NorthIowaToday.com

Founded in 2010

News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region

NIT Publisher Marquardt forced from Mason City Public Library while covering meeting of elected officials

Cerro Gordo County Supervisor Jay Urdahl sampling his soup from free lunch #2 this week.
Cerro Gordo County Supervisor Jay Urdahl sampling his soup from free lunch #2 this week.  Urdahl is set to have a third free lunch Thursday at a North Iowa Corridor / EDC Board meeting.

MASON CITY – NIT Publisher Matt Marquardt was forced to leave a meeting of elected officials Wednesday at the Mason City Public Library.

Marquardt went to the library to cover a meeting that was called a “mayors luncheon” on a publicly posted agenda of meetings from the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse.

“I saw the meeting on the County Board of Supervisors’ meeting agenda for Wednesday,” Marquardt explained.  “What would be more newsworthy than a room full of Mayors, Supervisors and other elected officials?”

Those in attendance included City Administrator Brent Trout,  Mason City Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb, Nora Springs Mayor George Anderson, Mason City Council member Scott Tornquist, and Cerro Gordo County Supervisors Urdahl and Bob Amosson, among others.

At the meeting, which was held in a second floor board room at the Mason City Public Library Wednesday at noon, a sign on the open door said only “MAYORS LUNCHEON.”

Marquardt, in an attempt to cover the meeting for a news story, entered the board room where the meeting was being held.

After seeing Mayor Eric Bookmeyer motion to him to move forward, City Administrator Brent Trout advanced upon NorthIowaToday.com Publisher Matt Marquardt, telling him he was not invited.  "The people of Mason City are not invited," Trout said.
After seeing Mayor Eric Bookmeyer motion to him to move forward, City Administrator Brent Trout advanced upon NorthIowaToday.com Publisher Matt Marquardt, telling him he was not invited. “The people of Mason City are not invited,” Trout said.

Within a few seconds of entering the room, Marquardt was spotted by Trout, Bookmeyer and Urdahl.  Bookmeyer immediately motioned to Trout and stepped aside, allowing Trout to advance towards Marquardt (see video below).

Trout told Marquardt that he was “not invited” and had to leave as he crowded Marquardt out of the room towards the door, blocking his view.  Marquardt refused to leave, identified himself as a member of the press, and told Trout that he could call police if chose to as the room full of elected officials filled their plates and ate.

“The people of Mason City are not invited,” Trout told Marquardt. (See video.)

Trout then told Marquardt that he would call the police, and proceeded to do so.  After Trout stepped aside, Marquardt walked further into the room and shot about 3-4 still shots and about 10 more seconds of video of the elected officials eating and then met Trout outside the board room.

Marquardt and Trout were then escorted downstairs to a first-floor classroom by Library Director Mary Markwalter where they waited for Mason City Police to arrive.

Ten minutes and 30 seconds later, Mason City Police Chief Michael Lashbrook, accompanied by another officer, entered the room where Trout and Marquardt were waiting.

Trout confirmed in the discussion that followed that Eric Bookmeyer was acting in his capacity as Mayor of Mason City at the meeting.

See video, below, for that discussion.

County Supervisor agenda:

Board of Supervisors Cerro Gordo County – MEETINGS AND AGENDAS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 25, 2013

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013
9:00 a.m. Press Conference – Iowa Citizen Action Network on Medicaid Expansion in Boardroom (a)
10:00 a.m. County Social Services Board Meeting – Butler County Courthouse – Dougherty
12:00 p.m. Mayors Luncheon – Mason City Library Boardroom – Urdahl & Amosson
1:30 p.m. Meeting with McGladrey LLP – Board’s Office – Urdahl (a)

MCPL Board Room doors and windows covered with shades.  The room was full of elected officials.
MCPL Board Room doors and windows covered with shades. About a dozen elected officials were in the room.
Mason City Police Chief and City Administrator Brent Trout.  What is Trout reaching for?
Mason City Police Chief and City Administrator Brent Trout. According to Sheriff Kevin Pals, Brent Trout has a valid 5-year carry permit that was issued May 11, 2011. “I was very concerned about Trout’s movements,” Mr. Marquardt stated.
Mason City Council member Scott Tornquist and Mason City Mayor Eric Bookmeyer having lunch at the Mason City Public Library on Wednesday, March 27th, 2013.
Mason City Council member Scott Tornquist (center) and Mason City Mayor Eric Bookmeyer (right) having lunch at the Mason City Public Library on Wednesday, March 27th, 2013.

Video:

httpv://youtu.be/u3ZjQYuEKpI

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

144 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Even more news:

Watercooler
Copyright 2024 – Internet Marketing Pros. of Iowa, Inc.
144
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x