Received information late this afternoon that Prestage Farms, LLC has been invited back to the community by Mayor Eric Bookmeyer and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Robin Anderson. The pro-Prestage community meeting will be held the evening of Thursday, June 2nd at the Historic Park Inn Hotel. More later…MFW
Why Would Councilman Bill Schickel Flip?
I hope you prove me wrong Councilman. There’s so much one can say about the art of this deal. How it came in just before Christmas, and how our elected and nonelected (NICEDC) officials sat on it for 3 months before tipping their hand. Before we knew what was happening there had already been one meeting held, with fewer than a dozen citizens in attendance, who, to my knowledge, kept the deal a secret as well. The Mayor and staff (Brent Trout) already had the state tax credits lined up, already had the tax abatement figured out, already had the change of zone, and already had the not-so-rough draft of the development agreement written. Lurking in the shadows was inappropriate and inconsiderate. No one was going to steal this out from under us. Prestage did not have a plan B. Very, very sneaky.
There is a bright side to this issue: All of the people on both sides that have come forward, to get involved and fight for their cause. They have learned about the good, the bad, and the ugly that exist in our politicians and in our political lives. Hopefully this will change the face of our local politics, with less apathy and more involvement.
Now let’s go back to May 3rd, and I’ll try to make this simple. Councilman Bill Schickel said, to paraphrase, “for this to work it needs the acceptance of the community, and it doesn’t have it. There’s too much turmoil.”
Schickel and I have, at best, a dubious relationship…all of it political. We’ve never voted for each other. I did ask him to run for mayor against Eric Bookmeyer in 2009. If he’d done that maybe all of this could have been avoided. You’ve put us in a hellova predicament Bill.
I can imagine all of the attention you’ve received, Bill, and I think you like it. I feel like you knew what you were doing with your no vote on the night of May 3rd. Politics is funny that way. It’s like a good hand in a poker game. Are you that smart Bill? Maybe I’ve underestimated you all these years. I always thought your wife, Candy, was the dealmaker.
The big question is: What Has Changed, Bill? Nothing! We actually have more turmoil and division in the community since you announced that you are rethinking your no vote. I know you see yourself as an ethical man, but as rumors and innuendoes abound across the community (and state), with names like Brandstad, Doug Gross, the Prestage’s, along with many unfounded comments of all sorts, there is now a cloud of suspicion. It’s always shameful when politicians try to monetize their situation, and it happens frequently. It may not be illegal, but it is unethical. Bill, it seems like you’re a man with a fishing pole just waiting to hook the big one. I hope you prove me wrong.
Now that we know that the Prestage move to Worth County is in doubt, and the evil-doers (John Skipper, Globe Gazette Editorial Board, Brent Trout, Robin Anderson, and Mayor Eric Bookmeyer) have toned down their rhetoric of misinformation and flat-out lies, maybe, Bill, you can take a step back now, sort through everything, and maintain your no vote. Mr. Schickel, please respect the will of the majority of your employers. Don’t go over to the dark side. You don’t have to bring this back to the table. Find the courage to protect your adopted community. Remember…nothing has changed. More later…MFW
North Iowans for Progress
MUST READ: Check it out! Keep on top of these two sites. Cross reference names. Dancing with the enemy. More later….MFW
Prestage Farms Project Timeline from Iowa Economic Development Authority
It’s amusing that Supervisor Bartz and Mayor Bookmeyer are cut from the same cloth, trying to impress the boss of the Republican Party, governor Terry Branstad.
Below is the complete Prestage Farms project timeline. See “Mid-afternoon of December 17″ entry in bold type. Not sure why they would be looking at Worth County after reading this. We know Worth Development has access to a lot of casino money. Maybe they’re considering splitting the cost. More later….MFW
PRESTAGE FARMS PROJECT TIMELINE
December 7, 2015
Mr. Joseph Kerns, President & CEO of Kerns & Associates of Ames, IA (an agricultural consulting firm) speaks on the telephone with IEDA representative, Allen Williams, about an unnamed company interested in establishing a pork harvesting facility in Iowa. Due to confidentiality concerns, the company is not identified and no project parameters are provided.
December 8 – Allen Williams & Joe Kerns agree to meet at IEDA offices, with Mr. Kerns’ unnamed client company in the afternoon on December 17, to discuss their project. Williams sends to Kerns a number of detailed project parameter questions (e.g. water & sewer requirements, investment, jobs, etc.) Kerns in turn relays those questions to the client.
December 14 – Kerns calls Williams and asks if he, and the client company, can visit a site in Fort Dodge, IA later that week – Williams contacts Fort Dodge Economic Development who agrees to meet with Kerns, and his unnamed client, the morning of December 17.
Morning of December 17. Williams, Kerns, and 3 members of Kern’s client company meet with local Fort Dodge economic development contacts and tour sites. The client is identified as Prestage Farms of Clinton, NC. Prestage Farms brings to the Fort Dodge meeting the project parameters – the first time that its plans are revealed in any detail.
