MASON CITY – As the Mason City Human Rights Commission (MCRC) considers an agreement with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) for sending Human Rights cases to Des Moines, NorthIowaToday.com continues to give the public all information possible so that the people of Mason city are aware of the process.
NIT was informed last week that Mayor Eric Bookmeyer has indeed directed attorneys paid with city funds to contact the ICRC as the MCRC considers the agreement presented by Iowa Civil Rights Director Beth Townsend. NIT is told the agreement is solely between the two agencies and does not involve the mayor nor city council. Mayor Bookmeyer answered questions sent by NIT Publisher Matt Marquardt regarding why city attorneys were now involved in the matter. Read the story from Friday, April 12th, here.
Funding for the Mason City Human Rights Department will essentially run out on June 30th and Director Lionel Foster has indicated that he has no intention of resigning. NIT is told that personnel working on the Blue Zones project are set to take over the Human Rights office at City Hall.
Below is the latest correspondence between the parties in Des Moines and Mason City regarding the agreement between the MCHRC and the ICRC.
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Townsend, Beth [ICRC]
9:38 AM (10 minutes ago)
to Lionel, Eric, me, Don, Alex, cameron, figfinesse, kbmac17, celt717, Jacque.Huesman, vanzomej, Karen.Ries, riesweaver, spalm100, MDODGE, Brent, nielsen, scott, Amanda, sharon.steckman, Cameron, Kathy, Kathye, Sandy
Lionel,
I am disappointed in the turn this conversation has taken. I have always respected you and the work you have done there and believed we had a good working relationship. It appears you question my motives in this process. If I have said or done something to make you do so, I apologize as that has never been my intent. Further, it has never been my intent to “politicize” any of this and frankly am unclear how I could even do that given the fact I have absolutely no stake in this process other than to provide information and assistance to the extent the MCHRC desires it. I have not undertaken a review of the MCHRC ordinances with an eye to the responsible party to sign the workshare agreement at issue. As I have repeatedly and publicly stated, this is a local decision and my only interest in the decisions made by the MCHRC has been to provide information and answer questions so that the MCHRC and city officials can make the best decision possible for the citizens of Mason City.
I very much hope we can refocus the conversation on what should be everyone’s priority . . . serving the citizens of Mason City. I know that is my focus, and I hope it will be yours as well and that we can work together in that endeavor. As I told the Commission last week, I want to establish a good working relationship with the MCHRC that will continue not just in the next few months as they attempt to resolve the outstanding issues facing the commission, but for well into the future as well. I remain hopeful that you have the same goal as well and that we can work together for the benefit of all parties involved.
Beth A. Townsend
Director, Iowa Civil Rights Commission
400 East 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515)242-6537 (Direct Line)
———–
—–Original Message—–
From: Lionel Foster Sr. [mailto:lfoster@masoncity.net]
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2013 9:06 AM
To: Townsend, Beth [ICRC]; Eric Bookmeyer; northiowatoday@gmail.com
Cc: Grove, Don [ICRC]; Alex Kuhn; cameron@sarjeantssystems.com; figfinesse@me.com; kbmac17@hotmail.com; celt717@hotmail.com; Jacque.Huesman@Armour-Eckrich.com; vanzomej@yahoo.com; Karen.Ries@doorgroup.com; riesweaver@mchsi.com; spalm100@hotmail.com; MDODGE@amfam.com; Brent Trout; nielsen@pappajohnlaw.com; scott@tornquistforrivercity.com; Ragan, Amanda [LEGIS]; sharon.steckman@legis.state.ia.us; League of Iowa Human & Civil Rights Agencies Inc.; Cameron Sarjeant; Kathy Loeckie; Kathye Gaines; Sandy Servantez
Subject: RE: Mayor’s involvement with Iowa Civil Rights Commission contract with Mason City Human Right Commission
Beth,
It’s unfortunate that you continue to politicize this matter. The Commission has the agreement, and will discuss it in May. But just so I’m clear, Amy sent you a copy of the MCHRC ordinance 2/3 months ago, so you know full well what it says . And as you know the Commission enforces Iowa Code Chapter 216 the same as ICRC. You also know that there is absolutely no requirement in Chapter 216.19 which requires you to have Governor Branstad, or the Iowa Legislator, sign-off on your referral/deferral agreement with locals. So would that not the same for
MCHRC?
