A meeting held today to discuss the future of Kent Trusses and its 80 jobs may have produced a glimpse of hope, but work is continuing to find a solution to the company's financial woes.
See original story; Kent Trusses shutdown...100 jobs in jeopardy
Sundridge mayor Lyle Hall told BayToday that he had "neutral news" to report after the meeting with Kent's president and its general manager this morning in North Bay.
"The meeting was sharing information and exploration of options to lead to the solution to the problem with Kent Trusses," Hall said.
Hall says another meeting is planned in the "next week or so" because action needs to be taken quickly.
See: Big meeting on fate of Kent Trusses today
Sundridge council meets tonight and it's expected an in-camera meeting will be held to discuss proposals discussed at today's meeting.
"After having that discussion we'll decide whether we want to pursue it," said Hall.
Meanwhile Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller says he spoke directly to Kent's president Julio Cacoilo this morning.
"I think it's frustrating for him because it was actually looking like a good year and their order book is up 50 percent over last year but they've had a lumber supply issue where they weren't delivered lumber last week, and that caused this hopefully temporary shutdown. I think the good news is they're in a position with good orders and if they are able to solve their problems then they're predicting a decent profit this year. So I think that's very positive."
Miller says the company is very concerned about its employees and is doing everything it can to make it a success.
"They're looking for support to solve their problems as quickly as possible because they want to stay in business, deliver their orders and be sustainable. I'm really hopeful that they can do that."
Miller calls the problem a "credit-related problem, a credit-supply issue" that caused the supplier not to deliver the lumber to the plant and says Cacoilo told him they needed support quickly or "things will unravel."
That support will have to come from the community and government admitted Miller.
"The organizations he (Cacoilo) met with this morning are federal but I've had my staff reach out to provincial agencies like the Heritage Fund corporation to see if there's any support they have for the problems."
An interview request to MP Tony Clement was not returned.
