Maine residents approve tannery waste water deal
A US tannery in Hartland, Maine will remain open, albeit under different ownership and a new name, following a vote by the town’s residents on 12 February 2011.
Residents voted 196-15 to approve a new cost-sharing agreement for the municipal wastewater treatment facility between the town and the tannery’s new owners.
The agreement to reduce the tannery’s share of the costs will translate into a higher municipal tax rate but also means the more than 150 people now employed at Prime Tanning will keep their jobs.
“It’s good news for the employees, the town, everybody,” said Paul Larochelle, president of Prime Tanning-Hartland.
Soon after the vote, representatives of Tasman Industries signed a $6.5 million deal to acquire the tanning business. Mr Larochelle said it may take a little while to get back to full operation but that Tasman Leather Group will begin work in Hartland on 14 February.
Norman Tasman, president of Tasman Industries, and several other company representatives spoke in Hartland on 12 February about the company’s plans and answered questions from residents.
In November 2010, Prime Tanning became Maine’s third tannery to file for protection in the past ten years. Under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company reorganized and sought to reinvent itself after shuttering its Berwick plant and selling another plant in Missouri. The company cited liabilities of $10 million.
Tasman, which supplied hides to Prime Tanning, emerged as a suitor during bankruptcy proceedings.
