Editorial by Matt Marquardt –
Did Mason City’s $9.50 man give himself a promotion?
Brent Willett, the “face” of economic development in North Iowa since 2011, was hired that year as the “Executive Director” of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation, sometimes known as the EDC. Mr. Willett requests hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars – cumulatively, each year – from Mason City, Clear Lake and Cerro Gordo County, to bring jobs to the region.
So far, his greatest achievement after two years leading the EDC was bringing a few dozen jobs to Mason City that pay $9.50 per hour.
After Mayor Eric Bookmeyer called this accomplishment an over-achievement (Willett had “exceeded expectations”) and our City Council called it “amazing,” it seems Mr. Willett has given himself a promotion.
At the last Mason City City Council meeting, Mr. Willett gave one of his typical, boring, skewed presentations on how everything in North Iowa is hunky-dory. He talked about “boundary clusters” and a theoretical “sizable economic development project” that he and his staff have never even whiffed at once.
At the end of his sleep-fest, Mr. Willett left a screen on the overhead projector that some people may not have noticed. You see, with this group of cronies, you need to pay attention to everything – the details – because they will sneak one in on you.
Mr. Willett gave himself a new title: President & CEO.
Big deal, you might say.
Well, perhaps, but if you read between the lines, going from “Executive Director” to “President and CEO” looks good on a … resume.
I have been telling NIT readers for three years, many of these cronies are resume builders who are here for … a short time.
Willett wants out of North Iowa. His wife just left the United Way, too. This guy wants out, now, and I would bet the farm he and his wife are on Monster.com and LinkedIn.com and CronyforHire.com looking for work.
Mr. Willett, in your job interviews, don’t brag about the $9.50 jobs or your excursions to the Other Place for a drink with Eric Bookmeyer. It won’t serve you well.
if he did promote himself with a wage increase that is a fraudulent act isnt it
Not sure what this is all about. The Craig’s let comment would make a top ten for Letterman as one of the dumbest statements ever made. I’m not excited about our economic growth but the solutions being proposed here are absolutely stupid. Most economic developments projects are funneled by the state first? So first of all they have to be interested in Iowa. After that the labor force ranks second. We get dinged there and we get killed with those high Alliant utility rates when we compete with energy intensive businesses that can choose a town with Mid America. Now you would be geniuses tell me how you would do this. matt you should weigh in on this too so everyone can see how you would handle economic development.
Normally a promotion like that includes a salary increase. It would be worth looking into.
Mr. Willett is “above the discourse” as King Bookmeyer told the rabble in Skipper’s rag of a newspaper. He will not talk to NIT because he, like the mayor, can’t hold the debate. So he has gone silent, hiding in Robin’s castle on North Federal.
@Matt Marquardt-To me that means he gave himself a raise or someone else did and they want it kept quiet. It would be very embarrassing to have that come out just before the election with his record for non-performance.
Could it be that this guy knows what is coming in November and wants out now? I think he might be privy to polling results that might indicate he will be out of a job.
One more reason to rid ourselves of Bookmeyer; cut all strings and this one would be at the top of the list. Great reporting.
Good spot Matt, doesn’t a promotion come with a raise in pay…