By BOB TOMASZEWSKI
STAFF WRITER
An estimated 1,500 people are expected to attend President Donald J. Trump’s visit to Pratt Industries on Sunday, where it is expected the president will take a tour of the new recycled paper mill and address the crowd. Prime Minister Scott Morrison MP of Australia and Ambassador Joe Hockey will also join the President for this visit.
Anthony Pratt, owner of Pratt Industries is expected at the event as well.
Attendees will include Wapakoneta school employees, city employees and elected officials, Auglaize County elected officials, and representatives of the Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce and area businesses.
Wapakoneta Mayor Tom Stinebaugh said the Wapakoneta City School District granted Pratt Industries a 10-year tax abatement worth about $10 million of dollars over 10 years.
“It makes sense that they are well represented,” Stinebaugh said.
The mayor said he hasn’t had to look for people to fill the venue as his office has been inundated with phone calls regarding the visit. A list of attendees was finalized by the end of Friday. “Everyone would like to see the president no matter who that is,” Stinebaugh said.
Lawmakers Ohio Rep. Craig Riedel, Sen. Rob Portman, Ohio Sen.Rob McColley, and Rep. Susan Manchester have been invited. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan is confirmed to be attending. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and State Sen. Matt Huffman will not be present due to scheduling conflicts.
Parking for the event will be at Wapakoneta High School.
Ten buses will shuttle attendees to Pratt Industries; buses are expected to leave at 2 p.m. Initial information indicated all attendees should be in place by 3 p.m., although the mayor said everyone should be in the building no later than 4 p.m. There will be no public parking at the Pratt site.
In addition, Wapakoneta Police Department records clerk Nikki Sawmiller said there will be no parking allowed along Short Road, Commerce Drive and Progress Drive for a full day, from midnight Sunday morning until Monday. County Road 25A, also known as Dixie Highway, will be shutdown from Industrial Drive to Owl Creek Road at an unspecified time.