City Council urged to oppose pork plan

“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.”

-Statement read by Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb

Clear Lake city officials were pushed Monday night to demonstrate their concern about a pork processing facility potentially coming to Mason City.  About a dozen persons opposed to the announcement that Prestage Foods of Iowa would build a $240,000 million plant where as many as 10,000 pigs would be processed daily urged the Council to pass a resolution of concern and submit it to Mason City officials.

The subject was not on the agenda, so Council members listened, but did not comment or take action on suggestions for a resolution or other expression of concern about a future pork processing plant. However, following the open forum section of the meeting, Mayor Nelson Crabb read a statement leaving the door open for possible dissent.

“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,” stated Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb following the Citizens Open Forum at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

Clear Lake resident Bennett Smith said he has a profound concern about many potential negative impacts a large pork processing plant will have on Mason City and surrounding area.   “I urge you to oppose it,” said Smith.  “I think it’s a very big risk to our tourism dollars. This project specifically threatens that in the long term.”

“A packing plant in this area is not a good fit,” local farmer Chris Petersen, himself a hog farmer, told the Council.  “We have invested millions in the lake and have a quality of life and enjoyment in property here.  We need to be proactive.  This decision will impact