Diebold headquarters deal in the works

by Michele Collins

Nov. 4 city council meeting

Hudson City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance that, if passed, will permit a job creation grant agreement between the city of Hudson and Diebold Nixdorf Inc. 

The company, currently based in Green, is eyeing a vacant building off Boston Mills Rd. as its new global headquarters. Under the terms of the proposal, the city would grant Diebold a 50-percent income tax credit for 10 years. Council President William Wooldredge praised City Manager Jane Howington and Economic Development Director Jim Stiffler for bringing the opportunity to Hudson.

Diebold would bring 314 jobs to the city with a benchmark of $31.4 million in payroll, according to the city. The headquarters would be located on Executive Parkway. No vote was taken on the ordinance.

In other business, Mayor Craig Shubert recognized Nov. 15 as American Recycles Day in Hudson and presented virtually a proclamation to Economic Awareness Committee members. 

Council also welcomed Nicole Kowalski, who is the council member elect to fill Dan Williams’ unexpired At Large seat. Williams resigned earlier this year, and council left the decision of a replacement to voters when it could not agree on an appointee. Kowalski defeated Sherif Mansour and Sarah Norman with 40 percent of the vote in the General Election on Nov. 3, according to final unofficial results from the Summit County Board of Election. She will be sworn in at the next council meeting.

Council member Beth Bigham, who was defeated by Casey Weinstein for the Ohio House of Representatives District 37 seat on Nov. 3, thanked her supporters, especially the Hudson residents who, she said, voted for her in great measure. Weinstein, also a former Hudson Council member, was re-elected to the seat, receiving 51.5 percent of the vote to Bigham’s 48.5 percent.

During the consent agenda portion of the meeting, council passed six ordinances that will refinance existing city financial obligations.

Those debts include:

  • $740,000 in nontax revenue bond anticipation notes for acquiring the 4-acre Windstream propery.
  • $7.7 million in notes for bonds to create the Hudson Drive salt storage and bus maintenance facilities.
  • $3.9 million worth of bonds to pay for equipment for the city’s Velocity Broadband system.
  • $1.9 million in bonds for installing a brine well at the water plant.
  • $990,000 in bonds for upgrades at the new city hall.
  • $675,000 in bonds for the Hudson Drive Waterline Improvement Project.   

Council postponed, on the recommendation of Howington, a vote on union contracts for city employees to the next council meeting in November. Howington said the time was needed to allow for further discussion and explanation of the contracts to employees.