Thursday, July 21, 2005
By Nancy Stier
CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

A company that makes industrial wax and recently moved to Norton Shores from New York got the maximum property tax break permitted Tuesday.

M. Argueso & Co., 2817 McCracken, was given a 50 percent tax cut for 12 years on the $2.6 million it is investing in its eight-acre site. The firm recently moved to Michigan from Mamaronec, N.Y., and employs 40 people -- about 80 percent of whom were from this area, according to company executives.

Argueso is spending $1.2 million expanding and renovating its Norton Shores plant, which supplies industrial wax used mainly for molds in the casting industry. Another $850,000 was pumped into equipment purchases.

The Norton Shores City Council approved the company's requested tax reduction, but asked that the firm work with nearby residents to alleviate concerns about noise, odors and materials stored on the grounds.

Cat Jackson, 2076 Plainfield, lives with her small children next to the factory and complained about noise and odor coming from the site. She said a sledgehammer was banging away at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday. A few weeks ago, Jackson reported something which smelled like it was burning drove her out of her back yard.

Argueso's manufacturing manager, Paul Schantz, told Jackson none of the plant's emissions are injurious to human health. He said the company installed air pollution equipment and scrubbers to reduce air pollution.

"We don't want to cause any problems in the neighborhood," said Jim Fishel, controller of Specialty Materials & Alloys Group of Muskegon, which is affiliated with Argueso.

He promised noise levels will drop once construction at the leased plant is completed by about the end of August. Some of the materials stored outside will also be removed, Fishel said.

Marcia Vandenberg, 2057 Norman, questioned whether operations at the plant caused water pressure at her home to drop a few days ago.