Elgin OKs Motorola agreement

The city of Elgin and Motorola Solutions at last have finalized a development agreement.

The company wants to establish a training and manufacturing facility at 2580 Galvin Drive, in the Northwest Business Park, that is expected to employ 200 full-time workers and another 200 seasonal ones. The investment is estimated at $18 million, according to city officials.

The deal grants fast-track permitting and waives development, impact and building permit fees. That could total $250,000 to $750,000 because building permit fees are based on the cost of materials, Assistant City Manager Rick Kozal said. Council members, who approved the agreement 8-1, asked how many of the full-time jobs would be new hires and at what salaries.

Paul Newman, Motorola Solutions' manager of government affairs, said those jobs are expected to be all transfers from Schaumburg, but also said he'd check with his human relations department regarding that and salaries.

Councilwoman Tish Powell said she was disappointed not to get specific answers, but also said the company coming to Elgin was “a coup” for the city.

The agreement was on the committee of the whole's agenda two weeks ago, but was postponed after City Manager Sean Stegall said the company informed the city it needed more time to wrap up communications-related issues.

Six days later, Motorola Solutions, which makes communications equipment for government and emergency responders, announced it's moving its global headquarters to Chicago after about 50 years in Schaumburg.

Councilman John Prigge, who cast the only dissenting vote, objected to voting on the agreement at both the committee of the whole and city council meetings on Wednesday night. “This is a lot of money that we have to make one decision on, one vote on, without any discussion past one meeting's worth,” he said.

Councilman John Steffen and Mayor David Kaptain pointed out the city isn't giving cash incentives to Motorola, just waiving fees.

The agreement spells future possibilities, such as employees moving to Elgin and the prospect of future expansion, Councilman Toby Shaw said. A Verizon Wireless call center is leaving Elgin, so Motorola's arrival comes at an especially good time, he added.