Voters Reject South Dakota Beef Plant
East Dakota Beef’s proposed 20,000-square-foot beef plant has been rejected by voters in Lincoln County, SD. In April East Dakota Beef proposed the new beef plant that would process up to 120 head per day and employ up to 60 workers.
County Commissioners in May approved the company’s request to rezone land the plant was slated to occupy, but the county was required to hold a referendum on the rezoning after receiving a petition from residents with enough certified signatures. Residents told the county they were concerned about the project's impact on local traffic, property values and the environment. The company had planned to limit use of nearby roads and install a water treatment system to prevent odors.
East Dakota Beef planned to process cattle from eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota.
Lincoln County is in southeastern South Dakota directly north of Sioux Falls, which is in Minnehaha County. Lincoln County currently has an estimated population of 61,000 and has seen significant population growth since 2000. The 2000 census counted 24,131 residents, but nearly doubled to 44,828 by the 2010 census.
