Verso Sold, Property’s Future Remains a Mystery [AUDIO]

SARTELL - Local leaders say they are in the dark about the planned sale of the Verso Paper Mill in Sartell.  The Verso Paper Corporation announced the deal in an email yesterday (Tuesday).

The terms of the deal, and information about the company AIM Development (USA) LLC, have not been disclosed.

Sartell City Administrator Patti Gartland says the city has very limited information, but she thinks it is a turning point for the property.  She says she's looking forward to sitting down with the new company.

C-E-O of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation John Kramer says he knows nothing about the deal.  He says his organization worked with a few other interested buyers, but not AIM Development.  He says he's happy the mill is going to be sold, but there's still a lot of questions that need to be answered.

And State Senator Michelle Fischbach says she heard about the sale through news media outlets just like everybody else.  She says it's too soon to speculate about what, if any, state involvement there may be.

State Representative Tim O'Driscoll of Sartell says he has not been approached by anyone for state aid.

O'Driscoll says Governor Mark Dayton was open to the idea of state assistance to help attract a buyer last year.

Verso says it does not plan to comment further on the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter.

An explosion and fire at the mill killed one worker and injured four last Memorial Day.  Verso announced in August it would not reopen the mill that sits on 37.5 acres.