Pure Prairie Farms Takeover North Main Street in Charles City Officially Set in Motion

The transfer of ownership of a one-block section of North Main Street in Charles City from the City to Pure Prairie Farms (PPF) has been officially set in motion.

During their regular meeting Monday night, the City Council approved a contract with the chicken processing plant to lease the street at $22,000 a year for three years with the option to buy in year four of the agreement at a final payment of $34,000. 

With the street now secured for PPF in the wake of last week’s announcements of an almost $39 million USDA loan and a $7 million USDA grant, Councilman Patrick Lumley asked PPF CEO and President Brian Roelofs when that area will start to transform.

PPF CFO George Peichel told the Council their financial windfall is also a win for the Charles City area.

City Administrator Steve Diers noted that the three-year lease must be finished first before PPF could buy the street outright. The City will still retain easements for existing utilities associated with the street, which vacating it has been deemed vital to the long term success of PPF.