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Hazelwood Awaits Decision on Future for Ford Plant
JANE BANASZEK PHOTO
STORY BY JEANETTE EBERLIN RIZZELLO
Plans for the future of the Hazelwood Ford plant area cannot be made until after September of this year; says Hazelwood Mayor T. R. Carr.
“The Hazelwood City Council and city manager have made this a priority this year,” he said in an interview this week. “They know this is a prime site, it is located next to I 270, and is one of the few remaining sites in St. Louis County with active rail service, he said.
The 160-acre property is owned by Ford, is currently “idled”, and cannot be closed, sold or redeveloped until September of 2007 without UAW (United Auto Workers) approval.
Carr gave a brief history of events surrounding the startling announcement of Ford’s closing activities this way:
•At 7:45 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2002 Mayor Carr received a telephone call from Ford officials stating that the plant would be closed by 2005. This was a surprise announcement; there was no advance indication of closure.
•When contacted by the media at 7:55 a.m. Carr was asked about plans for the future. He described a three-pronged strategy:
1) Change Ford’s mind with a task force headed by then Governor Bob Holden. or
1) Seek another manufacturing use. Or
2) Seek a different use.
•Gov. Holden formed the task force headed by Ameren UE CEO Charles
Mueller.
•Several trips were made to Detroit by the governor, the mayor, St. Louis County Executive Buzz Westfall and Mueller
•September of 2003 Ford agreed to change plans and keep the plant open for the length of the new UAW contract until September 2007.
•Due to market share decline, Ford changed its two shifts to one shift in April 2005.
•In the Spring of 2006 the plant was idled. Some employees retired; some transferred to Chicago or Kansas City; some were bought out by
Ford and about 200 still receive salaries from Ford until September 2007.
Mayor Carr summed up his and some other city officials’ feelings as he said, ‘ The City of Hazelwood looks forward to working with Ford to develop the area as soon as Ford is legally able to proceed.”
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