———–
—–Original Message—–
From: Townsend, Beth [ICRC] [mailto:Beth.Townsend@iowa.gov]
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2013 8:20 AM
To: Lionel Foster Sr.; Eric Bookmeyer; northiowatoday@gmail.com
Cc: Grove, Don [ICRC]; Alex Kuhn; cameron@sarjeantssystems.com; figfinesse@me.com; kbmac17@hotmail.com; celt717@hotmail.com; Jacque.Huesman@Armour-Eckrich.com; vanzomej@yahoo.com; Karen.Ries@doorgroup.com; riesweaver@mchsi.com; spalm100@hotmail.com; MDODGE@amfam.com; Brent Trout; nielsen@pappajohnlaw.com; scott@tornquistforrivercity.com
Subject: RE: Mayor’s involvement with Iowa Civil Rights Commission contract with Mason City Human Right Commission
Lionel,
Just so we are clear, I am not imposing a requirement that the mayor or city council member sign this agreement. Some city ordinances require it and historically those communities have had city government officials sign their work share agreements. I will leave it to you and city officials to determine who can sign the agreement. You are correct the ICRA does not require anything beyond what relevant city ordinances require.
Any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Beth A. Townsend
Director, Iowa Civil Rights Commission
400 East 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515)242-6537 (Direct Line)
———–
—–Original Message—–
From: Lionel Foster Sr. [mailto:lfoster@masoncity.net]
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 4:26 PM
To: Eric Bookmeyer; Townsend, Beth [ICRC]; northiowatoday@gmail.com
Cc: Grove, Don [ICRC]; Alex Kuhn; cameron@sarjeantssystems.com; figfinesse@me.com; kbmac17@hotmail.com; celt717@hotmail.com; Jacque.Huesman@Armour-Eckrich.com; vanzomej@yahoo.com; Karen.Ries@doorgroup.com; riesweaver@mchsi.com; spalm100@hotmail.com; MDODGE@amfam.com; Brent Trout; nielsen@pappajohnlaw.com; scott@tornquistforrivercity.com
Subject: RE: Mayor’s involvement with Iowa Civil Rights Commission contract with Mason City Human Right Commission
Mayor,
Thank you for coping me on this important subject. So that everyone’s has all of the history on ICRC work sharing agreements, the Mason City Commission has had such agreements with the ICRC for at least a decade, and until Beth arrived, there has never been a requirement for past Mayors or City Councils to lend their permission. In fact, the Commission has all the authority it needs under Chapter 216.19 to execute the agreement on its own behalf.
———–
—–Original Message—–
From: Eric Bookmeyer
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 1:02 PM
To: Townsend, Beth [ICRC]; northiowatoday@gmail.com
Cc: Lionel Foster Sr.; Grove, Don [ICRC]; Alex Kuhn; cameron@sarjeantssystems.com; figfinesse@me.com; kbmac17@hotmail.com; celt717@hotmail.com; Jacque.Huesman@Armour-Eckrich.com;
vanzomej@yahoo.com; Karen.Ries@doorgroup.com; riesweaver@mchsi.com; spalm100@hotmail.com; MDODGE@amfam.com; Brent Trout; nielsen@pappajohnlaw.com; scott@tornquistforrivercity.com
Subject: RE: Mayor’s involvement with Iowa Civil Rights Commission contract with Mason City Human Right Commission
Matt,
I concur with Director Townsend.
To answer your questions more specifically from my perspective:
It has come to my attention that Mayor Bookmeyer has entered into the negotiating process with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission’s negotiations with the Mason City Human Rights Commission and the possible agreement that might be signed between the two agencies. – I have not and have no intention to enter into any negotiating process regarding the agreement.
I am told Mr. Bookmeyer has used Mason City attorneys in this process and will insist that the Mason City Council and himself approve the agreement. – After attending the April 3rd MCHRC meeting it became apparent that the work-share agreement being offered to the MCHRC had a signatory line for the mayor. As a courtesy to the MCHRC, I referred the work-share agreement to the city attorney for him to consider the agreement for recommendation to council and determine whether it needed council and mayoral approval. He has now signed off on the agreement and confirmed that it is a 28E agreement that would need council approval before mayoral signature, via Section 28E.4, pending MCHRC approval.
I am further told that the Mason City HR Commission is being left out of the process entirely. – MCHRC was emailed the city attorney communications and the slightly amended agreement that the city attorney was willing to sign off on. That was done precisely so that MCHRC would have a work-share agreement in hand to consider at their May meeting that they had confidence that the city council would be counseled to approve by our city attorney.
