MASON CITY – North Iowa Corridor Director Brent Willett on Monday said that “ticket sales” will cover the cost of bringing Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads to Mason City to deliver the keynote address at this year’s North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation Annual Meeting. The event will be held Tuesday, June 18th at 11:30 am at Music Man Square in Mason City.
NorthIowaToday.com Publisher Matt Marquardt phoned Willett Monday to discuss the cost of hiring Rhoads as well as other issues at the Corridor.
Willett offered that “no public money” was spent on the annual meeting and claimed that the sale of tickets would cover Rhoads’ fee.
However, Willett refused to talk about how much the Corridor was paying Rhodes. Public officials that were asked, including Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, City Administrator Brent Trout and the entire Mason City Council all refused as well. Bookmeyer, Trout and City Council member Travis Hickey are all members of the Corridor board in some capacity. None of them would divulge the information.
Monday morning, NorthIowaToday.com was able to track down Rhoads’ “celebrity booking agency” – (an outfit called Athlete Promotions) – and speak to an individual there about the cost of hiring Rhoads. NIT told the man on the phone from Athlete Promotions that a “non-profit” organization from North Iowa was interested in hiring Rhoads to speak at their annual meeting. The man told NIT that $20,000 “gets the conversation started” but that Rhodes could be hired for roughly that amount.
It was not immediately known how much seating is in the Music Man Square dining hall, but some estimated that only about 300 persons could be seated there. Three hundred tickets sold at $25.00 each would generate $7,500.
Marquardt also asked Willett if $26,000 per year that the Corridor pays the Mason City Chamber of Commerce for rent was excessive. Willet said “no” and refused further comment on the issue.
Marquardt also asked for a third time if he could come to the Corridor’s offices and have a look around. Marquardt reminded Willett that the Corridor is supported by public tax dollars.
Willett said no, claiming that the Corridor is also a private organization while acknowledging receiving public tax dollars.
The North Iowa Corridor is funded by about $205,000 in annual public tax dollars from Mason City, Clear Lake and Cerro Gordo County governments, respectively. The Corridor claims that “over 140 local business partners” also contribute. Willett refused to disclose this list of contributors to Marquardt, saying it has “been published” but was not specific where. He would not furnish a list when asked.
Iowa State Coach Paul Rhoads has coached 4 years at Iowa State with one winning season and an overall record of 24–27 (.471).
@ Common Sense Man: I apologize for my choice of words. I meant no offense, and am a big fan of Sophie’s Choice, too. I also could not identify either Minert or Blodgett in a line-up. It just bothers me that two guys like that, with their rich fathers, have such automatic access to influence. I think that Blodgett, especially, takes for granted that which eludes most of us, and that he has frequently abused it.
@ really anonymous your wrong their not, Toddy Boy that crack head he hooked up Bookie the blimp with Minert out to the country club, that is where it all got going. Republitards are Nazis Blodgett is too, Blimpmeier should of never gone over there but he did so he could give our money to the Harley, end of story.
If you look up biased, uniformed, rumor filled rant in the dictionary this post would be used as the description
@ Common Sense: The blogger’s lack of communication skill should not be used to discredit the information he listed. It has been established that Mr. Bookmeyer did not know Mr. Minert until Mr. Blodgett invited them both to lunch at the country club. A short time later, Bookmeyer got the City Council to support the Harley-Davidson bail-out. Todd Blodgett’s illicit profiteering from his financial dealings with neo-Nazis is a matter of public record. You, sir, and the other blogger below, seem to wish to ignore the truth. Are you a drinking buddy of Minert’s, or Blodgett’s, or Bookmeyer’s?
One of my favorite movies is Sophie Choice with Meryle Streep. My favorite line out of the movie is fitting for this post. “the truth, the truth, what is the truth”.
By the way I couldn’t pick Blodget or Minert out of a lineup, and met Eric once when he was campaigning so no not drinking buddies. And by the way I usually enjoy your posts they are well thought out and I even agree with most of your opinions.
Harley wasn’t bailed out either they are a money making machine and wanted to expand. As really anonymous said it really wasn’t put together like the rumor mill says. and as far as everything stated as “being established” were you there and saw these happenings or are you going by what “other” people blog. The truth, the truth, what is the truth.
