Dairy To Shut Down in Wisconsin Rapids

That’s a shame. 

Schreiber Foods, based in Green Bay, will shut down its Wisconsin Rapids facility Sept. 30, said Deborah Van Dyk, a company vice president.

“It’s possible that some small amount of production will continue beyond that date,” Van Dyk said, adding that the plant currently employs 140 workers. “It depends on how the transition moves.”

Production will be transferred to the company’s new facility in Carthage, Mo.—a decision made primarily to better serve customers who purchase the processed cheese products the business makes in Wisconsin Rapids, Van Dyk said.

But this comment struck me as odd:

“Clearly, it’s another disaster,” said state Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids. “It’s like the gods are piling it on us. It’s another kick in the teeth.”

The closure will no doubt have a negative effect on income and property tax revenue in the area and on other businesses that benefit from the company’s labor force, Schneider said.

I hope that Schneider had more to say than that, because it looks from the way the reporter wrote the story that Schneider’s only concern is how the job cuts will impact tax revenue.  I’ll give Schneider the benefit of the doubt on this one. 

1. I guess the moral is that if you get your paycheck from the State government, your sole concern is making sure the State government has enough money to pay you.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 19, 2008 at 0948 hrs




2. The Wisconsin Rapids area has lost well over 2000 jobs in the last year or so, which, for an area of 25,000, is devastating.  Most of these jobs have been in the manufacturing area.
   Schneider, having been my representavive when I lived up, is not beyond what he said.  He is a big government fan and since he has been in government or government employee almost all of his adult life, his comment does not surprise me.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 19, 2008 at 1008 hrs




3. Schneider says things like that so he can create yet another class of “victims” - victims in need of, what else, government assistance.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 19, 2008 at 1010 hrs




4. You are very generous in giving the benefit of the doubt - I wouldn’t - it seems like the “driver” in so many governmental decisions is the potential for tax revenue - I know this guy is State, but take a look at how municipalities use planning & zoning to encourage construction of commercial properties and “high-end” housing & Tax Incremental Financing Districts.

   Whether or not the “sole concern” is making sure the government has enough money, I think it is incredibly rude and insensitive on the part of an elected official to bring that up - people are going to suffer an economic impact because of this - how about an elected official offering up an idea on how to “share the pain”.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 19, 2008 at 1010 hrs