Avion/Avtask moved one step closer to making their expansion in Wright City a reality after receiving approval for their expansion site plan at the July 24 Wright City Board of Aldermen meeting. The board gave the company the go-ahead on the condition their stormwater retention plan is approved by BFA Engineering. 

Avion/Avtask operates a facility in Wright City’s industrial park and specializes in refurbishing the helicopter blades for the Boeing Chinook helicopters. According to their website, the company uses proprietary technology to remove moisture that becomes embedded in the blades extending their useful life. 

Avtask is the only company in the country with a contract to service these helicopter blades. 

While the company received approval for the expansion’s site plan, they are still awaiting the approval of a tax abatement agreement they proposed to the board at its June 26 meeting. 

Jacob Surratt, a representative with Steadfast City and Community Development speaking on Avtask’s behalf, told the board they are looking to build a new 75,000-square-foot facility on an open lot just north of their current facility on Cooperative Way. 

Surratt said they are requesting a 90% tax abatement for the property and new equipment purchased with the expansion for non-emergency taxing entities like the city, school district and county. There would be a separate 50% tax abatement for the Wright City Fire Protection District and Warren County Ambulance District for the first 10 years. 

Mayor Michelle Heiliger said the site plan submitted by Avtask would include a driveway connection between Stringtown Road and Cooperative Way that would be large enough to accommodate 53-foot trailers used by the facility. 

She also said the company has already submitted stormwater plans to BFA and is awaiting their approval. 

Nick Mollet, with ARCO Construction, was present at the meeting to speak on Avtask’s behalf. He said they would continue to use Cooperative Way as the primary entrance for the facility. 

The expansion would include a roughly 66,000-square-foot warehouse and an additional 6,000 square feet of office space, according to Mollet. 

He said they were still waiting for BFA to come out to the site and review their stormwater plan, since the view on satellite images was obstructed by vegetation. 

Alderman Karey Owens also asked if there were currently any plans for helicopters landing at the site. Chinook helicopters occasionally land near the facility to have their blades serviced and they currently land in the cul-de-sac next to the facility. 

“Is there any plan on when eventually that gets built up more, what they’re planning on doing if that is no longer an option,” said Owens. 

Mollet said he was unsure and would have to check with Avtask on any further plans, which Owens requested since it could become an issue in the future. 

Mollet also said if the current projects move forward, Avtask is also planning an additional 36,000-square-foot expansion on the parcel to the south of their current expansion. 

Avtask is planning the expansion to accommodate the growing needs of their current contract with Boeing and the U.S. military. They are also pursuing additional contracts with Spain and Greece for the Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters, according to Heiliger. 

They are requesting a tax abatement agreement through the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Chapter 100 provision. 

Chapter 100 agreements allow developers to establish tax abatement agreements with municipalities when the costs of new construction or expansion would otherwise be prohibitive. 

If approved, Surrat said the agreement would lower the company’s tax burden from $1.62 per square foot to roughly 33 cents per square foot in the first 10 years. 

Avtask has yet to receive a decision from the city and has been meeting with the other affected taxing entities as well.