@ Mason Cityan, Country club has gone hill since I waitressed there 1964-67. Not a joke like you say, but not the place it use to be. Our neighbor’s granddaughter works out there, they let the public eat there some times, we went one night. Yes there is still members with money and pull, like MacNider’s, Pappajohn’s, Blodgett’s ect. But there few and far between most them now are like you and the LVS say, their not really movers and shakers just wannabe.
Hey Bonnie ask your friend if the country club people let’s Toddy Boy AKA Nazi crack head do his drugs at the table he sits at.
Talk about miss-using our tax money, the country club that is where Blodget took Steve Minert to meet Blimpmeyer, the Harley rip-off got set up there. A couple weeks after Toddy Boy introduces Minert to Bookie the Council gives $300,000 to the Harley, no strings attach. Wonder if Minert paid Blodget in cash, or drugs?
There were strings atached and I don’t believe that Harley Davidson has received any money for the deal yet.
$7.50 per hour jobs is quite a string. What they gotta hire, 6-7 wage slaves over there, selling harley stickers? Ir return mc gives $100K free loan, no payback. Way to go.
I’m no big fan of wilette, et. all; however there are some pretty flimsy arguments in this article/blog. First, just becuase you called some random agency you found on-line who said Rhodes gets 20k has nothing to do with what he was actually paid. Usually these kind of deals happen because a friend of a friend knows him and guilts him into giving the speech for much less than his usual fee. I really doubt they paid anywhere near 20k. of course when you call an agency out of the blue they are going to quote you a rediculous price just to see if you are cyclone crazy enough to pay it.
Next, I’m really tired of hearing about the supposed sweetheart deal Harley got—The city used a tax-rebate program to assist in his project.(similar to using TIF). I like how when it suits the arguments on this site everyone wants to use TIF(I’ve read here many times—worth county uses tif to fix their problems-why can’t cerro gordo…in fact, someone ran in the last supervisors election on that platform and you all seemed to back it). However, when the city of mason city actually uses tif(or similar) you are all crying that somehow its a shady deal. In its simplist terms this is how it works(these are fictional numbers but this is how the deal for Harley worked-and most tif projects). Minert says to city “my business pays 3k per year in property taxes and is somewhat blighted. Im intereseted in making significant improvements that once complete will increase my annual property tax to 13k per year. In order to assist with some of the infrastructure improvements i’d like the city to rebate the new tax that my project will create(13k-3k=10k) every year for the next ten years. Plus, I’ll agree to a few silly little strings that the city may require.” So, for the next ten years the city will still get the 3k that they would have gotten were it not for the project and after the ten year period the city will receive the full 13k on an annual basis. Harley receives via a rebate the portion of the tax that was created by their project for the next ten years.(not your property tax money or mine–just the new tax they created and paid because of the project.) Also, now that the city is a financial partner in the project they can now make requirements of the business owner either via bulding/project design issues or by mandating certain employment requirements.(again this is a generalization of how these deals work using fictional numbers).
Guys, there is nothig shady about these types of deals. They increase the tax base and give the city the opportunity to provide input in the project. Now you may argue that Harley would have done the project either way—maybe, I dont know….but, who cares-the project made a nice improvement to a blighted area and ultimatley will put more tax revenue into the system.
I really doubt that this deal came about because of a deal that minert and bookmeyer struck in some smokey room at the country club with blodgett as the middle man. I’m quite certain the city would entertain a deal like this with any of the business owners on the south side should they want to make significant improvements to their properties and the community. Your giving blogettes influince far too much consideration.
What does the country club have to do with this story? If you think that’s where all the under the table wheelings and dealings are going on …your wrong. When you say the members are”wannabes” how do you know? The members are your local plumber, drywaller, electrician, saleman, teachers, small business owner, and yes dentist, doctor and farmers…all walks of life all levels of income.
Common sense man has been a proud member of Highland Park for 21 years and Mason City Country Club for the past 18 years…I will let you in on something, 99 percent of the gossip on here about the drinking binges and deal making at the country club is untrue…What is true is that 99 percent of the time its about playing a round of golf with your friends.
