The Vincennes City Council on Monday approved a final tax abatement resolution for Schott North America and introduced an ordinance to raise fees for residential and handicap parking signs.

Schott North America plans to invest $1.8 million in new manufacturing equipment at its Chestnut Street facility to support a fourth production line. The move follows recent council discussions supporting the company’s continued growth and local investment.

At a public hearing before the council vote, no one spoke for or against the request. The abatement was approved on a 4-1 vote, with council member Ryan Lowe opposed.

In other business, the council held a first reading of an ordinance to increase fees for residential and handicap parking signs. City Inspector Brad Snider said the update is needed to cover rising costs and improve tracking of signs.

“Basically what we’re doing is this ordinance was established in 1977, amended in 2017, and in my six years in office the collection of the fees for the signs has kind of went by the wayside, and we’re wanting to get this reestablished,” Snider told the council. “Whenever I talked to the street superintendent, Jeff Wood, the $100 charge for the signs and the post — we were going in the hole on.”

Under the proposal, the initial fee for a new sign would rise to $200, and the annual renewal fee would increase from $25 to $50 starting next year.

A second reading and final vote are expected at a future council meeting.