HILL CITY, S.D. – A long time business in the southern hills is shutting down.
The Neiman Enterprises Sawmill in Hill City announced it was shutting its doors after 53 years of business and laying off 120 people.
Jim Neiman says due to the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to reduce timber sales, he says there’s no longer enough timber available for purchase to keep the sawmill viable. He says they rely on the Forest Service for “approximately 80-percent of our supply.”
Earlier this month, South Dakota’s and Wyoming’s congressional delegations sent a letter led by Senator John Thune to U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen to encourage better cooperation between the Forest Service, local advisory boards and stakeholders who would be impacted by a potential rollback of timber sale programs.
Neiman Enterprises has been in Hill City for 53 years.
The announced closure caught the attention of Governor Kristi Noem Tuesday.
Governor Noem gave the following statement on the closure of the Hill City Sawmill:
“This is devastating news for the Sawmill’s employees, their families, and the Hill City community. Sadly, this could have been avoided if the federal government properly managed the Black Hills National Forest, but the U.S. Forest Service continues to ignore recommendations from the experts on allowable timber sales.
“Many of our Black Hills communities rely on the resources that the National Forest provides. Federal mismanagement threatens the health of these communities and the Forest. I will continue to work with our Congressional Delegation to improve the management of the Black Hills National Forest.”
