Published: August 13, 2008 08:17 am      

‘Zero’ to bring 100 next year

Hiring for Sub-Zero Wolf Inc. will begin much sooner than originally planned after the company’s decision two weeks ago to purchase 10 more acres inside the city’s Industrial Park South II.

One hundred jobs will be available after the completion of an 80,000-square-foot starter facility early next year.

“They made a commitment to Richmond, and they just want to go ahead and get production going and become a presence here,” said Richmond City Manager David Evans at Tuesday’s city commission meeting. “They would rather get started and hire the employees here that they’re going to hire permanently.”

The company has a strong desire to hire locally, Evans said.

The building will be in use for three to five years, which is the estimated time needed for completion of the company’s main operations building.

“(Employees) will just convert over to main building and hopefully (the company) will grow so much that they’ll still need it,” Evans said.

The Wisconsin-based Sub-Zero Wolf Inc., a luxury home appliance manufacturer, eventually will operate permanently on a 45-acre tract in Richmond Industrial Park South II off Duncannon Lane. The building will have a total of 200,000 square feet.

The average hourly wage, according to state data, will be $16.36 with a range of $14 to $36.05.

“I think it’s great because it’s jobs, and a lot really need jobs right now,” Evans said. “It’s good for the economy, it’s good for the working people, the community – it’s just good all the way around.”

For inquiries about jobs or the possibility of construction contracts, interested parties should send information to: Kevin Unbehaun, Sub-Zero/Wolf, 4717 Hammersley Road, Madison, WI 53711.

In other business:

• The commission publicly honored the life and memory of District Judge William “Bill” Robbins who passed away Aug. 7. Robbins also formerly served as Madison County Attorney, Judge-Executive and Richmond City Commissioner. “Judge Robbins was a community leader held in high esteem by his colleagues, friends and citizens. …(Robbins) was a friend to all who met him and a great helper to his family, his friends, his church and his community … Madison County is a better place due to the efforts of Judge Robbins and by experiencing his leadership and friendship,” the official order states.

• The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has approved the installation of left turn phasing on Main Street at the intersections of Second and Third streets, the Gibson Bay Drive and Robert R. Martin Bypass intersection and the Boggs Lane and Eastern Bypass intersection.

•The commission adopted an order to declare the name of a street in the Richmond Industrial Park as James Howard Drive. The street is named after Richmond Industrial Development Director Jimmy Howard.

• City ordinances as far back as the 1970s to the present soon will be available for online viewing. The commission adopted an order Tuesday entering in an agreement with the Cincinnati-based American Legal Publishing. It has not been determined how soon the documents will become available, but the commission will be meeting with company representatives in the near future, Evans said.

•Lexington-based Griggs Enterprise Co. was awarded a $118,900 bid to convert a former railroad bed into a walking trail inside the Richmond Industrial Park on Duncannon Lane. Grant funding will pay for half of the expenses, according to the order.

•Commissioners acknowledged the resignation of Michael Phelps from the Richmond Board of Zoning Adjustments.

• Seth Breitner was hired to serve as the athletic director in the Richmond Parks and Recreation Department.

The next meeting of the Richmond City Commission will be at noon Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Richmond City Hall.

 Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.