Owner mulls moving company

LINCOLN — The owner of an animal nutrition company in Syracuse, Neb., has declined to pursue tax incentives in Nebraska while recently applying for them in Florida.

So it's unclear whether the potential move of Pharma Chemie is motivated by a better tax environment or a desire by company President Mark Pieloch to leave the state where he faces a charge of failing to pay sales tax.

Pieloch has filed paperwork for tax incentives to move the 40-worker plant from Syracuse to Brevard County, Fla. He did not respond Thursday to requests for comment.

"While the company is considering locations in three other states, we are working closely with Pharma Chemie officials and are currently in active discussions," said Lynda Weatherman, president of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast. She declined to identify the other states.

Meanwhile, elected officials in Syracuse, along with Nebraska economic development staff, were working to keep the company in Nebraska.

Pharma Chemie makes nutritional supplements for dogs, cats and horses. The supplements are sold under private labels of leading animal care companies.

"We want to keep an employer in the state," said Patty Wood, director of marketing and public relations with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development "That's always a concern of ours."

Carolyn Gigstad, director of the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, said she didn't know if all or part of the company's operations would be leaving.

"I don't know much about it," she said. "I hope we don't lose them."

Nebraska officials have engaged in discussions to help the company qualify for tax incentives to expand facilities and production, Wood said. But those efforts have been fruitless so far.

"They have never taken advantage of what Nebraska has to offer," she added.

Pieloch, 53, of Lincoln has more to worry about than the future of his company.

Nearly a year ago he was charged with a felony count of failing to pay Nebraska sales tax on a Chevrolet Avalanche he bought new in 2009 for $41,300. The tax bill would have been nearly $2,900.

An affidavit filed in Lancaster County Court by a Nebraska State Patrol investigator said Pieloch owns houses in Lincoln, Florida, South Dakota and other states. The investigator staked out Pieloch's Lincoln house for 46 days and determined it was his primary residence.

The affidavit alleged that Pieloch claimed his main home was in South Dakota so that he could license and register cars in a state with lower vehicle taxes and fees than Nebraska.

Pieloch also owns a collection of about 150 classic cars that he keeps on private display at a building in Syracuse. Some of the cars reportedly are valued at more than $500,000.

As of 2010, no sales tax had been received on 112 cars titled by Pieloch, according to the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles.

Pieloch is free on a personal recognizance bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled Sept. 16.

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