by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – North Iowa Landfill Director Bill Rowland is not supporting an agreement between the landfill and Energy Recovery Specialists (ERS), a company from Colorado that wants to build a $35 million dollar waste to energy plant in Mason City.
In a letter to North Iowa Landfill Board members, Rowland (pictured with LNI attorney James Locher) touches on the success the landfill has had in becoming a “premier facility” and said that it is “critical” that each community weighs in on a vote on the contract which will take place Thursday evening. “At no time in recent history has the LNI Board been asked to make a decision of this magnitude and potential economic risk,” Rowland wrote.
At a landfill board meeting in January, a consulting company, Foth Infrastructure, questioned the viability of the ERS plant. At that same meeting, newly-appointed board member Scott Tornquist of Mason City urged the LNI Board to move forward and make a deal with ERS as quickly as possible, despite the fact that there was no contract that had been negotiated between ERS and the landfill. Watch video of Tornquist addressing the LNI Board in January:
Many board members were not buying what Tornquist was selling, based on comments that were made.
One board member said “we just got this.” Another said “you can’t even buy a house in two weeks.” Another said “I just feel like this is being shoved down our throats.” LNI attorney James Locher said “I would prefer to have several months for something of this magnitude. There will be considerable backing and forthing on this… that’s a difficult thing.”
Just this evening, Hampton’s Mayor Shawn Dietz, who represents Hampton on the LNI Board, seemed to indicate he agreed more with the Foth report than Tornquist. “To say this proposed facility and proposal ‘doesn’t pass the sniff test’ is putting it mildly,” he said. Dietz also said “there is something that doesn’t add up, and it would not be in the best interest of any of the smaller communities from a financial standpoint to vote in favor of such an agreement.”
Since the last landfill board meeting, the landfill’s attorney, James Locher, has been working with ERS’s attorney Jacqueline Aurthur on a contract that would bind the landfill to ERS for at least a decade. That contract, again, is set to be voted on Thursday night.
Whether or not any LNI board members have even seen this contract is not known.
ERS claims they will bring over 50 jobs to Mason City. Their project has been dogged every step of the way by citizens who say the plant will have unsafe emissions and will be located too close to schools and the Newman Daycare, just 1.5 miles away.
I’m wondering that if all the garbage were to go to ERS would Bill be out of a job?
Thank you Matt on your great reporting and keeping the public informed!
Thank you Bill Rowland for taking a stand for what you believe is in the best interest of all of North Iowa!
You see…here in this city there is hope for righteousness; there are those who will not be pushed into bad decisions by fast talkers. The entire area has won a hard fought battle today. I realize that victory cannot be claimed until the “fat man” sings but tonight I think he’ll do more than sing, I think he’ll cry in his beer.
nmk
Oh my god Mr. Trout. You mean that same past city council that the Mayor and the Globe have tried to blame the destruction of civilization as we know it on voted to approve this. How could this be. Has to be a typo error.
Good job Matt and Bill. Bill Rowland is a very intelligent person who I am sure has done his research. If he says it’s a bad deal then I believe him. Anything Turncoat is in favor of is probably bad for the rest of us. The only thing he and his boss want is to improve their resume’ and increase their power base. Boy, I bet this hurts.
Interesting Trout is going to attend the meeting. Why not send the real weasel behind so much of the backdoor politics now going on in MC. Replacing every board member he can with his cronies, removing Pam Myre from the process, attempting to remove the public speaking from the council meetings, major conflict with human services, alleged accounts of drunken behavior around town, personally hearing him talk like gutter trash at a fund raiser in front of many people. Do whats best for everyone LNI no matter what your decision.
Without a doubt backdoor and turncoat are already plotting how to pressure someone disagreeing with them. Great job LNI. You represent all the area not just backdoors country club backers.
Lots of red flags. None of which was the alternative agenda that wiilert/bookmeyer wanted to build their resumes on MC tax payers dime and leave us with unproven technologies, possible health risks along with a myriad of other problems
Keep up the good work Willert. At this pace you will be promoting Amway to senior citizens.
Polish your resume up kid because you have been Exposed.
Thank you Matt for some great NEWS reporting.
Now that Mr. Rowland, the LNI director has made a determination on the CES/ERS project watch the Globe Gazette swing into action and ATTACK Mr. Rowland and the LNI Board of Directors.
On another note:
Mason City’s leadership is one of the worst City Government’s in the city’s history.
Spending out of control
Disregard for Citizens Rights
No Concept of what leadership is all about.
Arrogant
OUT OF TOUCH
!
Advice my father gave me!
When in doubt, don’t!
What turned me against this project was.
1. Brent Willett from the corridior edc group/ phony word smith and fast talker.
2. Mr. Trout taking pam myre off the job
3. Mc. Zba breaking the rules
4. Mc councilman scott tornquist ultimatum and personality
All red flags for me.
Glad to hear that Mr. Rowland and others are not going to be forced into a situation by a new board member who thinks he is a God.
No one with any sense at all would look at a 10 year contract with such ramifications over such a short period of time. Take your time LNI, if this company truly wan’ts to build here, they will wait. If they don’t it would simply be more proof of their unstability.
Everyone is banging up on Bookmeyer… Don’t you people realize that wessel of a man Willert is just as much to blame. This guy is a sound bite fantic that consistently says,,, um well um um um um um um …. until he remembers some Cliches that he thinks his going to sell an idea.
Here is an idea Willert. Lead with Love. Love your community (North Iowa) spend you $$ in the community and dont put the old and young and everyone else at risk for potential hazdards for some 50 jobs…
Nice try Kids but with a smoke and mirrors campaign sooner or later you run of of glass!
Cudos to nil. Finally someone with some sense and some balls. 50 more jobs? For how long? Look at the biodiesel plant. Changed hands twice? And still no production. The new plant would be a drag on our cities poor economy and you people know it.
Marquardt should keep his nose out of this its none of his business. The jobs alone are worth it!
Curious why Bill Rowland would say that there is a economic risk? The landfill would still receive 100 percent of their tipping fees. Also there would not be any financil liability to the smaller communities as the Mayor Dietz puts it. If there is what are they? I would like to know. Bill Rowland just so the public knows didn’t have any problem reducing the rate that the Behr facility pays to bring their trash to the landfill. That was pushed through at the last meeting becaue the Behr facility threatened to take their trash to Minnesota. What does it take to reduce the rates for the citizens of the other communities that bring their trash to your facility? Something doesn’t add up who else is getting kickbacks and reduced rates?
Way to go Bill! If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, it is certainly NOT the Golden Goose!! Two weeks to decide on a ten year contract?? Give me a break…. Sorry, I think this goose is cooked..
NIT great reporting so people know about this. Ilive just outside the area and this site is only place to get real news. Radio is a collosal joke and your newspaper doesnt have the stories. Thanks for keeping me informed.
Nicely written article again, Matt. Somewhere there is a man in a bar fuming over this article. Drink another one Drunkmeyer.