Jefferson County supervisors hire law firm to draft agreement with Bovard Studio

FAIRFIELD — The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors met Monday and agreed to hire the law firm Ahlers & Cooney to draft a development agreement with Bovard Studio.

Bovard Studio, located east of Fairfield on Highway 34, has announced plans to add six to 12 employees and 16,000 square feet of space onto its facility. It has approached the supervisors about a plan to rebate a portion of its property taxes on the improved portion of its land, which the supervisors have agreed to do in principle.

Supervisor Dee Sandquist said the cost of hiring Ahlers & Cooney to write an agreement with Bovard Studio is expected to cost between $2,500 and $5,000. Supervisor Daryn Hamilton said the county chose to hire an outside law firm because Ahlers & Cooney has expertise in this body of law.

Bovard Studio announced it wishes to begin construction on its expansion in June and to have finished it by the end of summer. The expansion is expected to cost Bovard Studio about $900,000.

The supervisors and Bovard Studio have not come to an agreement about how long this tax abatement would last. That is something Ahlers & Cooney will help determine.