The renewal of a tax abatement for the Isis Movie Theater was up for approval from the Winamac Town Council members during their meeting Monday evening.
Town Manager Brad Zellers said that this renewal request was the only one he’s received so far this year.
Council President Tom Murray commented that some of the places that they granted tax abatements to never followed through with their promises. He said he didn’t think that the theater owner had hired as many employees as he said he would.
Councilwoman Judy Heater said though he may not have hired as many as he said he would, he is now employing more people than before. Councilman Dan Vanaman stated that he’s employing more people than another place they provided with a tax abatement.
Heater added that out of all the business that received tax abatements, the theater owner Ernie Armstrong has made the most recognizable progress.
She said, “His was a definite improvement, a very costly one on his part, to keep the theater in Winamac and I think that should be taken into consideration too. I mean he can only hire so many people.”
Members of the town council unanimously approved the tax abatement. According to a statement shared by Armstrong through social media, the Isis Movie Theater has been a staple in the town of Winamac since the 1930s.
