Uncertainty follows abrupt Lincoln mill closing

LINCOLN – “How long will it last?” seemed to be the recurring question Friday among people pondering Lincoln Pulp and Paper Co.’s “temporary” mill shutdown.

Much of the discussion in the town’s restaurants, gas stations and stores focused on Thursday’s announcement, the company’s more than $87 million in debts and speculation about when the mill’s more than 450 employees who punched out Friday would go back to work.

Many employees not scheduled to work during the day shift Friday pulled into the mill’s parking lot briefly to pick up paperwork or other belongings before leaving just as quickly. When approached, the majority of workers opted not to talk with reporters.

One mill worker, who preferred not to be identified, said he had been asked to remain working as part of the plant’s skeleton crew. He expected to be working through next week, but none of the mill officials have told him what could happen after that.

The mood among workers inside the mill was bleak Friday, the man said, adding that there are about “10,000 rumors floating around.”

“People are hoping it’s going to reopen soon,” the man said in the mill’s parking lot. “Right now, they’re draining a lot of equipment. It looks like things are going to be done for a while.”

After fielding calls Friday morning about the announcement, Town Manager Glenn Aho described the closing as unexpected.

“As much of a reality as mill closings have become in recent years, this still comes as a shock,” Aho said.

Town officials have made no plans concerning the temporary shutdown and are waiting until more information becomes available, Aho said, referring to the closed-door meeting between mill officials, lenders, union representatives and the governor’s office scheduled for Tuesday in Augusta.

“We’re not going to panic,” Aho said. “We need to see how this is going to play out. The worst thing we could do is take a knee-jerk reaction without knowing all of the information.”

As one of the handful of workers on the mill’s skeleton crew for next week, Jeffery Gifford is expecting to continue with his current work schedule for the time being. Gifford maintains the mill’s fire prevention systems, such as the sprinklers and fire extinguishers, and will remain working because of insurance regulations, he said. The rest of the skeleton crew will likely perform daily maintenance to the equipment and keep it warm, he said.

Like many others right now, Gifford has more questions than answers about what the future will hold.

“It’s a sad thing and an uncertainty because nobody knows really what’s going to happen,” Gifford said in a phone interview Friday evening. “Hopefully, this will all be resolved by next week. That may be wishful thinking, but I’m trying to stay optimistic.”