I’m sure the people who attend these types of speeches pay at least $100 or more to attend. It’s likely a big fundraiser rather than a money loser. A lot of businesses and individuals in this town have big bucks to spread around. Our business gets slick fundraiser “invitations” all the time where the minimum amount is $500. In their dreams……..
Tickets were $25 each. Trout, Bookmeyer, Kuhn, CG Supervisors were there. I wonder if they purchased tickets or got in free. The room holds 300; it was 85% full. That includes board members at the Corridor as well as Willett and his staff. Again, who bought tickets and who didn’t. They could only raise $7,500 on ticket sales and that is if the room was totally full. With room rental, catering, and at least $20K for Mr. Cyclone, I’m betting this was a huge loser. And the egg is on all our faces for paying for it.
Matt was Tom Derzimsky there?
Hard to tell. Willett had all the doors closed and then they started standing in front of them, blocking my view.
Matt, I heard the speech was only 30 minutes long. Is that true? How do we find out if he was paid 20k for a 30 minute speech?
Also, if anyone thinks Jay Urdahl would ever pay for his own ticket they need their head examined. He would not have been there unless he got in free.
What a bunch of suckers we are!
So you don’t think that nearly $1,000 per minute is a good deal? Gosh, I thought I was the only one critical of this deal. Rhoads spoke for about 30 minutes, yes. From what I heard, it was mostly lame jokes about Cornhuskers and bragging about turning around an 0-10 team. Rhoads really revels in his mediocrity. But, he did such a great job that Alex Kuhn quoted him at the council meeting later that night.
Yes he was there.
You are sure Katy? How can you be so blatantly wrong all the time? I suspect you’ve damaged your brain with booze over the years.
@ Gomez: “Three hundred tickets sold at $25.00 each would generate $7,500.” Matt didn’t say the tickets were actually selling for $25.00 each. He’s speculating on the price for the speaker so I thought he was speculating on the minimum price asked for the tickets since he didn’t actually STATE he knew what the tickets were selling for. That’s why I suggested the tickets may have been going for a higher price.
I have a couple drinks a month. No years of booze. And I can spell my name correctly, which you can’t. Katie, not Katy. So you are the one who gets things wrong, Gomez Pyle.
Iowa Open Government Information Request. See Freedom of Information Act. From my reading of the Iowa Code, the Corridor applies. And such information sought by the Publisher as stated above, is not, according to the Code, confidential.
News medias have used it in the past to draw out into the open sunshine, “secrets” or other information those charged with the business of the people, are not willing to openly divulge.
Qualification: “Those whose records are records “of or belonging to this state or any county, city, township, school corporation, political subdivision, nonprofit corporation whose facilities or indebtedness are supported in whole or in part with property tax revenue…..are subject to the statute. Iowa Code § 22.1.”
“No restriction is placed on subsequent use of information provided. “Every person shall have the right to . . . publish or otherwise disseminate public records or the information contained therein.” Iowa Code Sec. 22.2(1)”
“Every person shall have the right to examine and copy public records . . . .” Iowa Code Sec. 22.2(1)
If you read further, it says that non-profits such as economic development agencies are exempt from this rule.
Country club is a joke. The “movers and shakers” that frequent that place aren’t much in North Iowa, and would be even less in a larger city. Why do you think most of them never leave this boring town.
@Mason Cityan-They are a legend only in their own minds. Big fish in a little pond comes to mind.
Yep, Exactly!
what is that phrase, Remember in November!
Roman Empire 0f the HAVES and HAVE NOTS ! All taxpayer dollars -the coach is a civil servant and my god anymore they think their gods.
Might be worth a look at Matt
All nonprofit corporations organized within the State of Iowa or authorized to do business within the State of Iowa must file a Biennial Report with the Secretary of State between January 1 and April 1 of each odd-numbered year. Each corporation’s registered agent will receive a Biennial Report notice in early January. There is no fee for filing a Nonprofit Corporation Biennial Report.
If they are selling tickets, sales tax permit?
best way to spy on government is to use the the government
If they are non-profit, they don’t have to collect sales tax.
Good points JBJ.
How does a college football coach get $20k for speaking for an hour?
Are you clowns insane? You worship football so much that you’ll pay the coach $20K to speak?
It’s totally insane to me. THIS is where tax money goes so if any poor person gets some cheese or food support than it is 100% OK for them to do so. Tax money isn’t just for the rich who don’t need it. When people throw tax money away like this it justifies everyone else taking some as well.