Eric
———–
—–Original Message—–
From: Townsend, Beth [ICRC] [mailto:Beth.Townsend@iowa.gov]
Sent: Fri 4/12/2013 11:10 AM
To: northiowatoday@gmail.com
Cc: Lionel Foster Sr.; Grove, Don [ICRC]; Eric Bookmeyer; Alex Kuhn
Subject: FW: Mayor’s involvement with Iowa Civil Rights Commission contract with Mason City Human Right Commission
Matt,
There have been no “negotiations” between the ICRC and the Mason City Human Rights Commission, or the City of Mason City and its officials. I have offered the MCHRC the opportunity to enter into a workshare agreement that they can chose to sign or not, depending on how the Commission decides to handle their remaining cases. The Mason City city attorney contacted me this week with a couple of questions regarding the workshare agreement and asked that two minor changes be made to the agreement for clarification purposes, which I agreed to. However, neither of the two changes, changed the terms of the agreement in any way and the terms offered in the original agreement remained exactly the same. Indeed, the city attorney did not inquire about “negotiating” any of the terms of the agreement and did not ask for any changes other than two grammatical changes.
Just for clarification, there is nothing within the ICRA that would prevent the local agency and/or city government from “negotiating” the terms of a workshare agreement with the ICRC. As a general rule, no negotiations are conducted because of the need to provide uniformity throughout the state for all local agencies that chose to enter into the workshare agreements with the ICRC, but I do take suggestions from
agencies regarding the structure of the agreements. To date, MCHRC has
not entered into a workshare agreement this year, however with the vote to reduce the funding for the commission, I offered the MCHRC the opportunity to enter into an agreement for the remainder of this fiscal year in an effort to assist them through their unique circumstances.
The workshare agreement does not require the agency to refer cases to the ICRC, it simply establishes the terms under which the local commission will be reimbursed by the ICRC should they elect to do so.
With regard to what parties will need to sign the agreement, I have advised both the City Attorney and the acting chair of the MSCHR, that this will depend on the Mason City ordinances. There is nothing within the ICRA which requires the signature of any particular body. Rather the agreement must be signed by the appropriate authority depending on the governing city ordinance establishing the human rights commission.
Some city ordinances within the state require City Council/Mayoral approval, others do not. I am not an expert in Mason City ordinances and have no opinion regarding the appropriate authority to sign the agreement. I would refer you to the Mason City city attorney for any questions regarding this issue.
I do not have a position on whether the MCHRC should enter into the agreement (although I can see no reason why they wouldn’t) or any of the issues currently facing the Commission and City of Mason City. I am here to answer questions posed by the citizens of Mason City, MCHRC commission members and members of city government, as I would for any other local community in the state of Iowa with similar issues or questions and to provide an option to the MCHRC for processing their remaining complaints. Should you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me as I know there is a lot of misinformation floating around and I would rather provide the correct answers to questions individuals may have.
Beth A. Townsend
Director, Iowa Civil Rights Commission
400 East 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515)242-6537 (Direct Line)
———–
From: Matt Marquardt [mailto:northiowatoday@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 10:27 AM
To: mayor@masoncity.net<mailto:mayor@masoncity.net>;
kuhnatlarge@masoncity.net<mailto:kuhnatlarge@masoncity.net>; Brent Trout; tornquistatlarge@masoncity.net<mailto:tornquistatlarge@masoncity.net>;
Lionel Foster Sr.; Grove, Don [ICRC]; Sisler, Diana [ICRC]
Subject: Mayor’s involvement with Iowa Civil Rights Commission contract with Mason City Human Right Commission
Good morning,
It has come to my attention that Mayor Bookmeyer has entered into the negotiating process with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission’s negotiations with the Mason City Human Rights Commission and the possible agreement that might be signed between the two agencies.
I am told Mr. Bookmeyer has used Mason City attorneys in this process and will insist that the Mason City Council and himself approve the agreement. I am further told that the Mason City HR Commission is being left out of the process entirely.
I am further informed that this negotiation violates the Iowa civil Rights Statute.
I am at this time working on this story and would like to confirm this situation or have it straightened out so only the truth is reported.
Please respond with what you know of this.
Matt Marquardt, NIT Publisher
“Hopefully once you look at that you will pledge too to help make Mason City a Blue Zones community.”
