City Council stands by statement on Prestage

Mayor: No request made by Chamber, school district to take further action

The Clear Lake City Council heard from about 10 persons opposed  to a proposal to bring a large pork processing plant to Mason City Monday night, but remained steadfast in its neutral position on the subject.

Those speaking during the citizens opportunity to address the Council on items not on the agenda, urged city leaders to join Floyd County Supervisors in expressing opposition to Prestage Foods.  They also encouraged the group to withdraw from the North Iowa Economic Development Corridor, which they say left Clear Lake and Cerro Gordo County leaders out of the loop regarding Prestage.

“I don’t know if making a statement will help, but it will do more than being silent,” said Tom Willett, a rural Clear Lake/Mason City resident.  “I love what you’ve done with Clear Lake and I think it’s (Prestage) a big mistake.”

The city moved on with its business at the meeting, but before adjourning Mayor  Nelson Crabb told those objecting to Prestage he empathized with them, but said the city will continue to stand by a statement it released on April 4:

“Over the years, the City of Clear Lake has established a political precedent of opposing large scale commercial confinement operations within the Lake watershed and critical areas surrounding it.  As this potential economic development project (Prestage) evolves, it may come to be that the City Council of Clear Lake would, in the future, consider taking a position in opposition to such a proposal as being counterintuitive to our community’s primary economic engine (tourism) and the preservation and enhancement of our natural environment.”

Crabb added Monday that the largest entities in the community— the school district and Chamber of Commerce, had not contacted the City and requested any additional statements.

Last week Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tim Coffey said

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his Board of Directors has discussed Prestage a great deal at the Board level, at the Executive Committee level and with the City.  However, he said  “We have no official comment about the project, in large part because it is out of our control and jurisdiction, and there are a good many “what ifs” connected with the proposed project.”

Crabb noted Prestage has agreed to a two and one-half mile buffer zone around the cities of Mason City and Clear Lake, as well as the lake itself in which it will not construct any hog confinements or purchase animals from a facility in that area.  That assurance, along with a pledge to pay the Mason City School District $1.4 million over a 10-year period to address potential growth issues, was added to the pending development agreement under consideration by the Mason City Council.

The Mason City Council was slated to vote on a development agreement between Mason City and Prestage Foods Tuesday night, May 3.

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