NEW BOSTON RECEIVES MONEY FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS

I want to publicly thank the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) for approving $150,000 in financial assistance to the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) for improvements at the Bob Walton Industrial Park in New Boston.

These funds will be used to pay for relocation of electrical power lines which is part of the site preparation needed for plant construction of Reliance Steel's Infra-Metals project.

This is the first allocation of funding to support economic development efforts in the four-county region as a result of proceeds SODI has received from the recycling of excess clean scrap metals at the Department of Energy's Piketon plant.

Reliance Steel is expected to begin construction in New Boston before the end of the year and projected to be in operation by mid 2012. The company plans to begin with approximately 66 employees and hopes to employ about 100 workers at full production. It will be a subsidiary of Reliance-Infra-Metals of Wallingford, Conn.

I would also point out that SODI is a Department of Energy recognized Community Reuse Organization. Under an agreement between DOE and SODI, non-radioactive scrap metals from the cleanup of the former uranium enrichment plant in Piketon are being transitioned to SODI for recycling with a portion of the recycling proceeds returned to the local communities to support economic growth in Scioto, Pike, Ross and Jackson counties.

Mike Payton
9-15-2011

LABOR DAY IN NEW BOSTON AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

I wanted to take some time and talk about Labor Day. As we all know, it is celebrated the first Monday of each September. Here in Scioto County Labor Day is marked by the annual Riverdays festival and parade.

Labor Day pays tribute to America's work force. Created by the labor movement of the late 19th century, it became a federal holiday in 1894.

As we in New Boston know, and also unfortunately other towns throughout Ohio and the U.S., organized labor has taken a beating at the hands of corporate leaders, with companies being merged, closed or moved out of the country. What is left is huge empty buildings, parking lots with grass growing through the cracked concrete and countless people on unemployment, working two or more jobs, and relocating their families all over the country.

In the past year our current governor has tried hard to strip Collective Bargaining Rights from state and county employees, effectively eliminating teacher, nurse, police, fire, and other public service unions. Salaries and benefits will be determined by the state legislature and the governor.

As the governor of Wisconsin tried to bring the American Labor Movement to a complete end in his state, our governor is now trying the same in Ohio.

Here in Scioto County, already Governor Kasich has closed the Ohio River Valley Youth Detention Center in Franklin Furnance. He has eliminated over 300 state jobs from Scioto County alone, a county that ranks in the top five in unemployment in the state.

If Senate Bill 5 is not repealed, the remaining hopes for any type of quality salaried jobs, quality benefits and decent working conditions will be thrown to the wind in Ohio. The American Labor movement will once again have taken a huge blow.

As those of us in New Boston, Scioto County, and all of Ohio enjoy this Monday, we need to remember it is a gift to all of us working people from those who worked so hard for us. I urge all
voters in New Boston, Portsmouth, Scioto County and Ohio to remember the hard work those of the late 19th century did on our behalf and lets honor them by keeping their hard work alive for future generations of American Workers. Please vote to stop Governor Kasich and stop Senate Bill 5.

Mike Payton
9-5-11