Greenfield working on railroad maintenance to facilitate Johnson Controls reopening

The city of Greenfield is working to make sure that railroad lines are up and working by June to assist Johnson Controls in reopening its doors. 

Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop told The Highland County Press Wednesday that the manufacturing company has met with the city regarding the steps necessary to start productions again in Greenfield. 

"I think Johnson Controls coming back brings enormous possibilities to the city of Greenfield," Bishop said. "It has been a company that has been a solid rock of employment for the citizens, and they have built a good rapport with the people. It's good for the morale of the people of Greenfield, and I look forward to it."

According to the Highland County Department of Job and Family Services, hundreds of people turned out at its offices on Tuesday to apply for positions at Johnson Controls, which closed local operations in 2009. 

"I think this is the start of a good working relationship," Bishop said. "I have had the opportunity to work with them here in the past when I was the community development director. As city manager, this is the first time I've had the opportunity to work with them."

Bishop said that she met with Johnson Controls representatives last week, "and we sat down and talked about what they needed, and what I needed to be working on. I talked to them about some things we needed from them as far as paperwork (on Tuesday and Wednesday). I also plan on talking with them in the next couple of days to make sure they have everything they need."

Bishop said among the things the company has asked of the city is maintenance of the railroad lines. 

"They need the rail operational by June 1," Bishop said. "We're working to try to make that happen. Since Johnson Controls hasn't been here we have put most of the emphasis into maintaining the lines for Candle-lite and Huhtamaki. We have let some things go between Leesburg and Greenfield, so what we're doing is trying to find out what needs to be done to get the trains into Johnson Controls."

The city, according to Bishop, has applied for two grants for rail improvements with the help of the Ohio Development Commission.

"We applied for one state and one federal grant, and we should know on Jan. 20 if we were successful on at least one," Bishop said. "I feel fairly confident about it, but I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch."

Bishop said the company has given her no indication why they decided to come back to Greenfield, but she is glad that they have.

"I'm excited about it, and I give Johnson Controls all the credit. They're the ones who made the decision to come back. I take no credit for anything there. It's all them," Bishop said. "I'm very glad for the citizens of Greenfield. This is a step in the right direction. There is a long way to go toward recovery, but I'm just glad this step has happened."