The Buffalo County Board of Supervisors ratified a decision to hire Mark Hurford of the Campbell and Levin law firm in Wilmington, Del., at a regular meeting last week.
Deputy County Attorney Andy Hoffmeister said when Coleman Powermate, a former Kearney manufacturing plant, closed in 2008, it owed $24,411 on its 2007 taxes.
“While that was pending, 2008 ticks by and the county had to involuntarily prepare a personal property tax return for them, which we’re empowered to do. The county calculated taxes for 2008 at $18,956,” Hoffmeister said.
That means in total, the company owes Buffalo County $43,367.
Hoffmeister said the company owes taxes only on personal property because the real estate is owned by the Buffalo County Economic Development Corp.
Powermate Corp. filed for bankruptcy and closed its Kearney plant in March 2008 after 22 years of doing business in the city. The manufacturer of portable generators, air compressors and pressure washers employed 200 people.
The company operated as Coleman Powermate for many years and employed as many as 700 in its heyday.
The plant re-opened under new ownership when Italian company Pramac America purchased the assets of Powermate in May 2008 and began production later that year.
“The plant’s up and running now, and Pramac is paying obligations as they’re coming due. In the meantime, we’re trying to sort out what appears to be in excess of $40,000 and get some money and priority out of the liquidated assets of the bankruptcy, so we find ourselves having to obtain Delaware counsel,” Hoffmeister said.
He said Buffalo County’s interests in the company’s assets will be considered in a Delaware bankruptcy court May 17.
“We’re just one of many that are trying to get some of our tax money,” he said. “We’re hoping at least we didn’t drop off the radar screen.”
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