Buc-ee's eyes Ruston location, seeks tax break

Story updated with new information - Jan. 9 @ 8:30 a.m.

Speculation that a Buc-ee’s travel center is coming to Ruston appears to be coming true.

The city’s Board of Aldermen is scheduled to vote on Monday on a proposed cooperative endeavor that reportedly includes a tax incentive package that’s the next step in landing a local outlet of the popular Texas-based convenience store.

As of midday Friday, the CEA with CSMS Management of Pearland, Texas, had not been finalized, but sources aware of the project said the plan is likely to include an unidentified tax exemption for a specified number of years, and the city picking up the initial cost of infrastructure improvements at the proposed site near the I- 20 Tarbutton exchange.

Though the agenda item doesn’t mention Buc-ee’s, CSMS’s corporate brass is the same as Buc- ee’s. Arch “Beaver” Aplin III owns CSMS, according to documents filed with the Texas secretary of state’s office.

Aplin also owns Buc-ee’s. He founded the chain in 1982 with business partner Don Wasek. Wasek is also listed as an officer in CSMS.

Mayor Ronny Walker declined comment on the agenda item.

The company is reportedly eyeing an 84-acre site on the north side of I-20 across from Ruston Junior High School. So far, no property sale has been recorded in the Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court’s office. The Ruston Buc-ee’s will be the first in Louisiana.

In 2016, the company announced tentative plans to build a store in Baton Rouge but junked the plan in 2017.

The local tax incentive plan reportedly also includes pending agreements by the Lincoln Parish School Board, Lincoln Parish Police Jury and Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office to also forgo undisclosed tax revenue from the business for a specified period.

The school board and police jury are scheduled to vote next week on CEA’s outlining their participation in the project.