Leitchfield officials hope a meeting with a California factory could mean an expansion in Leitchfield — and more jobs locally.
Following a closed-door executive session at the Monday, July 16, city council meeting, Mayor William Thomason said Leitchfield/Grayson County Industrial Recruiter Dudley Cooper is west coast-bound to discuss a possible plant expansion.
The mayor didn’t name the company or industry Cooper is meeting with, but did say the company already has two facilities in Leitchfield and 246 local employees.
The city’s monthly bill list, however, shows a $604 charge for airfare to California, with “Plastikon” listed in the description.
Cooper is expected to brief city officials of the trip’s details at the next council meeting, set for Aug. 6.
Plastikon is based in Hayward, Calif., where it has its world headquarters and medical and Toyota-certified paint and decoration plants. According to its website, the company’s only other U.S. facilities are in Leitchfield and an engineering and sales/customer service office in Detroit.
The company has five plants and offices in China.
In March 2011, Plastikon expanded its Leitchfield operations, adding 90,000 square feet and creating 100 new jobs. The
company makes plastic automotive interior trims.
Plastikon officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning.
In other action, the council:
* Approved closing part of the William Thomason Bypass and part of Brandenburg Road on a Saturday in October for a fundraising walk. More details, including the date, are expected to be announced at a later date.
* Mentioned that some city and tourism officials have been visiting indoor pools — including ones in Hartford and the St. Louis area — to gather ideas for a proposed indoor pool locally.
In other city council business:
The council signed a resolution declaring this week as Fiddle Week. Mayor Thomason presented the resolution to Ed Carnes, Joyce Mudd and Lisa Pharis, who were all major players in the coordination of this Saturday’s Twin Lakes National Fiddler’s Contest and Queen Pageant.
The council approved to pay up to $1000 of invoices on behalf of the fiddler’s contest.
Mayor Thomason said last weekend’s Freedom Festival was a success despite the threat of rainy weather, which may have led to lower numbers in attendance. The Leitchfield Tourism Commission used the newly generated revenue from the restaurant tax to pay for the festival. The $3000 carnival rides were offered to the public for free. Thomason said they had children obtain an armband so the city could keep a tally on the number kids who utilized the free rides. The event gave out the only 450 armbands they had within two hours and children continued to ask for armbands. Long lines to the rides and food vendors proved a successful show of interest from the public in this year’s event, according to Thomason.
















