AMPI weighing options

Cooperative still gathering information in fire aftermath

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM --A week and a half after the AMPI butter plant fire, the cooperative's officials are still gathering information and weighing their options as far as the future of the butter operation.

While an assistant State Fire Marshal put the preliminary damage at around $14 million on Friday, Mark Furth, General Manager of Associated Milk Producers corporate office, said he still hasn't heard an official damage figure from the cooperative's insurers, and the cooperative still has not made a decision on the future of the plant.

Furth and other AMPI officials have said since the day after the fire that they would like to rebuild, to "make it work and make it work in New Ulm." But the cleanup in the plant is still underway, and until it is AMPI won't know how much it would have to do to rebuild or replace.

"We're still gathering facts and information and examining our options," Furth said Friday.

Some AMPI workers are involved with the cleanup, along with companies hired by AMPI's insurers, said Furth. The company hasn't made a decision yet on when or how it might resume butter production.

"We hope that within a week we'll have a better idea and be able to announce something," Furth said.

Kevin Sweeney can be e-mailed at editor@nujournal.com