City Votes to Vacate One Block Section of North Main Street in Charles City
Despite some last-minute objections from nearby businesses, the one block section of North Main Street in front of Pure Prairie Farms in Charles City will soon be vacated.
The City Council Wednesday night approved the third and final reading of the ordinance to close off the street to regular traffic and allow PPF transport trucks easier access into and out of the chicken processing plant. It’s a move seen by City and PPF officials as vital to the long term viability of the operation.
Prior to the vote, Will Knecht, owner of the North Main Carwash, addressed the council with concerns that business to the south of the closed street section could suffer financially.
Knecht and Ryan Boehmer questioned if the City’s preferential treatment of PPF outweighs the needs of smaller businesses. Mayor Dean Andrews says the City wants all of its businesses to succeed.
When North Main in front of PPF is closed off, which could occur by August 1st, Councilman DeLaine Freesemen says it will address a safety concern long overdue.
No date has been announced for PPF to re-open the plant that has been shutdown since August 2019 when former owner/operator Simply Essentials closed the doors.