So then let me give you examples from the horses mouth.
“Start making your community a happier, healthier place to live, work and play!”
A Blue Zone will not accomplish that. I am reminded every day that humans are drawn to a lifestyle that fits their belief system, or lack thereof. Work, home, and family contribute heavily to how a person behaves. If one has for example, a desire to walk a bit every day, no Blue Zone will ever change that. If a person wants to sit at a bar for 4 hours a day, again, nothing in this world (save loosing his or her liver) will ever change that behavior. Especially a Blue Zone.
People do not change because some magic program blossoms from the vapors so someone’s imagination. They have to want to.
“Mason City is a Blue Zone Demonstration site”
I remember when Mom Demonstrated American Home Products in our living room 40 years ago. The demo was used to sell products. I remember when Larry Bayless, our 8th graded science teacher demonstrated how a galvanic cell works. The demo was used to instruct.
Combine those two concepts, and you end up with the desire to give to someone something, IF they are willing to accept it. You cannot force either up on anyone.
“Determan said Mason City is on the “cutting edge of healthy living.” She calls the prospects exciting, and we agree.”
Cutting edge? Maybe one can believe that if they walked through life with blinders on. Look around you, observe how people live, not just the ones in your ‘caste’. Get outside your brie eating, wine sipping circle of friends! Examine the attitudes of people, and how it affects their life decisions. Realistically, that is like thinking a person with alcoholism can just snap their fingers and stop drinking, along with the behaviors associated with the disease. Pure Humbug! The person with the disease has to want change. In the most simple understandable terms, one can lead a horse to water, but can never make them drink. That is reality.
Yet, if one reads the Blue Zone material, you get the impression that with one pass of the magic wand, perhaps a “Power 9”, or one day in a moai will suddenly bring about instant realization that one has entered a mythical state of euphoria.
This whole thing is not a red pill versus a blue pill! It is about the reality of human behavior.
Blue Zones remind me of the age old adage, there is a sucker born every minute. Just make sure you buy the books and checklists!
@Observer-excellent, excellent post. I really wish I had been able to say that. They won’t believe you but it is true.
You are right on, Observer. Mercy already has an employee program called Kailo, developed by Kelly Putnam, which is similar to Blue Zones, but sounds better as it approaches the entire person in a holistic way. Expanding that program to the community would have made more sense, had it been possible. It sounds as if it may help address the root of the problem instead of just lack of exercise and poor diet. Lack of motivation is the big issue here. Cheer leading by the elite isn’t going to help the ones who really need it. They need counseling spots in high-traffic areas to make any headway with this problem.
And I have an uninsured house guest named Cato.
Too true. Until MC rids itself of drive thru windows on every street, people here will eat crap and be fat. That’s what they are bred to do. That, and drink copious amounts of booze. They would rather have a Blue Moon instead of a Blue Zone.
Who better to look out for the poor white people than a black man. He been der, done dat!
Let’s take a closer look at that$150,000
Lionel Foster salary $77,821.90
Amy Simpson salary $41,532
Both figures don’t include benefits
More than half of the budget went to pay Lionel’s salary.PritchArd the golf course got just over $49,000. that was nowhere near half of the golf courses revenue.
When you combine the two salaries that eats up $119,354 of the $150,000. Plus you still need to probably add in Another fifteen per cent for fringe benefits.
Now how does that look to you?
Observer.
Where have you been? haven’t you ever read a newspaper, listened to radio, watched tv. there have hundreds of stories that explain what the Blue Zones offers.
Check out their website and see what they do offer.
Hopefully once you look at that you will pledge too to help make Mason City a Blue Zones community.
I see that MC Human Rights handled52 cases. that means on average each case cost about$3,000. You could contract with a local attorney for about $150 an hour
And probably not go through 10 hours.
In Lionel’s case that meant he was paid approximately $1,500 per case. Exactly what professional qualifications does Lionel have to command a salary that large?
That on average would equal one case a week. Even if Lionel devoted 30 hours to each case that would be $50 per hour.Lionel had a cushy job and wants to keep the paycheck rolling in. How quick we forget his tenure on the council. It wasn’t all that great!
Every situation needs to be evaluate on their own distinct merits. This has been done with the parks and the golf course too.
You can use those statements about the salaries for many CEO’s around. part of the reason times are tough for the working poor.
“Mason City was very fortunate to be selected as a Blue Zones community.”
