In previous stories, I have statements from other officials and community leaders:

Chillicothe Mayor Feeney: City Government Depends on Income Tax from Mill

Mayor Luke Feeney addressed the paper mill situation in his briefing to council on April 28th.

Feeney said he has been with the city since 2015 and never saw such a response from officials like the rally on Friday, April 18th – he had never seen all the officials who appeared there in same room. This is a lot of political weight.

The city relies on the income tax to operate. Feeney said that 100% of mill employees pay the city income tax – and that is $1.4M to $1.5M, about 8% of the city’s total income tax.

The city must approach on two fronts: Be optimistic…but also be realistic about the city budget if the mill closes after December. Feeney has instructed all department heads to consider their budgets.

The city auditor will have the usual “tax budget” prepared in July, to serve as guidance – though that is never the final say. The city has financial reserves that should get it through employee attrition to save money, but he’s unsure after a closure on January 1st.

“I will say: My optimism level on Tuesday, April 15th, was just about zero. My optimism on Good Friday was way higher than zero.”

Feeney believes there is capital out there to keep the mill open. He said he will keep council and the community informed.

Learn more in “Mayor’s Caution to Chillicothe Council on Paper Mill Situation.”

Congressman Taylor: State Has Leverage Over Owner

In an April 23rd event sponsored by the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Representative for Ohio David Taylor said he is working closely with U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno – who got the reprieve from the private equity firm H.I.G. which owns the Pixelle plant.

Taylor said Pixelle has not upgraded the mill, and that “a million issues” would come up if an inspector walked through. He said H.I.G. has other factories in Ohio where they need to be cooperative with state government, and the state probably has the most leverage over H.I.G. – whether with the proverbial carrot, or stick.

Taylor said “it would not be unlikely” to find a new mill operator who knows how to operate it at a profit.

He had said that anyone who has a need because of the paper mill can contact his local office, where constituents can get access to federal programs to help a transition to new job, and deal with time between jobs.

Learn more from that event in “Congressman Taylor Chats at Chillicothe & Ross County Chamber Gathering.”

Local Economic Leader Eallonardo: The Right People are in the Right Place to Act

At the April 18th news event, I asked Tammy Eallonardo, the director of “Greater Chillicothe and Ross County Development,” for more context about the situation with the paper mill.

She said the turnout of state and U.S. leadership shows that Chillicothe is important to the state as well, and she thanked those who helped them in their hour of need. Eallonardo said she is encouraged that they got the reprieve, and that it gives time to get their footing and see if they can salvage 830 jobs.

How much chance there is to save the it? She said it is impossible to say, but they have faith and confidence that the right people are in place to do so. If energy has anything to do with outcome, then they are set to succeed.

Learn more in “Economic Development Leader Gives Insights on Delayed Closure of Chillicothe Paper Mill.“

Eallonardo has helped lead two hour-long ‘paper mill task force’ meetings with the Ross County Commissioners since then.

Chillicothe Ross County Chamber CEO Throne: Considering What Roles Everyone Must Fill

When the worst news broke on on April 15th, I caught Mike Throne, CEO and president of the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce, between meetings.

After making sure the former mill employees have resources, Throne said they will need to work on how to fill “a big gaping hole in our community.”

He said the chamber, county, city, and economic development will consider what role each will have in marketing the mill site.

“As I look at it, it’s probably unlikely that another paper mill will go in there.” But Throne said if another paper company is looking for a viable market…he knows of a place.

Learn more in “Response Coming After Announced Closure of Chillicothe’s Paper Mill.“

This was three days before the reprieve to the end of the year was announced, on April 18th.

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