MASON CITY – Information obtained by NorthIowaToday.com this morning that layoffs occurred Monday morning at Soy Energy, LLC in Mason City has not yet been confirmed.
Information stating that “everybody is laid off except a skeleton crew” was not confirmed in two calls to the plant Monday morning. When asked about the layoffs, a woman who answered the phone at the plant refused comment and said “That would be Jeff (Oestmann, CEO and General Manager). He’s on another line right now.” A message was left with Mr. Oestman. A second call to the plant was made, and the woman on the phone would not confirm nor deny any layoffs, stating “I’ll leave that to Jeff (Oestmann). He’s still in his office.”
Soy Energy has faced troubled times in the recent past.
An explosion took place at the plant last May, leaving no one injured. Oestmann said after that incident that “We are grateful no one was injured in the fire that took place at the Soy Energy plant.” Former employees had warned about the possibility of an explosion there.
Most recently, according to online records, Soy Energy LLC is being sued by a Des Moines construction company called Wolin & Associates Inc. A mechanic’s lien was filed in June by Wolin & Associates Inc. on Soy Energy in Cerro Gordo County District Court. Another mechanic’s lien was filed on Soy Energy, LLC in August by another entity called TALBOT WILLIAM TULLY also in Cerro Gordo County District Court.
The City of Mason City in 2010 awarded a tax increment financing incentive package to Soy Energy LLC worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax breaks.