Please, give us a few reasons why?
Being “selected” for blue zones is a like a car dealer telling you that you’ve been selected as the winner of a new car if the key fits. It’s a way for blue zones to get free publicity.
The unfortunate fact, is it is not free. It is costing the taxpayers real dollars in the form of taking space in a municipal property (now or proposed), wages, and so forth.
And accounting to the public has been lacking only to state that money spent by the City will be offset by donations. Other than that, we have heard or seen nothing. So where are the donations? How much thus far have you raised?
Since our City leaders have decided to use municipal funds, a line item accounting to the public is in order.
Hacker asked these questions:
Exactly how many cases were handled?
What was the outcome in each case?
How much is Lionel paid?
Now what is the cost per case?
Let’s look at the facts not rhetoric.
Hacker, here are the facts with no rhetoric:
I am not going to go back and publish the actual numbers but I have went up and run the numbers compared to the States and other communities with Human Rights Departments.
FACT: Mason City’s Human Rights Commission cost per case is one of the lowest in the whole country. Human Rights Commissions look to Mason City’s model for cost savings. They come here to ask how Mason City does it so effectively and efficiently. Do your homework, check it out and you come up with the same conclusion!
The reason Mason City’s costs are lower than that of others, is because of the volunteer’s and commissions vetting of phoney cases.
What people don’t know is that Lionel had a no nonsense approach to handling cases in a fair and honest manner. The rules the commission set up to vet the complaints made sure case’s had merit before allowing a case to be submitted.
Our stupid Mayor and City Council never took any of this into consideration, or any real facts before shutting down the MCHRC.
This was nothing more then a vindictive and poor political move by Mayor Bookmeyer and the City Council.
Another black pox on the city of Mason City by poor leadership!!!
This whole HRC thing is just crap. It was done away with because bookmeyer and tornquist have wanted it gone forever. Look at the people booky has put on the commission dodge has been before the commission how many times and palmer and brain are just a couple of coonies of bookys it makes me sick how they get away with the things they do. tornquist said he has been around the bran a few times well I think he has been rolling the the stuff the cows leave in the barn just say’n
HR commission and model under which it has been run is antiquated. Lost files, years to close cases, too many decsions overturned, the list goes on and on. No other cities have the budget Mason City has paid through the nose for, years and years. It’s time to get this thing run by the state where it can be run by professionals, not posers.
Joe,
you are smoking your socks. You do not know what you are talking about!
Want to bet, I have seen it and know insiders. It is antiquated and self serving. Turn out the lights, their party is over
Exactly how many cases were handled?
What was the outcome in each case?
How much is Lionel paid?
Now what is the cost per case?
Let’s look at the facts not rhetoric.
Lionel might have been born at night….but bet your money it wasn’t last night. All of this can be corrected simply by voting. And for those of you who might be worrying about Lionel, don’t because whatever it is he might do….he’ll do it right. I think he’d make a good mayor….
Mayor……Lionel? Have you fallen and hit your head? He’s past his prime, he served many years….don’t want to take that away from him, but its time to retire. He is not City leadership material.
” Have you fallen and hit your head? “. This, if true,could explain a lot.
Most of the people who post on this site could use a lot of sensitivity training!
@Peter Children-what is wrong with you man? If he was mayor he would have the whole damn town in sensitivity training at our expense.
Bluezones, whatever. Our own horrible mayor can’t even live up to what the blue zones is about…..He smokes cigarettes, drinks, and by the looks of him he doesn’t not excercise. He’s not exactly a shining example of fitness. This is just another stupid thing that the tax payers in Mason City have to foot the bill for. Same with the ugly statues. We paid and will continue to pay for that also. Eric, I hope we don’t see you in the mayor’s position any longer after the November election.
@Anonymous-This comment I agree with you on.
Ever heard of a double negative?
The city has been put in a no-win situation because of the action of the Mayor and City Council.
Watched the Mayor in action the other evening. This fellow is a piece of work.
“NIT is told the agreement is solely between the two agencies and does not involve the mayor nor city council.” Really, who in their right mind told you that? MCHRC was created by the city & presumably can be dissolved by it as well.
I note that “the Commission has all the authority it needs under Chapter 216.19 to execute the agreement on its own behalf.” So what? I would bet elsewhere in the Code Mayor & Council have reserved the ability to act directly if they so deem. That apparently is the case here.
