of this Agreement.
L. This Agreement shall be construed, and the rights and obligations of the City and AFF
hereunder shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without refer-
ence to its conflict of laws rules.
M. No past, present or future elected or appointed official, officer, employee, attorney,
agent or independent contractor of the City shall be charged personally or held contractually
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liable under any term or provision of this Agreement including, but not limited to, because of
their negotiation,approval, execution or attempted execution of this Agreement.
N.Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, it is expressly agreed and un-
derstood by AFF and the City that in connection with the performance of this Agreement, that
AFF shall comply with all applicable federal, state, city and other requirements of law including,
but not limited to, any applicable requirements regarding prevailing wages, minimum wage,
workplace safety and legal status of employees. Without limiting the foregoing,AFF hereby cer-
tifies, represents and warrants to the City that all of AFF's employees and/or agents who will be
employed for the Subject Project shall be legal residents of the United States. Without limiting
the foregoing, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, AFF and its con-
tractors and subcontractors shall comply with the Prevailing Wage Act in all respects relating to
the Subject Project.The City shall have the right to audit any records in the possession or control
of AFF to determine AFF's compliance with the provisions of this section. In the event the City
proceeds with such an audit,AFF shall make available to the City AFF's relevant records at no cost
to the City. If so desired by AFF, the audit shall, to the extent permitted by law, be subject to
reasonable confidentiality restrictions set forth in a confidentiality agreement agreed to by the
parties.The provisions of this section shall survive any termination,completion and/or expiration
of this Agreement.
0. AFF, on behalf of itself and its respective successors, assigns and grantees hereby
acknowledges the propriety,necessity and legality of all of the terms and provisions of this Agree-
ment and does hereby further agree and does waive any and all rights to any and all legal or other
challenges or defenses to any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees
and covenants on behalf of itself and its successors, assigns and grantees of the Subject Project,
not to sue the City or maintain any legal action or other defenses against the City with respect to
any challenges of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, other than with respect to any
failure of the City to perform its obligations under this Agreement.The provisions of this section
shall survive any termination, completion and/or expiration of this Agreement.
P. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be art original
and all of which shall constitute one and the same once duly executed and delivered to the other
party. For the purposes of executing this Agreement, any signed copy of this Agreement trans-
mitted by email or facsimile shall be treated in all manners and respects as an original document.
The signature of any party on a copy of this Agreement transmitted by email or facsimile shall be
considered for these purposes as an original signature and shall have the same legal effect as an
original signature. Any such emailed or faxed copy of this Agreement shall be considered to have
the same binding legal effect as an original document. At the request of either party, any email
or facsimile copy of this Agreement shall be re-executed by the parties in an original form. No
party to this Agreement shall raise the use of e-mail or facsimile as a defense to this Agreement
and shall forever waive such defense.
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Q. If any provision or part thereof of this Agreement or the application of any such provi-
sion or part thereof to any party, person or circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal or unen-
forceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or part thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City and AFF have executed this Agreement on the date and
year first written above.
CITY OF ELGIN: AMERICAN FORGE & FOUNDRY, INC.:
By: a i51li�� i By:
David J. "tai , Mayor Chris Baby, Pr • ent& CEO
Attest:
tiat/i/e-'‘‘
Kimberly Dewis, City Clerk
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