Valley tile company lays off 22 workers

By D.a. Wilkinson

The Columbiana County plant has lost about 600 employees over 10 years.

SUMMITVILLE — Summitville Tile recently laid off 22 more workers after a German company was given a contract to install tile at an elementary school at Fort Bragg Air Force Base.

The Army accepted a bid from Feldhaus, a subcontractor, without allowing Summitville Tiles, a 100-year-old ceramic tile and brick company, to bid, company officials said.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, had announced the Army confirmed that the work was awarded to a general contractor who ultimately had the responsibility to hire the subcontractors. Feldhaus received a $250,000 contract.

David Johnson, the president of the 100-year-old tile firm, said, Monday, “The Department of Defense and the Army Corps of Engineers never contacted anyone to listen to both sides.”

Johnson added, “It’s a sad commentary.”

American bidders do have some protection but only when projects are at the $7 million range, Johnson said.

The award, Johnson said, “was not political. Some local contractors hooked up with guys at Fort Bragg.”

Summitville Tile, like other businesses nationwide, has been feeling the pinch of the economic slowdown.

Ten years ago, Johnson said, it had 750 workers. Two years ago, it had 200 workers. Recently it had 150 workers, but it just temporarily laid off the 22 workers.

Johnson said Wilson had called him about the bidding.

In a statement, Wilson said, “I still strongly believe that the Army should be better about ensuring that American companies are given a fair shake. This experience with Summitville Tiles has reinforced my strong belief that American companies should be supported at all levels of federal contracting. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that we have better oversight of such contracts in the future.”

Johnson said his company digs clay and puts it in a kiln seven days a week. He said that the company was still doing business, and will continue to do so. “We’re fighters,” he said.