Mid-afternoon of December 17. Allen Williams and Mark Fischer of IEDA meet with Kerns, the Prestage Farms team and their Iowa attorney. Prestage describes its interest in certain sized Iowa communities, with available infrastructure, in the mid to north central area of Iowa where no other pork harvesting facilities are located. Later the Prestage Farms team meets with IEDA Director Durham.
Late-afternoon of December 17, Allen Williams sends out the Prestage Farms project parameters as IEDA Project #AW 1949 to the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation (Mason City area) and five (5) other economic development groups in north & central Iowa. Allen Williams speaks on the phone with Chad Schreck, Executive Director of the North Iowa Corridor about the project.
Morning of December 18, Prestage Farms contacts Allen Williams and Chad Schreck to immediately make arrangements to visit a site in Mason City
Afternoon of December 18, Prestage Farms Team visits sites in Webster City, Iowa.
From this point on – Prestage Farms is in direct contact with Iowa communities under their consideration for the project – they do not go through IEDA
December 21 – Williams sends Prestage Farms an estimate on possible incentives for the project.
January 11, 2016 – Williams meets with Prestage Farms team at IEDA offices to discuss project
January 2016 – Prestage Farms makes repeated site visits to Mason City and Webster City.
February 10, 2016 – Prestage Farms team meets with Williams, Director Durham and others at IEDA offices to discuss the project.
March 21 – Prestage Farms announces, subject to approval of all applicable state and local incentives, its plans to locate a new pork harvesting facility in Mason City, Iowa.
March 29, 2016 – IEDA Board of Directors approves High Quality Jobs (HQJ) Program tax credit and tax refund incentives for the Prestage Farms project in Mason City.
Special Event: Meeting of the Minds
Meeting of the Minds: A Mason City Think Tank
When: Thursday, May 12 @ 6-8pm
Where: Mason City Public Library
Now for some bad news….sorry folks…..the following people are not invited and cannot attend:
Anyone belonging to the press
Elected officials
Local government staff
Any city or county funded organization
Anyone who supported Prestage Foods, LLC
And if you can’t stand Max Weaver, you probably shouldn’t show up either
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has……..Margaret Mead
I’d like to take a moment to thank those citizens of Mason City and North Iowa who took a stand against Eric Bookmeyer’s secretive scheme to shove this pork processing plant down our throats. I’d also like to thank Council members Schickel, Lee, and Kuhn for having the courage to vote no…..more later MFW
Iowa Economic Development Authority Project Summary for Prestage Foods
Here is IEDA’s Project Summary for Prestage Foods. I will have more information soon regarding the timeline of this project with responses to other questions I’ve asked regarding Prestage Foods. More later….MFW
Who is responsible for bringing Prestage Farms to Mason City?
Chad Schreck is President & CEO of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation. He provides executive leadership, management and fiscal oversight for the organization. This includes the successful implementation of our workforce development, business retention and recruitment projects, as well as playing a lead role in promoting the region locally and nationally. Prior to his role at the Corridor, Chad was Executive Director of the Midwest Partnership EDC in Stuart, Iowa overseeing a four-county region. Preceding his position there, he worked as the Regional Economic Development Planner at Region XII Council of Governments in Carroll, Iowa.
Chad earned his Masters degree from Drake University in Public Administration with a concentration in Executive Leadership and his bachelors in Law, Politics and Society at Drake University. Schreck is a lifelong Iowan with a passion for creating a rich and vibrant future for his community as well as the state, and is active in various community and charitable organizations
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Corridor is governed by a 20-member Board of Directors that works closely with local community development organizations, financial institutions, businesses, industries, as well as agencies and elected officials in local, county, state and federal government. Members are appointed both by our public partners and by way of a Nominating Committee. Nominations are accepted year-round; to make a nomination, contact President Chad Schreck.
OFFICERS
- Gary Schmit
- Dan Varnum
- Jay Urdahl
- Tim Esbeck
- Mark Hewitt
DIRECTORS
- Deb Blaser Gretillat
- Nate Carney
- Travis Hickey
- Arthur Jones
- Nicole Rognes-Olson
- Terry Peterson
- Troy Swanson
EX-OFFICIOS
- Eric Bookmeyer
- Nelson Crabb
- Dr. Steve Schulz
- Tom Drzycimski
- Scott Flory
- Brent Trout
There is no question, after talking to several elected officials and staff members that this is Mayor Eric Bookmeyer’s “baby.” Eric has promised economic development for the past 6 years in all of his State of the City speeches, but has not been able to deliver on this promise. This has as much to do with Eric’s ego than anything else. This type of facility is scraping the bottom of the economic development barrel. And I really mean it when I say this, I think he is still pissed off because of losing the “trash to gas plant” 4 years ago. Which is to date, his only other attempt at economic development and bringing jobs to the area. Well Eric, you are going to bring much more than jobs to the area now, and I am sure you have your “exit strategy” planned already. I also want go to on record, that in 2 years, if you are still here, you will accept a job with Prestage Farms, Inc. Shame on you… Shame on us for electing you…
Chad Schreck and the Board of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corp. also facilitated bringing Prestage Farms, Inc. to Mason City, Iowa. I am not sure if it was “Eric’s Magic”, or just peer pressure from each other, or were they just blindsided at the 11th hour like the rest of us on this fast tracked bad deal? More later…MFW.
