The Leighton Township Board Thursday evening granted Rhino Seeds’ request for designation as an industrial facilities district on Electric Avenue.

The move enables the firm to seek a tax abatement of 50 percent for up to 12 years,

Making the request was Andy Hilbert, third generation business owner following in the footsteps of grandfather Fred Hilbert Sr. and his son Fred Hilbert Jr., who owned Ampro Seeds in Bradley for many years. Fred Jr. once was a state senator from this area, stepping down in 1964.

Hilbert told board members the tax break will be used too help facilitate expansion and could result in adding 10 more jobs to the work force of 29 employees.

In other business at Thursday’s meeting the Township Board:

• Was told by Planning Commissioner Steve Shoemaker that Valley Field Properties was granted permission to mine about 500,000 cubic yards of gravel at the site near Kalamazoo Avenue and Fourth Street on the east side of the township through 2027. AA Poured Walls also asked for approval to build a non-concrete facility for storage of trucks.

• Learned that the local fire department handled a record 57 calls in August and it on target to be 14 percent above last year’s total. The department hired Joe Wills and now is back to full strength at 30 members.
• Fielded a complaint from Jeremy Chisholm about the Lavender agritourism business at Green Lake, insisting it lack the necessary frontage and its commercial private drive lacks the necessary width by about 20 feet.
• Learned that Tim Rose has stepped down as a member of the Ambulance Service Board because of the press of business.