It is no wonder the mayor has entered into the negotiations – as he should.
It appears that Lionel is going to the sour grapes approach. If anyone is trying to politicize the matter it is him – note he has copied in Ragan & Steckman.
Lionel says he has no intention of resigning – so what is he going to do – volunteer?
@4ever49-Come on now. You know as well as anyone Old Lionel is angling for a buyout of any kind. He is probably hoping they will make him an offer just to shut him up. Probably will not happen as they will not want to start a precedent.
Good point.
It kills me that we as taxpayers are funding a social program like Blue Zones instead of the HRC. Blue Zones will disappear and go the way of NorthBridge in a year or two.
And you’re right for once, Anonymous. Centralized government always costs more than local government. That’s why the federal government is $16 trillion in debt and many state governments operate with balanced budgets. It can be done even better at the local level in most cases, unless you’re in a liberal state like CA.
You guys are so slow on the uptake. We already pay state services regardless if we pay local too…understand how it works?
It is always cheaper to do it locally. This was a foolish move and vindictive by the Mayor.
Who could blame Lional for being pissed off to treated this way after years of dedicated service to the community.
@Anonymous-don’t forget he was paid very well for those years of so called service. Most people call that being employed.
Mason City had the SECOND heaviest load of cases in the state. If those cases aren’t being handled at the local level, the state will have to hire people to handle those cases. Some unpaid VOLUNTEERS were helping at the local level. Do you really think there will be any volunteers working at the state level? Huh. I’m also betting that employees in Des Moines get paid more than employees in Mason City because the wage standard is likely higher there than in Mason City. Everything costs more in a larger city: office space, parking space, you name it, it costs more. All this is going to do is increase the state’s cost and spread the cost of Mason City’s HRC over the entire state instead of Mason City and/or surrounding areas paying for all of it. That makes it more expensive for everyone in the state.
I can’t believe Lionel is willing to stay on after June 30th. I wonder what they are going to pay him and how much time he plans to put in. He must love his job, is all I can say.
Second heaviest case load in the state… huh. Do you think any of those were solicited? If you put a HRC in Stacyville the number of cases would go up there. I agree with the savings to MC… that being said, I disagree with the waste – blue zones (start a health committee with volunteers), statues (incorporate the beutification of downtown with MC and Newman art students). The list goes on… the message of savings is lost with some of these things. AND… where are the jobs… to start, bring new business with 50 decent jobs (not a resaurant) to Mason City!
@Katie
I totally agree…. on what level of anything that the state takes over is it better then when handled locally. If changes needed to be made and percentages on cuts I could stand behind this, however slashing the budget in this manner means for ANYONE who needs this SERVICE, you will know get to call a number and hope to speak to a person?? Is that not what you get when you call any other state agency?
Spelling correction:
Everyone in Mason City already knows Mayor Bookmeyer is the asshole that was behind the “defunding” of the MCHRC
After reading the e-mails one would think Ms. Townsend with her experience in Human Rights would keep her mouth shut.
There is absolutely no need for her to be responding to Mason City officials at all. Period!
Everyone in Mason City already knows Mayor Bookmeyer is the asshole that was behind the defending of the MCHRC. Ms. Townsend knows that too.
Human Rights are defunct in Mason City. Ms Townsend should not aid and abet this tragedy.
Not sure what Lionel was thinking when he wrote those letters. Sure he does have a great job. Where else in Mason City could he make that kind of money?
His statements now sound more self serving than ever.
Again to compare the Blue Zones to this is very shortsighted. Blue Zones impacts the entire community as well as employees who work here. We are talking probably 15,000 people. Mason City was very fortunate to be selected as a Blue Zones community.
Personally I have always liked Lionel but this time I am in total disagreement, t. The information has been studied and re studied,the facts show that the state can and will take this over at a huge savings to Mason City. The decision has been made and if Lionel persists he will be guilt of trespassing. Certainly would not want that but lately we seem to have seen a lot of self induced ego stupidity .
Bluezones are bullshiest.
You don’t know anything about cost savings. State costs the taxpayers much more money for the same service. All that is being done is shifting the burden from the city to the state taxes.
In case you bufoons can’t figure this out. Mason City people pay state taxes.
Duh!
I suppose next you will want the state to take over our garbage collections. What an idiot!
Blue Zones will be a distant memory and a punchline in the near future.
No money for human rights commission but looks like you have plenty for the Blue Zone bs. This is a charade.