The Mason City, Iowa City Council rejected an agreement with Prestage Foods to build a $240 million pork processing plant. The council met during a seven-hour meeting and ended up with a 3-3 vote, killing the agreement, reports the Des Moines Register.
Councilman Bill Schickel says he struggled with his vote against the Prestage Foods plan but finally decided there wasn't enough community acceptance for the agreement to work. The company had previously agreed to include a buffer zone around the plant to prevent odors or noise pollution from affecting nearby residents. The facility would have eventually employed 1,800 people.