It takes a mighty big dog to weigh a ton
Most everyone in Mason City, Clear Lake, and other parts of the state are aware of the newest Iowa Economic Development Authority’s project – Presatge Foods of Iowa. Prestage, home-based in North Carolina, wants to build a pork processing plant inside Mason City’s southern city limits. This huge $240 million dollar project involving a massive 650,000 square foot building was dropped like……a ton of bricks? A bomb? Or a Giant Redwood falling on our community. Or should we go with what City Administrator Brent Trout said, “This will be a changer for Mason City.” What Trout said was a mouthful and I hope we don’t all choke on it.
Anyway, I’d have to say this is by far the largest project and decision for Mason City in my lifetime, and probably yours. With that said, I must interrupt my train of thought and share with you 2 pieces of mail I received in the past week.
Letter 1 This letter is typical of the mail I’ve gotten over the years. They’re usually not signed, and most of the time the content isn’t very accurate. They’re usually just mean spirited, personal and vindictive. I give this letter a 6 on a scale of 1-10. That’s my own grading system….and it’s confidential. I do know that several people in the community received the same letter.
Letter 2 This is the more serious and telling of the two letters. I’ll give this a 10 on my confidential grading scale of personal attack letters. After you read letter two, you’ll understand why.
I remember several times, late last year, driving west on 19th St SW past the former AMPI or State Brands Creamery building (on the corner of Pierce Ave and 19th St SW, just 1 mile north of the proposed Prestage plant) seeing vehicles and equipment with Illinois license plates at the plant. At that time someone said a food processor was coming to town, but nothing ever opened up. Then, with the announcement of Prestage, the first thing I did was simply go out and drive around, checking out the lay of the land. I won’t go into my MO, but what I found was more activity on the back side of AMPI. I saw those same vehicles with Illinois plates and more equipment. I stopped and spoke with one of the three workers. He was very friendly and accommodating, but didn’t know much about the company. These companies can be very difficult to trace, but here’s what I’ve found so far. The new owner of this building is Chipped Brick, LLC. PO Box 244, Alpha, IL 61413. Cerro Gordo Property search #071740002700. The name of the company is Iowa Dry Transload Services, 1305 19th St SW. Which is related to Midwest Dry Transload, Inc. 641-423-0391. Email Tim@iowadry.com. My googling and reading has led me to believe that there’s more to these companies than meets the eye. I’m not ready to call it good or bad. Feel free to do your own research. I’m thinking it may be linked to Prestage. Letter 2 says I’m going to shit my pants when they tell me what’s coming to town next. More later….
MY FINDINGS:
Associated Milk Producers Inc., to Chipped Brick LLC, 17-96-20, NE SE, SE SE, Part of E ½ N and W of RR Exc W50’ and Also Exc Parcel as Desc in Survey B91 P1056 and Exc Part of NE of SE Deeded to City of Mason City B08 P5586, $500,000.
North Iowa Area Community College, State of Iowa-$3485000 Taxable Industrial New Jobs Training Certificates, Series 2015-1, November 6, 2015.
Midwest Dry Transload, Inc.- Midwest Dry Transload, Inc. designs, builds, and operates one of a kind processing for dry food by products. They pack and depack: supersack, bag, box, tote and gaylord dry food byproducts for a variety of customers and brokers all over the United States which in turn move these products all over the world. Midwest Dry also warehouses products customized for short or long term storage requirements. They also offer contract pelleting, mixing, grinding, screen cleaning, and separation services. Midwest Dry’s style of operation also allows their customers to be able to custom brand products with all their own unique trademarks.
Midwest Dry is adding 15 new positions to their Mason City, Iowa location. Positions include, production, warehousing, office support, and supervisors.
Pet-Food Manufacturer Shutting Down After Spending ‘Every Penny’ to Comply with OSHA Standards-Click link to read full story.
In all fairness I had an amicable discussion with Mr. Tim Anderson. He was very forthright in answering my questions. When we talked about the NIACC Job Training Bill, it became more sketchy. I am not sure that was totally accurate that he talked more about the safety issue than job training. Mr. Anderson spent $500000 acquiring the former AMPI building. There is going to be more activity than just 15 employees bagging pellets and transloading. When asked if he had any relationship with Prestage Farms, Inc. he said, “no, not at all, but he is very aware of what is 1 mile south of him.” He also responded that he would not turn down a conversation with Prestage in the future. His company does have experience with meat, bone, bloodmeal, roasting, etc. He also mentioned that he there will be certain kind of business that will follow a plant that size, (Prestage) and they will most likely support the hog processing industry. He said that Progressive Rail is also in his building and they may be doing some sort of food tanker business in the future. He said that Mason City is in a favorable position to attract this kind of business. Dog food plant, possibly. Is this the answer to letter #2, where the author said, “Max is going to shit his pants, when we tell him what is coming to town next?” Anything can happen after the May 3, 2016 Mason City Council vote.