Petitioners trying to force a vote on a meat processing plant in Sioux Falls say they have collected the required number of signatures.
The campaign leading the effort is Smart Growth Sioux Falls, organized by Citizens for a Sustainable Sioux Falls.
Robert Peterson directs Citizens for a Sustainable Sioux Falls and is the campaign's treasurer. He says the campaign has gathered about 10,000 signatures — more than the 6,089 required.
“We're going to see this through to the end. We're looking forward to supporting this ordinance while it's on the ballot. We're going to campaign for it because we believe in it," Peterson said.
Peterson said the petition signatures were delivered to the City of Sioux Falls on Thursday.
The ballot measure would stop new slaughterhouses within city limits, including the proposal from Nebraska-based Wholestone Farms to open a 170-acre complex off I-229 and Benson Road.
The company announced in 2021 that it wants to build a $500 million project in Sioux Falls.
Wholestone says it purchased the industrial zoned land for about $12.5 million. It will still own the land if voters decide to block the project. Wholestone hopes to start construction by the end of this year.
Luke Minion is chairman of the board of Wholestone Farms. He’s not surprised the campaign was able to collect the signatures, but he hopes Sioux Falls residents will hear the company out.
"Those that choose to vote for stopping us, really have destroyed the work of the state, the city, and obviously Wholestone, for over five-plus years," Minion said.
The company’s website says the complex will bring 1,000 full-time jobs to the area.
