An employer in Mexico will receive bond money to finance equipment at its company site.

Mexico City Council on Aug. 25 approved a move to issue industrial revenue bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $15 million to finance the costs of an industrial development project for the benefit of Spartan LMP, LLC, & Spartan Light Metal Products, L.L.C. The company, an aluminum and magnesium die cast manufacturer, has promised to increase its staff. 

City Manager Bruce Slagle said in an email that this new project/expansion in Mexico consists of acquiring a large capacity remelt furnace and a new die cast machine (4950T Aluminum/Magnesium machine), along with related equipment and undertaking of certain other improvements.

The installation of the furnace is expected to be complete by the end of 2025 and the die cast machine is expected to be installed by second quarter of 2026, Slagle said, adding that the furnace will melt down recycled/reuse aluminum and the die cast machine will stamp out the parts.

Gigi McAreavy, economic development director for the city, spoke to council about the project.

A council agenda memo stated Spartan LMP, LLC requested from the city the issuance of the bonds for the purchase of personal property/equipment to be placed at the manufacturing facility, at 2201 Jubel Drive, and at the facility of Spartan Light Metal Products, L.L.C., located at 2510 Lakeview Road, both in Mexico. The bonds would be repaid solely from the lease payment made by Spartan LMP, LLC to the city, and the project is expected to promote economic development and industrial growth with the city and increase employment opportunities, the memo stated. 

“The ordinance with Spartan LMP, LLC is committed to increase its workforce to 375 employees and maintaining the employment level,” McAreavy said. 

The memo stated the creation of these additional positions is “expected to contribute positively to the local (economy) through increased consumer spending, higher tax revenues and strengthened community investment. Furthermore, a portion of the new positions will be dedicated to workforce development by providing training on advanced equipment and technologies, thereby upskilling employees and increasing operational efficiency.”

Phil Reinkemeyer, chief financial officer with Spartan Light Metal Products, talked to council and said this was an exciting project for Spartan. He said for the most part, people in-house will be tasked with using the equipment. There’s no obligation for the city to pay for anything, and Slagle said the project is fully supported by Spartan’s full faith and credit. The company has 325 employees now and will move to 375 employees, Slagle said.

Also at the meeting, council approved the fiscal year 2026 tax rate of $0.7591 per $100 assessed valuation. Total assessed valuation is $187 million, up from $173.5 million the previous year. Broken down, the new tax rate amounts to $0.4591 in the general fund, $0.1000 in parks and recreation fund and $0.2000 in public health. The tax rate is the same as last year, along with the three categories - general fund, parks and recreation fund and public health fund - listed above.

Broken down in revenues, the general fund will have $858,661, parks and recreation will have $187,031 and public health will have $374,063, for a total of $1,419,755. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026. The city’s budget will be considered on Sept. 8.

Also at the meeting, council:

• Approved an amendment that adds the definition and conditions of “automobile or motor vehicle wrecking shop, automobile salvage or wrecking yard, or junkyard” into Chapter 42, which covers zoning regulations, an agenda memo stated. These are the same regulations that previously existed in another section of the code, and the amendment simply relocates them into the zoning chapter to ensure consistency and ease of enforcement, the memo stated. Additionally, the regulations establish appropriate standards for screening, maintenance, and operation of these uses, helping to minimize potential negative impacts on surrounding properties and public spaces.
• Approved an authorization for the city manager to execute an agreement with the Relay For Life to receive tourism funding for its advertising campaign. The amount approved was $1,250 and was based on the Mexico Tourism Commission recommendation.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign a memorandum of understanding with Mainstreet Mexico for tree planting and maintenance in downtown Mexico. The MOU outlines specific responsibilities of both parties to ensure successful implementation, ongoing care and future planning related to tree planting, a council agenda memo stated, and the agreement covers the initial planting of 36 trees with 35 new and one replacement. The city will identify planting locations, prepare sites, coordinate infrastructure needs, and provide up to four hours per week in caretaking. Mainstreet Mexico will provide and plant the trees, supply soil, and maintain the trees including pruning, replacement if needed, and care of the planter areas for a period of seven years. The MOU also calls for annual review meetings, consultation prior to tree removal and transfer of responsibilities to the city if Mainstreet ceases operations. 
• Approved a resolution of the city and letter of support of the Low Income Housing Tax Credits Application for Teal Lake Village II, for the development of family workforce housing and to expand the supply of “decent, safe and sanitary households” in the city, a council agenda memo stated. The housing development will consist of 46 units of two- and/or three-bedroom units. In support of this workforce housing development, the city authorizes a contribution of $10,000 from the Housing Incentive Program Funds, only if the development at this location is approved by Missouri Housing Development Commission and funded by LIHTC. The purpose of this funding is to improve the strength of the application showing community support and buy-in, the memo stated.
• Approved the purchase of 31 Point Blank AXII-4 vests with two Hi-Lite carriers from Leon’s Uniform Company of St. Louis for $27,745 for the Mexico Public Safety Department, subject to the bidder’s ability to deliver the vests in an acceptable length of time and meet all bid specifications, the memo stated.