For exactly two years, the United Steelworkers have been working at local Severstal plants without a new contract. Now, after numerous monthly extensions, they are working for the first time under a day-to-day contract.

Even so, some local officials said the contract limbo with the Russian steelmaker could be a good thing.

"That tells you, well, maybe there's an anticipated purchase. So that could be a good sign. Maybe it's an omen that a buyer is out there," said Mingo Junction Mayor Domenic Chappano.

In an e-mail obtained by NEWS9, USW District 1 Director David McCall told union leaders that the sale of Severstal is happening, but it is moving slowly.

McCall wrote, "I have been in discussions with Sergei and Mel (company officials) regarding a continuing extension due to the prolonged sale process. At this point I cannot say that Severstal is causing any delays, it's just the length of time it is taking all of the potential buyers to get through the Due Diligence and Bid process."

While a sale could mean an eventual restart of the idled plants, it won't be a financial fix for struggling villages like Mingo Junction.

Chappano said, "The revenues we had -- from being one of the wealthiest towns to go down to scratching -- if they don't start back up, I think we're in deeper trouble than we anticipate."

McCall's e-mail also said he's pushing for a pay raise for union members, but if that will happen and if workers will have a contract on Wednesday isn't clear. McCall's message said he hopes to have more information for union members by mid-September.

In the meantime, Mingo officials are trying to save money by streamlining garbage routes. They are also holding a financial meeting Tuesday night to talk about ways to avoid laying off all police officers except the chief.

Chappano said, "When I see men walking across those (steel mill) bridges and smoke coming out of those stacks, then I know there is something positive."

Stay with NEWS9, WTOV9.com and WTOV9.com Mobile for continuing coverage.

Previous Stories: August 17, 2010: Local Severstal Plant Ceased Operations June 7, 2010: Severstal Steel Plans To Temporarily Close Maryland Plant June 4, 2010: Severstal Sweetens Deal For Potential Retirees May 3, 2010: Severstal North America, USW Agree To Contract Extension March 26, 2010: Mayor, Workers React To Severstal CEO's Comments March 26, 2010: Severstal CEO: Local Plants Not Expected To Restart Anytime Soon March 16, 2010: Idled Severstal Plant Causing Hardship For Steelworkers, Village February 4, 2010: Union, Severstal Officials Continue Contract Negotiations January 29, 2010: Severstal Says It's Committed To Valley; Steelworkers Still Want Answers January 29, 2010: Public Meeting To Focus On Severstal's Future In Valley January 28, 2010: Severstal Callback A Benefit, Not Cure-All For City January 25, 2010: Severstal To Restart Some Local Plants By Month's End; Bittersweet News For Some January 19, 2010: Lawmaker: Severstal Officials Won't Attend Forum About Steel Plants' Future December 15, 2009: Organization Looks To Retrain Laid Off Steelworkers December 4, 2009: Work To Resume At Another Severstal Steel Plant December 2, 2009: Dozens Of Laid-Off Severstal Workers Return To Work Wednesday November 19, 2009: Severstal's Cold Rolling Mill In Yorkville To Resume Operations October 27, 2009: Severstal To Restart Operations In Yorkville October 27, 2009: Meetings To Discuss Idled Severstal Plant October 25, 2009: Restart Of Severstal’s Yorkville Plant To Be Discussed October 22, 2009: Lawmakers: Severstal Steel Plants Should Be Used Or Sold September 29, 2009: Laid-off Steelworkers Get Help September 2, 2009: Mingo's Severstal Plant May Stay Idle For Rest Of Year August 6, 2009: Severstal Denies Reports Valley Plants Are Up For Sale August 5, 2009: Trade Journal Web Site Reports Buyer 'Apparently Interested' In Severstal Wheeling July 27, 2009: 40 Severstal Employees Called Back To Work July 23, 2009: Severstal Appoints New CEO July 16, 2009: Martins Ferry Steelworkers Called Back To Work June 25, 2009: Severstal Workers Expected To Get Contract Extension June 11, 2009: Martins Ferry Severstal Plant Idles June 11, 2009: Martins Ferry Severstal Plant Set To Idle May 22, 2009: Gov. Assures Severstal's Future In Wheeling May 22, 2009: W.Va. Governor Says Severstal Plans To Stay In Ohio Valley May 22, 2009: WEB EXTRA: 5/22/09 News Release From Sen. Rockefeller About Meeting With Severstal-Wheeling May 22, 2009: WEB EXTRA: 5/22/09 Statement From Gov. Manchin About Meeting With Severstal-Wheeling May 13, 2009: Severstal's Martins Ferry, Yorkville Plants Could Idle In June May 8, 2009: Workforce W.Va. Offers Options For Severstal Employees May 8, 2009: 1,900 Local Severstal Employees Laid Off May 1, 2009: Severstal Representative Responds To Talk About Possible Layoffs April 28, 2009: Severstal Officials Meet With Mingo Junction Mayor April 4, 2009: Biggest Blow To Local Steel Industry In More Than A Decade March 25, 2009: Severstal North America Gets New CEO March 16, 2009: Mingo Social Services May Run Short On Funding March 12, 2009: Lack Of Production At Severstal Could Hurt Schools March 9, 2009: All Operations To Idle At Severstal's Steubenville-Mingo Plants March 7, 2009: Severstal Steel Schedules Meetings With Workers