MASON CITY — In a stunning turn of events, the City Council early Wednesday morning rejected Prestage Foods of Iowa's proposal to build a $240 million pork processing plant in Mason City.
Its plan was to hire more than 1,700 workers over the next four years but it met with protests from citizens concerned about environmental and quality of life issues.
The vote was a 3-3 tie with council members Travis Hickey, Janet Solberg and Brett Schoneman voting in favor of a development agreement with the company and Alex Kuhn, Bill Schickel and John Lee voting against. A tie vote on a motion represents a loss.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Globe Gazette
