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Uncertain times at Mendota
La Salle, Ottawa highlighted for possible marijuana startups Areas deemed disproportionately affected by drugs, other factors By Shaw Media
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Since 1949, the vegetable canning and processing plant has been a big employer and a focal point in Mendota. Once operated by Cal Pak, the plant operated by Del Monte had 110 full-time employees and more than 350 seasonal employees in August when the company announced it would close the plant by June 2020. Del Monte has had an impact on the community that goes far beyond direct employees, such as sponsoring the Sweet Corn Festival and providing income to farmers and truckers.
Will Del Monte sell? Farmers and workers remain in limbo By Craig Sterrett NEWS EDITOR
MENDOTA — City officials this week confirmed that representatives of a company that packages vegetables and fruit have taken a look at the plant Del Monte plans to close next year in Mendota. It’s a glimmer of hope, but little more than that, for city officials, contract farms and hundreds of employees. Representatives from New York-based Seneca Foods flew in to Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru to check out the Mendota plant, the NewsTribune was told by both Mendota Mayor David Boelk and an airport staff member. However, Boelk said corporation leaders have not talked with the city, so he does not know if Seneca — which has packaging plants in Princeville, Ill., and Janesville, Wis., and bought one
of Del Monte’s smaller Cambria, Emily McConville said a couple Wis., facilities — is even inter- of parties have made inquiries to ested in the plant in Mendota. the city, but she does not know The NewsTribune’s calls to about their intentions or the extent of their inSeneca Foods terest. were not reMcConville turned by press “One guy said it would s a i d the time. Mendota facil“I know that be a Hail Mary if it ity has great Del Monte was because considering sold in time for next value it is modernall options for and the the plant, but year’s production.” ized structures are was unable to “food-grade confirm your farmer Kyle Schoenholz buildings.” Seneca Foods Plus, the site question,” a has rail siding spokesman for Del Monte replied to the as well as access to the main BNSF rail line. NewsTribune on Friday. Still, city officials are uncerMendota Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO tain about the future and the imKatie Fox said the chamber has pact after Del Monte locks the received no inquiries from par- doors. “We’re still digesting it,” ties interested in purchasing the McConville said of Del Monte’s Del Monte plant. Mendota economic devel- announcement. Still, many people in the city opment director and city clerk
hang on to a blind hope that a new employer can go in and take right over where Del Monte leaves off. “It’s a viable building. It’s all set up to go,” Boelk said. While he’s hopeful the building will sell, he also has seen a corporation close a Mendota plant — such as Motor Wheel — and more or less “forget about it.” In that case, the city and schools received taxes on the industrial property for several years, but the jobs were gone. “I want to see jobs,” Boelk said, adding that the tax revenue from employers is not of as much importance as having employers in town. The plant had up to 30 salaried personnel, 111 full-time employees and about 362 seasonal workers at the time of the August announcement. See DEL MONTE Page A3
Residents living in designated areas of Ottawa and La Salle may get state help if they choose to open a recreational marijuana business. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration released a map of Illinois this week showing the areas where the state wants to provide opportunities for applicants to benefit from the legalized recreational marijuana industry. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity determined disproportionately affected areas using criteria established in the new state law. To qualify as a disproportionately impacted area, a census tract must have high rates of arrest, conviction and incarceration related to marijuana, among other qualifications, including poverty, citizens qualifying for food assistance benefits and unemployment. Areas of La Salle and Ottawa were the lone locations highlighted in La Salle County. The area in Ottawa includes most of the city north of Norris Drive to Interstate 80. In La Salle, the area See LA SALLE Page A2
La Salle’s pot territory? The state of Illinois says residents living in a designated area of La Salle may get state help if they choose to open a recreational marijuana business. The neighborhoods outlined span from Creve Coeur Street on the west to Union Street on the east, Canal Street on the south and Fifth Street in La Salle. Also included are blocks east of Joliet Street (Route 351), west of Sterling Street and south of 11th Street.
TONIGHT Showers early. Low 47. Weather A8
Help wanted: Mendota looks to address firefighter, EMT staffing By Brett Herrmann NEWSTRIBUNE REPORTER
MENDOTA — The full-time staff at the Mendota fire department have been stretched thin for the past year, with some members racking up 120 hours of overtime in a two-week pay period. To put it lightly, they need help. “We are in dire circumstances right now,” fire chief Dennis
Rutishauser told Mendota city council members at a public safety committee meeting on Thursday evening. “With the current full-time staff there just isn’t enough.” Mendota’s department, like many local departments, is struggling to find the manpower to staff the station during all hours of the day. The fire department takes care of the city’s ambulance calls, which occur more frequently than fire calls.
Right now, the department has five full-time employees and about 20 paid on-call volunteers who respond via pagers during an emergency. But because the paid on-call personnel cannot always respond, a lot of the burden has been thrust onto the full-time members, who are already making up shifts for an unfilled position. A full-time fire department member retired last August and
the city has not yet hired a replacement. The purpose of Thursday’s meeting was to address these staffing concerns and the consensus among the council members was that they needed to take a deeper look into the problem and find some solutions. “This staffing issue affects the safety of the people here in Mendota right now,” said alderman Jay Miller. See HELP Page A2
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