Ballots for a special merger vote by memberships of both West Central Cooperative and Farmers Cooperative Company were recently mailed.

West Central Chief Executive Officer and President Milan Kucerak says the ballots were mailed out after a unanimous vote by both boards of directors pushing forward with the potential merger.  He points out that they will host a series of informational meetings between November 30th and December 11th.

“West Central and Farmers Cooperative members are invited to attend those meetings to learn more and really to have a discourse of our membership about why we think this makes sense (to merge).  (You can also) voice any concerns that you may have, either positive or negative, we want to hear both.  And then become informed when they make a decision and cast their ballot.”

Ballots can be submitted in several ways.  You can mail it to the auditors by noon on December 18th, deliver to an auditor at one of the informational meetings, placing it in a designated lock box at a West Central or Farmers Cooperative location by 5pm on December 17th or attending the special meeting on December 18th and voting there.

Iowa law requires at least 50 percent plus one of the memberships to vote and of those votes, 60 percent must vote “Yes.”

The tallying of votes will take place during a special meeting on December 18th.