Recently, an issue was brought to the City Council regarding complaints a council member says he received from people living near the 12th Street NW overpass about transients loitering under the bridge and how those people could be made to leave. That prompted the City Council to direct city staff to research the issue. NorthIowaToday.com visited with several neighbors near the overpass as well as people taking shelter under that overpass and another to try and find how big the problem really is.|Recently, an issue was brought to the Mason City City Council by Second Ward Council member Travis Hickey regarding complaints he says he received from people living near the 12th Street NW overpass about transients “loitering” under the bridge. It was said at the Council meeting that city code may not apply at these locations due to railroad ownership of adjacent land. That prompted the City Council to direct city staff to research the issue.
NorthIowaToday.com visited with several neighbors near the overpass as well as people taking shelter under that overpass and another to try and find how big the transient problem really is and if action should be taken.
Click here to view some photos.
Three people were interviewed at three different houses that are near the 12th Street NW overpass.
Paul Anderson, of 1113 N. Van Buren, said “I don’t know anything about it. I haven’t seen anyone. If they need a place to sleep, they can stay here.” He pointied to the area beside his garage.
Mona Heinold lives at 501 12th Street NW. “I haven’t had any problems with people sleeping under the bridge. I have a dog that I walk every morning and I haven’t seen anyone, or heard anyone. I drive for Coach America and I did see three people with backpacks sleeping over at the north baseball diamonds around 5:00 am (Sunday morning, July 10th),” she said. “There’s people walking, riding bikes back and forth under that overpass all day long. They cut through my yard and I don’t have a problem with that. If they’re not causing any problems and it’s not illegal, let them sleep. I haven’t seen any litter from any one staying there. I have more litter in my yard than what’s under that bridge.”
Jan Papach, (pictured, right) who lives at 630 11th St NW, has a back yard that is connected to the area under the 12th Street NW bridge, and she has a clear view of the whole underbelly of the overpass. “I haven’t seen anyone. There hasn’t been anyone in my yard and I’m attached to it. I haven’t heard any of the neighbors complaining about anyone being in their yards, and I would have been called if there was any problems,” Jan said. “Just leave them alone,” she continued. “Let them sleep, they aren’t causing any problems.” She went on to say she is glad that the city is investigating this issue to see what the truth is. “If one anonymous caller calls in, you don’t know where the call came from. You don’t know what the truth is unless it’s looked into. As far as I know, there isn’t any problem.”
On Monday, July 11th, three hitchhikers were under the 19th St. SW bridge near the National Guard Station. When approached, they were polite. One of the transients, Ty, was talkative and didn’t have a problem being interviewed. The other two, as Ty explained, were sleep deprived, so he just wanted them to sleep.
Ty says they are just traveling through Iowa. He’s from California and on summer break from college, where he’s going to school to become an elementary teacher. He traveled (hitchhiked) to Tennessee to see his grandma, who is 80 and not feeling well and is next going to Montana to see his parents. He’ll be going back to California in time to for the start of fall semester.
Ty said they were told that they weren’t doing anything wrong, except for being on railroad property. He says they were given permission to stay under the 19th Street bridge because of the storm early Monday morning.
NorthIowaToday.com reporters Jodi Spear and Kelly Meyer took them some warm pork chops, pop-tarts and Raman Noodles. They were grateful but said they didn’t need the soda they were brought because they preferred drinking water.
Ty said, “We always clean up after ourselves, it’s bad manners to leave anything behind.”
When told about the city looking into the transient issue, and then asked when he thought they would be on their way, Ty said, “Well, if we’re causing so much trouble, we better go soon.”
After the interview with Ty, and saying nice things about the police and the people of Mason City, a police officer came up and said they had to be on their way.
Video interview of Ty, a transient who passed through Mason City. Also interviewed was a neighbor of the 12th Street NW overpass who says there is not a problem with transients near her home:
Video of City Council discussion on dealing with “transients” at overpasses or other areas where city code may not apply:
