Chillicothe — Mayor Luke Feeney gave a long briefing in the latest council session, covering the impact of the paper mill closing on city government, the Wear-Ever groundwater pollution, and other issues.

Feeney spoke for 23 minutes in the August 25th, 2025 council session. For the first 11 minutes, he addressed Pixelle issues, and also the paper mill’s impact on the Wear-Ever / Howmet plume of “forever chemicals” in the groundwater under the facility on Eastern Avenue.

Feeney pointed out that Chillicothe is in a position unlike many towns where a major employer departs. He said the Pixelle situation is more of a public affair here, with weekly task-force meetings to address many aspects of it since the closure announcement.

But, he said they haven’t been able to delay the closure or g

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