Update: Cerro Gordo Supervisos appeal DNR decision to approve factory farm permit

Update:

Iowa DNR rejected Cerro Gordo Supervisors request to deny a construction permit for a 4,992 head facility proposed by River Edge Farms, LLC.  Cerro Gordo Supervisors are standing strong with the factory farm fighters  and have filed an appeal with the Environmental Protection Commission.  Click here for more details on the appeal.

Over 60 CCI members in attendance push supervisors to recommend DNR denial of 5,000 head factory farm proposal

Des Moines, IA – Members of the grassroots community organizing group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI) and other community members celebrated a Cerro Gordo county supervisors’ vote Tuesday (8/16/16) recommending denial of a 5,000 head factory farm. The unanimous vote followed testimony that was overwhelmingly opposed to the proposal.“Today’s vote sends a strong message to this industry: Factory Farms aren’t welcome in North Central Iowa,” said Iowa CCI member Phyllis Willis of Fertile, IA. “We’ll continue to organize for clean air, clean water family farms, and healthy communities”The move by Cerro Gordo supervisors follows the Mason City council vote to turn down a massive slaughterhouse by Prestage Fams, the nation’s 5th largest corporate hog producer, as well as at least eight other counties that have taken a stand against factory farm expansion in their county. This includes “No” votes in Allamakee, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Hardin, Webster, Dickinson, and Greene counties. Johnson County supervisors weighed in strongly against an under-permitted site in recent weeks.“It’s great to see more county supervisors standing with their voters instead of corporate ag.” said Iowa CCI member and family farmer Larry Ginter from Rhodes, IA. “Factory farms have tried to paint themselves as good neighbors but they just aren’t. They have been destroying our communities’ air, water, and quality of life for the last 20 years.”The vote in Cerro Gordo County comes just days before members of the statewide people-power organization will be voicing their opposition to a proposed $11 million corporate handout package to Prestage Farms at the Iowa Economic Development Agency (IEDA).“This is typical of big business: come in and demand millions of dollars in incentives under the guise of creating jobs.” said Iowa CCI board president Cherie Mortice. “But we see through it for what it really is: a race to the bottom. We want our government to work for everyday folks, not big business.”“All Prestage will really be bringing to Iowa is more factory farms, more pollution, and more costs to taxpayers to clean up their mess. We have too many factory farms already. We need a moratorium now.” added Mortice.The meeting Thursday is open to the press and to the public. A summary of the proposed award can be found here.Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a statewide, grassroots people’s action group that uses community organizing to win public policy that puts communities before corporations and people before profits, politics, and polluters. Iowa CCI has been fighting to put people first for over 40 years.