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A longtime Wichita manufacturer's decision to withdraw a tax exemption request left City Council members scratching their heads Tuesday morning. Officials from Big Dog Motorcycles withdrew without explanation Friday a request to extend tax breaks from a $1.1 million industrial revenue bond issue in 2003 to build a warehouse — an extension that city staff had recommended for approval. According to city documents, Big Dog met each of three criteria established by the city for at least a one-year extension: Completion of the warehouse, creation of more than 40 new jobs in five years and a significant return on the city's investment. The withdrawal perplexed Mayor Carl Brewer, who said after the meeting that he wasn't aware of a reason. "We have no idea," the mayor said in an e-mail. "They just called Friday and asked us to pull the item. We were asking each other the same thing." Big Dog employees declined to comment about the tax exemption Tuesday afternoon. However, manufacturing operations were evident on the site and an employee said the company was preparing product for a motorcycle show. City staff had recommended approval of a one-year extension for the motorcycle manufacturer, despite an economic downturn that caused the company to slash employment from a peak of 336 in 2005 to 37 today. Also Tuesday, the city tabled action on a recommendation to deny an extension to CAP Carpet while the company's owners negotiate a reduced tax exemption with the city. In 2005, CAP received a 90 percent property tax exemption as part of a $3.95 million bond issue to build a new building at 535 S. Emerson. CAP was required to complete the building, which it did, and create 37 new jobs in five years while meeting city return-on-investment criteria. Instead, the company created 19 new jobs and failed to meet the city's return-on-investment threshold of 1.3 to 1. Company CEO Aaron Pirner asked the council to consider lowering the percentage of his property tax exemption, rather than eliminating it. "We were caught in a tornado of economic change," Pirner said. "We were in the housing and aviation industries that were hit very hard." Most council members supported the extension request. Council member Janet Miller said the city must get adequate return on the IRB deals. "You're going to need to get that return on investment quite a bit higher in the future," she told Pirner. The council also extended for a year a tax exemption for KGB, once known as InfoNXX, a directory assistance firm. Bell said KGB exceeded city requirements for an extension by spending $7.3 million on fixtures, furniture and equipment at 8400 E. 32nd St. North, and on the city's return on investment criteria — 2.35 to 1 on the city's general fund investment. The company failed to create 944 new jobs in five years, topping out at 870 before huge layoffs cut its current job level to 185.

Two years of persistent efforts by powersports enthusiasts, dealers and other industry representatives have driven Congress to action. On February 17, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade will hold a hearing to review the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The Motorcycle Industry Council continues to focus Congress’ attention on the unintended ban on youth model ATVs and motorcycles resulting from the CPSIA’s lead content provisions – and the safety risks that the ban presents to youth riders – and has submitted a letter for the hearing. “Congress knows that the risk to children comes from banning youth models, not from the lead in metal parts, and there now is a will to solve this problem once and for all,” said Paul Vitrano, MIC’s general counsel. “We urge Congress to stop the ban by either lowering the age range of ‘children’s products’ to age 6 and under or granting a categorical exemption for youth ATVs and motorcycles, as provided in Representative Denny Rehberg’s bill, H.R. 412.” MIC has issued a video call to action urging the powersports community to make a final push to encourage their Congressional representatives to amend the CPSIA to ensure youth ATVs and motorcycles remain available. “The timing of this hearing is perfect,” Vitrano added. “With much of the industry gathering in Indianapolis this week for the Dealer Expo, we have a tremendous opportunity to flood Capitol Hill with hand-signed letters and electronic messages asking our Representatives and Senators to stop the ban.” Enthusiasts can use the portal on www.stopthebannow.com to send an electronic message to their Members of Congress as well as the members of the House and Senate committees with oversight of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. MIC also will again work the floor at the Dealer Expo to gather thousands of signatures on letters to Congressional leadership. For those not attending the show, the letters are available on www.stopthebannow.com.

Erik Buell, a Hall of Famer and the innovative engineer who turned his love of roadracing and high-performance motorcycles into the American sportbike company that bore his name, will take the stage at the Hall of Fame fund-raising event to talk about motorcycles, his years running his company and what the future holds for one of America’s most free-thinking bike-builders. Whether you’re a fan of motorcycle history or modern motorcycle mastery, Buell’s perspective on the past 20 years promises to make the 23rd annual edition of the breakfast a one-of-a-kind event. “Erik Buell is a Hall of Famer not only for his innovative and dogged pursuit of motorcycling excellence, but also because the bikes he built were evocative and impressive enough to earn one of the most passionate fan bases in all of motorcycling,” said Jeff Heininger, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation that is responsible for raising funds for the Hall of Fame, which is on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio. “Few people have Erik’s perspective on the parts of America’s motorcycle history that are still being written today, and I, for one, can’t wait to hear what he has to say.” Buell says he’s been busy in the last year with his Erik Buell Racing company, but he’s keeping his eye on even bigger things. “For me, motorcycling has always been about the journey, about the people, about the ideas behind the machines, and it will be great to connect with enthusiasts at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at Daytona fundraiser,” Buell said. “And who knows? I may have a surprise or two to announce by then.” The Breakfast at Daytona will take place on March 11 in the main level of the Daytona 500 Club inside the Daytona International Speedway. The event also includes a silent auction of unique items related to the Hall of Fame, and an autograph session with Buell and other Motorcycle Hall of Famers.