Case Manufacturing owners and employees urge Ceres council to allow reopening after fire‑prevention changes

Multiple representatives and employees of Case Manufacturing used the citizens‑communications period to appeal to the Ceres City Council to reopen the facility and to seek clearer, cooperative regulatory guidance. Andy Hartog, chief operations officer, described personal and community impacts of the shutdown and asked the council for an opportunity for the business to operate while it addressed outstanding concerns.

“My family depends on this,” Hartog said. “Shutting us down without a workable path forward doesn't solve anything. All I'm asking is to give us a chance.”

Extraction and refinement floor manager Matt Johnson, who said he has worked in the cannabis industry for two decades, told the council he had been laid off for months and described the business as a model of industrial safety that had been forced offline by changes in how fire‑prevention oversight was handled after the city shifted responsibilities. Chemical engineer Drew Ford, who identified himself as Case Manufacturing’s chief science officer, listed facility safety features, third‑party NFPA‑certified installations and a record of zero reportable incidents; he said the company had invested more than $300,000 in upgrades to meet evolving standards.

Ford urged council members to tour the facility to see its engineering controls, automatic shutdown systems and solvent monitoring. He said he and his colleagues were available to provide documentation and that prompt action to reopen would restore jobs and local economic activity.

Councilmembers did not take formal action on the company’s comments during the citizens‑communications section; staff and councilmembers acknowledged the concerns and said staff would continue to work with regulated businesses, public safety partners and the company to clarify requirements and next steps.