WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Shane Blaser says he and others are losing faith that the former Verso Paper Mill will return to full operations anytime soon.
“I’ll be honest. Every week that goes by, [brings] less positive feeling,” said Blaser. “Buildings are meant to be used, and idled buildings deteriorate quicker unless they are maintained. So in reality I don’t know that it will ever open as a paper mill. Hopefully [one day] there will be a use for it that will benefit the community.”
The lower mill is still functioning and serves as a conversion facility for parent company Billerud- taking paper and making it into folio and digital sheets. But that only accounts for a percentage of the campus, and not nearly the number of jobs that the facility once supported.
“It’s come down to a couple hundred employees, but from what I’ve heard they are thriving and everything is going well. And Sunoco is doing well, so hopefully that will continue,” said Blaser.
Blaser says the issue is one that he will be unable to settle during his remaining time in office and will likely be one of the top priorities for whoever is elected as the new Mayor next spring. But the issue is largely out of the city’s hands because it’s currently owned by Billerud.
“We talk about it weekly. It is never far from our mind,” added Blaser.
Blaser is not running for re-election after two terms as Mayor. Those interested in running can circulate nominating papers now, they’ll be due back to the Clerk’s Office in early January.
Other topics Blaser discussed with WSAU’s Mike leischner include:
Start of video- Running list of projects for the new Mayor
3:50- Call for citizen appointees for city commissions
8:00- Verso mill update
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