Mayor declares State of Emergency, Council to extend length at Meeting Wednesday

on: March 24, 2020

The Mayor of Sleepy Eye, Wayne Pelzel, declared a State of Emergency effective Monday, March 23.

An emergency Sleepy Eye City Council meeting has been scheduled for noon, Wednesday, March 25 to decide if an emergency declaration will be extended. It will be broadcast on channel 8 on both Sleepy Eye cable channels.

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Train and Semi collide causing gas release, power outage

on: February 19, 2020

Due to this event the City of Cobden will be out of power for at least 2 hours. Please avoid the area by County Road 7 and the railroad tracks.

Type of Incident: Traffic Accident: Train vs. Semi

Date of Incident: 2/19/2020

Time of Incident: 1237

Location of Incident: County Road 7 / Center Street Cobden, MN

Person/s Involved: Age: Address:

Semi Driver: Schroeder, James 49 – out of Fairfax

Canadian Pacific Train Conductor/Engineer: Names undisclosed at this time

Details of Incident:

On February 19, 2020 around 1237pm, a Central Region Cooperative (CRC) semi truck carrying a full propane tanker which was struck by a train on the tracks near the intersection of County Road 7 and Center Street in Cobden, MN. No injuries were reported by either the semi driver or train conductor/engineer. Driver will be cited for traffic infractions.

Teams are still working on clean up at the scene.

Thank you to the multiple agencies involved: Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Sleepy Eye Fire Department, Mankato Fire Department Chemical Assessment Team (CAT), Sleepy Eye Ambulance, Canadian Pacific Railroad, CRC, and Maloney’s Towing Enterprises.

** Please use caution at all intersections. Come to a complete stop at all stop signs/semaphores and always check both ways when crossing a roadway or railroad tracks. This could have been a major catastrophe.

INQUIRER.NET: Del Monte inks deals to sell 4 US factories including Sleepy Eye

on: November 19, 2019

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MPR News: Layoffs underway at Del Monte plant in Sleepy Eye

on: October 21, 2019

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Star Tribune: Canned after 89 years: Del Monte cannery’s upcoming closure sends shock waves through Sleepy Eye

on: August 30, 2019

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Minnesota Public Radio: After Del Monte closure stuns Sleepy Eye, town’s future uncertain

on: August 30, 2019

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KSTP-TV: Del Monte to close Sleepy Eye plant, will lay off nearly 370 workers

on: August 21, 2019

KARE 11: Del Monte closing its Sleepy Eye plant

on: August 21, 2019

Del Monte closing plant in Sleepy Eye

on: August 20, 2019

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Del Monte Pacific Limited announced its intention to move to an asset-light strategy and divest production facilities of U.S. subsidiary Del Monte Foods.

Facilities to be closed are located at Sleepy Eye, Minnesota and Mendota, Illinois. Production will cease at these facilities at the end of the current pack season. In addition, Del Monte’s Cambria, Wisconsin facility will be sold as an operating facility after completion of pack. The company will also be selling manufacturing assets at its Crystal City, Texas facility and intends to transfer production at this site to outside locations later this year.

Production at these locations will be primarily transitioned to other Del Monte production facilities in the United States. These facility closures offer Del Monte the ability to fully utilize the capacity of its existing production facilities and increase its focus on branded growth and innovation.

“This decision has been difficult and has come after careful consideration. This restructuring is a necessary step for us to remain competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace. Our asset-light strategy will lead to more efficient and lower cost operations,” said Joselito D. Campos, Jr., Managing Director and CEO, Del Monte Pacific Limited. “We are committed to doing all we can to provide the affected employees with resources and support.”

[Del Monte Pacific Limited is dual listed on the Mainboards of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited and the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc.]

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Del Monte closes Sleepy Eye plant; will lay off all workers

The California-based fruit and vegetable packaged food company will shutter the 89-year-old Minnesota plant in October.

By Kristen Leigh Painter Star Tribune

AUGUST 20, 2019 — 12:33PM

PROVIDED BY DEL MONTE

Del Monte is closing a canning plant in Sleepy Eye, Minn.

The California-based company on Tuesday notified the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development that it plans to permanently shutter the 89-year old plant at the end of this year’s harvest and packing season.

The closure, which is slated to take place on or around Oct. 21, will result in the loss of 69 full-time jobs and 294 seasonal positions. Layoffs will began as soon as Oct. 2 and will be staggered through next June as the plant finishes any remaining labeling, shipping and administrative work needed to close.

Del Monte’s Sleepy Eye plant began operating in 1930 and produces more cases of peas and corn than any of the company’s other plants. It takes in crops from more than 300 growers covering more than 22,000 acres, according to Del Monte’s website.

When running at full capacity during the summer processing season, the plant can employ up to 400 seasonal workers.

The workers are not represented by a union and so bumping rights do not apply. DEED is still assessing the layoffs.

City council votes to hire Elston as City Manager

on: August 09, 2019

The Sleepy Eye City Council voted to hire current Interim City Manager and Public Works Director Bob Elston as the new City Manager. Three candidates had been interviewed over the past two days by The Public Utilities Commission, City Council and City Employees.

The motion to offer him the position was passed on a 4-1 vote, with Councilor Larry Braun casting the dissenting vote.

A motion to approve a contract is expected at the Tuesday, Aug. 13 regular council meeting.

Elston’s qualification include Public Works Director for the City of Sleepy Eye for past 15 years; Program Specialist Nebraska Rural Water Association in Wahoo, Nebraska, for 2 years; and Utility Superintendent for city of Plainview, Nebraska, 4 years. He has no post secondary education.