Minnesota Insurance

Joe Mikulich custom doors in the only major employer in this small town.

The work of wood products plant in Hoyt Lakes was a coveted, especially after LTV Steel Mining Co. Shut the taconite mine employs 1400 earlier this year.

But in early March, Mikulich, a corps of volunteer fire department, saw his work go up in smoke. A roof collapsed in charge of snow, and the explosion and fire followed destroyed the factory. Location of the plant: more than 100 people.

Then Mikulich trying to remember that his automobile insurance, insurance payments on his pick-up missed, if it exists.

“That’ll be my next stop, Mikulich said,” even if I am walking into the bank research like this. “His canvas jacket fire and yellow hat tacheré was difficult with Russia.

Many others in cities along the cluster-Iron Range in northern Minnesota has already taken the same trip, try to discover their savings, pension and insurance solutions based on the closing price LTV mine she threw the workplace.

At Cleveland, the effects of LTV Corp. ‘problems have been cut. Most laid-off workers of steel last year in Cleveland’s LTV works have since again to their jobs. And if LTV is able to reorganize the administration of bankruptcy, under the protection of their jobs could be sure.

But in Hoyt Lakes, 2300 inhabitants, there is no mercy in sight.

The city was literally a precursor of LTV, Erie Erie Mining Co. dug the first low-grade ore taconite of the Mesabi Iron Range in 1950, raw materials for agriculture mills. The mine left, the closing price the common economic shocks.

“There are no other jobs in the steel Range taconite other than employment,” state Rep. Rukavina, said Tom.

Recalling 80 years, recession

For people residing in Hoyt Lakes, LTV, the decision to close the mine is a chilling echo early 1980, a sharp recession in the steel and iron ore bar employment in the sector LTV’s Mine and six others in the region of 16000 to nearly 6000 cities declined in population. Consolidated School. Enterprise.

In Hoyt Lakes, families key to their house to the banker, because she could not do more mortgage rates of reimbursement.

Cliff Niedzielski had four years to the mine, if the dismissals. For seven years, he floated between jobs cutter in shops nearby.

Then in 1988, was a call to return to the mine. The Niedzielskis in the company town Hoyt Lakes, where all the interior was planted a tree Crab Apple, and each block has been planned, a house something bigger than the rest - for a mine supervisor. The family has received such, for $ 14000, still fragile property market.

It was a comfortable life, if you have nothing against the long winters. Cars and houses were seldom locked. Kids played ice hockey and built fortresses in the forests. The population was born and grew up in the beach iron tend to remain or return wanted Niedzielski wife, JoAnn, said.

After the turmoil of 80 years, was over, Hoyt Lakes minors has worked continuously for over a decade. There were rumors about a closure or layoffs, but it has proved a string of false alerts.

A flowered after the confidence of union members five years in August 1999 contract, said Jerry Fallos, president of the United Steel Workers of America, Local 4108 Family bought boats on which they operate near the Boundary Waters. They received snowmobile, ice fishing houses and the second car.