@Jesus Iberra-this I agree with you on.
Lets not get all bent out of shape about the Corridor group. The real story is all about the coach sucking hind teat.
Hes a state employee, well payed and showered with benefits and perks. He and all the other “athletic supporters” travel the state and garnish lavish rewards for their respective departments. You still cant get a ticket to a game and when you do you have to mortgage the farm.
Years ago we tried to get Hayden to Mason City and his dog and pony show was 50k.
Tour the office. What’s the matter matt do you need some design tips? They don’t want you there, just like they didnt want you at the library. Get a clue and get lost, maybe leave town.
Can we pay Weaver to stuff marquart in a dumpster and wheel him out of town where he belongs? I can’t even read this story it makes me so mad. Get a life marquardt.
Mr. Marquardt is a taxpayer, as are most NIT readers. As such, we have a right to know how our money is being spent. The $200,000+ of our money that the Corridor gets is of legitimate concern to those who provide it, especially when they intentionally take a $12,500+ loss. It’s wrong of the Corridor, and this Willett kid, to be so disrespectful toward those whose tax money they’re squandering.
That’s assuming a full house and we’ll see about that as well.
@Nine Iron Duffer-It must really piss you and your buddy a.g. off that Matt gets to the truth and exposes you elites for what you are. Self serving elitist that have been the problem with this city forever. How can anyone justify 20K for a one hour speech by a football coach. He is not a god he is just a coach and money does not make you any better either. Keep up the good work Matt. Those were all legitimate questions that deserve a answer. If the had nothing to hide they would give you that answer.
So in other words, you support a system of closed government? As in what England believed in the 1700’s of which “the business of the people was not any business of the People”?
I do not find this as a witch hunt when it comes to the spending of taxpayers money. In the U.S. we have a right with certain caveats and restrictions. This aint the Soviet Union of the 1950’s!
Paying a football coach 20K for speaking? What a crock of BS. And some of you guys complain about people getting food support? What a crock.
Hey marquart quit picking on the corridor and get a life. You are a small small man with no talent as a writer. All you do is bother people and write trash like this. You are jealous because you weren’t invited to this lunch and others. They don’t want you in the club now you’re mad about it. Country Club doesn’t want you either, would never let you join if you tried. Wannabe idot pretender.
How do you know so much about who the country club will or wont admit as a member? From what I know of Matt, he wouldn’t join even if the membership was free.
Did Matt strike a nerve?
Hardly. Stating a fact. Marquart is jealous of the mayor and Brent Willett because they are just plan better than he is. This pathetic web sit e is the best he can do. He spends all day “investagating” what he thinks are “issues” where there is none. We got some great jobs coming in 135 of them and Marquart is agaisnt that too. Thank you Brent Willett for the fine work the Corridor has done.
I’m betting Willett and his cronies are pissed that Matt wrote this on June 5th about these so-called great jobs:
“The truth of the matter is that most of the jobs pay about $9.50 per hour; this is not a living wage. Yes, we will take the jobs and welcome WS Live, but no one can support a family on this. The other truth that Willett let slip at the May 21st City Council meeting is that Mason City can expect only 29 new jobs in the first year WS Live is here. Then, supposedly, 29 more in the second year, and so on. We learned after the IC Systems debacle that sometimes companies cannot or will not live up to economic deals. The truth is, in 5 years, we will see if Mason City truly gets 135 jobs. Mr. Willett claimed that a “job creation schedule” was included in the Council packet for that meeting. It was not. Nor did Willett mention this “job creation schedule” in his press release on his website. He simply took credit for 135 jobs.”
Sir, if there was “no issue”, why would not those involved openly provide the information requested? Why is it wrong to ask how our tax money is spent?
Either you are about freedom, or you are not.
This is a lower-middle class town. How can we afford to pay this kind of money? This just seems very, very irresponsible.
Is that a typo? $20,000??? What in the world will this man be talking about?
To the NIT staff: you’ve once again dug deep, and your work has resulted in excellent research, and the reporting of relevant facts, that we North Iowans need to know, and deserve to get. Keep up the valuable efforts to bring us information suppressed by the other news outlets around here.