Comments on: Plum Creek to Permanently Close Pablo Sawmill
By ron on 04-27-09
OH BOY…..that shut down is going to be a huge ripple affect for lots of small busineses. From the market to the gas station to the hair dresser to Wal-Mart to pizzza places to many places. Just magnify that what is happening to GM and Chrysler….....and then bring it back down to Montana. Its a large manufacturing loss. Would it now be more cost efficent to CUT the WAGES of the CEO & CFO an other top managment at Plum Creek. The CEO made some 5 million in wages this last year….plus perks. Plus, they get breaks with the Real Estate Investment Trust…....$$$$ they are making. Oh Well…....sell real estate that they got for FREE years ago. And, I have never worked at PC…....should you wonder. I do know economics the hard way.
By Watcher on 04-27-09
Ron, the CEO of Plum Creek didn’t make 1/5th the wages you stated last year(Check PC’s SEC filings for all the CORRECT info), everything else is performance based and not liquid. Executives get what they get because they have a job that most people can’t do. And for that matter wouldn’t want to do…for any amount of money.
Closing a mill because its hemorrhaging money is just a business decision, it says nothing about the good men and women that are losing their jobs.
Pablo specifically get’s NO LOGS from within 100 miles of the mill, they are shipped in via rail car from Eastern Montana, and Wyoming. How is that supposed to stay viable for any length of time?
By Dave Skinner on 04-27-09
Holy smokesaroonie. Here it comes, and there they go…...
By Lumber Trader on 04-27-09
Cal Max, he’ll come to the photo op, make a speech, heck…he’ll even promise to look into it personally, and tell em to go ahead and book summer vacations and buy new cars….because this mill is going to keep on running!!”
Isn’t that his normal speech?
The sure kiss of death, if he shows up in town.
By ron on 04-27-09
By Watcher: you must be one of the entrenched PC executives that make perks & bene’s. Skill to run a company that size are plenty. My first job out of college over 30 years ago…..I had 344 people working in a high tech industry, 8 mechanics & 5 lead men…....my first job. Did “team management”......before you knew of the word…....problem….I called a spade a spade….and did not play POLITICS…..I quit after 4 years.
One has to be a politician first and last…...not good at running a manufacturing facility. And you ought to check the total $$ you said the CEO does not earn. Plum Creek does get logs from around the Northwest…...you ought to drive US 93 going South…..and see the trucks…..in the last few years.
And, with PC selling off FREE LAND or swapping to put in the REIT…..where is that $$. Building roads and under ground services…..to sell lake lots. Plum Creek got the land via a transfer from Great Northern Railway…...for collateral to build railroads…....given the land. Look at a USFS map…..every other section is owned by PC mostly, anyway.
Plumb Creek like too many large companies these days…..just is plain too large. Branching out into other things for new fields to spend money. The state of Maine is next…cut the wood down, hire a manager to plan selling lake front homes and then reap the short term rewards…..by getting a pay raise….from a board of directors that eat at the same table.
By Nancy on 04-28-09
The shutdown and layoffs of all these people will effect everyone in the Valley. Without jobs mortgage or rent obligations cannot be met, they will stop shopping, cutting down on other services, gas, dining, hair, nails, dry cleaning, clothing, travel, recreation, etc. I think we get the picture. This effects everyone and I do not see an end in sight anytime soon.
By Pop on 04-28-09
It isn’t anybody’s business what kind of money the CEO of Plum Creek makes; he worked his way to the top of a huge corporation in a system of politics and capitalism, good for him as long as he can keep that job.Anyway, yes our town will be vastly affected by the loss of this huge company. Wait a minute, who didn’t see this coming? What makes Kalispell viable as an industrial center in the modern world? We lack the shipping/transportation to do it right. This has not ever been addressed with an eye to the future.
We need to get real about what Kalispell is and could be and get a plan going. It’s best bet, without industry, is tourism and luxury retirement and extravagant living for those who can afford to do this. The rest of us need to cater to these people and make a living in serving their needs. If you don’t want to do that, I’m sorry, but I just don’t see how you will survive here. Unless somebody can come up with another plan. One such plan gets a lot of negative response, and that is the whole “BUY LOCAL” thing. What money you do have from pay check to pay check and spend to stay alive is best invested in your future, and that of the LOCAL economy’s survival, by spending it at LOCAL businesses. Giving it to box stores is not helping your future. Need to think about this, friends.
Good luck to everyone.
The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.