SARTELL - This is the third day fire crews have been on the scene at Verso Paper in Sartell, and the costs are beginning to mount.

Mayor Joe Perske says the number one priority is to put out the fire completely, but the city will have to start looking at how they're going to pay for the costs.  He says he brought that up to the Governor yesterday (Tuesday) when he was in town.

During last (Tuesday) night's city council meeting, Sartell Fire Captain Jerry Raymond says he expects the damage estimate from the explosion and fire will likely result in one central Minnesota's greatest dollar losses.

Many in town wonder what will happen to the plant.  Perske says it's too early to tell, but the city will do what it can to help keep the mill open.

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