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Edwardsville moved several steps forward Monday night to keep a local distribution center in Wyandotte County by approving three items at the City Council meeting.

After a public hearing regarding the Industrial Revenue Bonds the city proposed as a way to ensure Earp Distribution’s continued interest in relocating to Edwardsville, the council voted 4-0, with John Eickhoff absent, to approve the issuance of those bonds.

“We will receive more (revenue) in a 10-year period with the (tax) abatement than we would receive otherwise,” city administer Michael Webb said.

The revenue bonds are set to not exceed $26 million, and the tax abatement approved along with the IRB includes a 65 percent tax abatement for the first 10 years the company is in town.

The final actions Monday regarding Earp, the sole wholesale provider of foods and goods to approximately 450 McDonald’s and Chipotle Mexican Grills in the Midwest, involved the development site plan and final plat, both of which were approved, 4-0, by the council.

The new distribution facility is to be built on the corner of Woodend Road and 98th Street and will encompass a 23-acre lot. Webb said the designs for the 160,000 square-foot warehouse and corporate office facility, with a total price tag of $23 to $26 million, had met the minimum requirements of the city’s ordinances.

Earp has had a Kansas City, Kan., location since 1975 and chose Edwardsville when it began looking to expand its facility and employee base.

“Welcome to Edwardsville,” council member Mark Bishop told several Earp representatives in the audience following the final vote.

Mayor John “Tiny” McTaggart echoed Bishop’s wishes.

“There’s no place better than this one,” McTaggart said of Earp’s choice to relocate to Edwardsville.

Construction on the new Earp building is expected to start within the next couple months with a projected opening date of January 2011.

In other business Monday, the council:

• Approved, 4-0, minutes from the Dec. 14, 2009, meeting.

• Approved, 4-0, payment of bills totaling $199,738.04.

• Approved, 4-0, the purchase of a new Ford Crown Victoria Police Cruiser to replace an existing cruiser that was damaged beyond repair during a Dec. 13, 2009, accident. The cost of the new cruiser is $16,476.23, which includes the installation of all necessary emergency equipment.

“Well the good news is we are not replacing an officer,” Adams said following the vote.

• Approved, 4-0, the renewal of a cereal malt beverage license for Pizzaville, 104B S. 4th Street.

• Approved, 4-0, applications for an amusement device license for Mac’s Place, 580 S. 4th Street.

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