by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – At a budget hearing held Tuesday evening, Finance Director Kevin Jacobson revealed that city officials are looking to spend tens of thousands of dollars on City Hall improvements, fixes and equipment.
In his preliminary budget, which still may be changed and is not yet approved, Jacobson (pictured in front of laptop, right) showed on a list of capitol improvement projects that the city is looking to spend $60,000 on a remodel of the first floor (pictured, below).
City Administrator Brent Trout told the City Council and Mayor Eric Bookmeyer that local architect Randy Cram would be at City Hall today (Thursday) looking at the project.
NorthIowaToday.com has so far been unable to get any details about the $60,000 in renovations for the first floor. We have an email in to City Administrator Brent Trout and Jacobson asking for details on the project and how it made its way onto the list of capitol improvements. Once that information is made available, it will be reported on.
Also on the list is $60,000 for computer replacement, $10,000 for miscellaneous equipment replacement and $150,000 for tuck-pointing of bricks.
The next budget hearing is set for January 31st at City Hall.
Meanwhile, fourth ward City Council member Janet Solberg completed some remodeling of her own at City Hall.
Solberg removed the locked door on her wooden inbox (pictured, right, lower left corner), located at the rear of City Hall. Solberg had a locking door installed on her inbox after she made it to the council, and caused a stir by asking for the locked doors on the inboxes. All the other council members had their locked doors removed in a timely manner, but Solberg’s remained until after January 1st of this year.
NorthIowaToday.com has repeatedly asked Solberg about the locked door (pictured, below). Were there items being stolen? What exactly was going on? We asked again this week why she had the door removed. “What has changed since January 1?” we asked.
Solberg (pictured at top, just to the left of Jacobson) did not reply, and has not replied to any questions asked by NorthIowaToday.com in well over a year. She did take a phone call once, and after we asked a couple of questions, she put us on hold. Solberg never returned to the phone.
I wonder if Solberg is this incompetent in her employment setting. She must be the worst councilperson we have had here in recent memory.
@no more solberg, dont mow you lawn or shovel your snow, hell pile a bunch of crap in your yard then you will hear from this flake!!!!!! I to live in 4th ward and what has she done nothing. As one solberg would say “Bring it on guys.”
Don’t feel bad, I live in Solberg’s district and have written to her personally on three different matters. She has NEVER acknowledged my contact attempts, nor tried to provide answers.
Me thinks she doth protest those of us who want answers. Ignore us, and maybe SHE will go away?
I hope so.
The ability to accept credit/debit cards is hardly expensive. $800 per station gets a robust terminal and pin-pad. They interface into a common PC, and most accounting packages (unless you are using Windows 95 or DOS). So for Utilities as an example, expect a max of $1,600. This means it’s petty cash, not major investment.
Unfortunately, the City’s Finance Director doesn’t want to accept credit cards because he doesn’t want to pay the transaction fees. In City government, every cost gets passed on to the tax payers. Someone needs to analyze the cost of the transaction fees versus the cost to pay someone to count cash.
Observer obviously you don’t have any respect for money.
$800.00 dollars is way to much to spend on a “robust” card reader.
If there was a thinker in the crowd you would update with technology to downsize the staff for cost savings. Government don’t but should think like private enterprise.
It gets real easy to spend the money when you can take it away from the taxpayers.
UNBELIEVABLE!!! And of course, the rubber stamp council that we now have will be ALL FOR IT!!! This is an unneeded waste of taxpayer dollars!
How many computers are they replacing for a $60000 price tag? Are they building a nasa center?
Our city software is GROSSLY outdated. We NEED the software. No, I don’t work for city hall, but as a citizen I see what I am NOT able to do in this town, for example charge my fees to my debit card, etc. The computers go along with that. Who is to say this is not budgeted money?
U dont need new computers to accept cards. Just card readers and software. As stated above, unless the city is running windows 95 or dos no need for new computers, at least not in this economy. We all have to make due with what we have, so why not our council? 60 grand for main floor remodel? Last time i checked the walls or the ceiling are not falling down. New paint goes a long way. $60 for 5a GALLONS at menards. 50 gallons and u done. Makes the place look like new.
I’m not surprised at the $60,000 price tag for a new computer system. New servers, workstations, and software are horribly expensive. You need expensive software licenses for each of the workstations and it doesn’t take long before you have a fortune tied up in hardware and software, plus a monthly maintenance fee for software support. And you usually have to have someone come in from the software company to train the employees on the new software program. I work for a small business with professional software and it is outrageous what it costs to equip a business office and keep it running smoothly. We also have to pay a local guru to fix our hardware and non-professional software problems. They are way too complex for anyone in our office to figure out when they crop up because of our complex network and firewall configurations.
So total of 270000. Wow in a time when everyone is tightening their belts?
Bookmeyer just wants it to look good for the next mayor who will be taking over his office in two years. Oh wait a minute it is less than two years now!
The council should not approve 60,000 dollars in renovations to the first floor dont they realize the shape our economy is in. This would just be a waste of tax-payer money. Prove to us citizens what service we would gain by this money being spent or cut it.
Oh boring you sure check in though don’t you. These rip offs never sleep so you can check 24. Crooks!
I think NIT must be bored. A article that has nothing to do with anything except a feeble attempt at muckraking. John from what I have heard the hostile work enviroment issues were resolved as of January 1st.
Heard of spellcheck? NIT couldn’t be bored. Too busy punishing deadbeats everyday. Everyday something new and exciting on this site.
Like hell they are!! They are much worse!
What an arrogant ass that Solberg thing. Her actions-votes-comments are so hideous and as obvious as a bad hair day. We know exactly what you are and think like Ms Solberg. You trick no one.
I have heard that there is a hostile work enviornment at city hall. If thats true, they should make improvements on that, then instead of spending money on who knows what, they could save some. Also, how would spending 60 grand to remodel the first floor, make it more efficient?
It’s VERY RUDE that Solberg choose’s not to let the people of Mason City have any insight into her actions. (via the media or any other outlet)
It definitely makes her less appealing come election time!
Solberg is such a flake, she will be gone not election! I have a box of rocks smarter than solberg!