WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — Plans are in the works for the long-idled paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids.
Mayor Matt Zacher says high-level talks are going on behind the scenes, and while he’s not ready to spill any details just yet he says an announcement is not far off. “Things are happening, and they are all good things,” said Zacher. “It’s a matter of crossing the Ts and dotting the Is and making it happen.”
He knows that a teaser about the mill location will turn heads, but he doesn’t want to break the news before all parties agree they are ready for the publicity. Zacher says no one wins if things fall apart after the news is leaked, especially city staff. “You’ll have a pretty big egg on your face and people will learn not to trust you. We need to build these relationships on trust and keep the trust until everyone [agrees to] talk about it publicly.”
Zacher adds that the past few weeks have been full of discussions surrounding the state of the mill and what it will take to repurpose the structure if needed. He admits those are things he’s having to learn on the fly. “It’s a lot of money changing hands in order to make this whole thing go. The city isn’t used to being a part of this because it doesn’t happen every day. I think everybody means well, but when it comes to this kind of money- everybody needs to look out for their own best interest [including] the city.
“Big things are happening at the mill, and they’re all good things. It’s just a matter of crossing the Ts and dotting the Is,” added Zacher.
The mill site has been vacant since mid-2020 when Verso shut down the plant. The property has changed hands a few times, most recently last spring when it was sold to Capital Recovery Group who planned to liquidate it.
At its peak, the mill employed nearly 1,000 people.
Other topics Mayor Zacher discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner:
Start of video- Mayor’s routine and Mill update
7:00- Property revaluation
14:05- Buddy Poppy Weekend
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