Property To Be Vacated To Accommodate Simmons Pet Food

The Dubuque City Council voted, 7-0, Monday to approve vacating a portion of Flexsteel Way to make way for Simmons Pet Food starting operations at the former Flexsteel Industries plant on Seippel Road. Simmons recently announced plans to purchase the former Flexsteel plant and invest around $80 million and create more than 270 full-time jobs. As part of a development agreement with the company, the city agreed to sell two parcels of adjacent land, totaling about 8.4 usable acres. The proposed property to be conveyed also includes a portion of the Flexsteel Way right of way in between the lots. A public hearing on the proposed vacating of the property has been set for the January 19th council meeting.