Editorial by Matt Marquardt –
City Administrator Brent Trout updated the City Council Tuesday on progress that has been made on its goals or “top priorities” for 2012.
Despite giving up on the pursuit of a multi-purpose arena in the near future, the council has still sent Trout on a quest for a “certified shovel ready site.” He is working with Brent Willett of the North Iowa Corridor to evaluate land options.
“Streamlining the Fire Department” is also on the council’s goal list, much of the issue here centers on the council’s problem with paying emergency responders overtime, which amounted to over $50,000 last year. Changing of shift lengths from the current 24 shift was shot down by Trout and the council seemed to take it in stride that no change there would be made. No other solutions to the overtime issue were advanced.
Perhaps the most controversial goal of the council is to issue requests for proposals for garbage (sanitation) and recycled items pickup in the city. The mayor and some council members are bent on eliminating the department and firing the dozen or so workers there. As Councilman Scott Tornquist said, those workers should “welcome” the RFP process, as it may “prove” they are efficient at their jobs. Trout, serving in the Iowa National Guard over the last several weeks, was not able to make progress on this goal for the council but will be picking up where he left off. He may have an update for the council on July 31st at a work session.
A goal of major importance is the passing (renewal) of the local option sales tax that is set to expire. The goal is to add this item to the November 6, 2012 ballot. It has passed easily in the past.
Another goal touched upon was growing the population of Mason City. It was said that “low hanging fruit” amenities might help that along, like a park with wireless internet acces
s, for example. Councilman John Lee said that the city should look “aggressive” at dealing with crime issues so that people are not scared away from moving here.
Finally, the council has directed Trout to meet with the Human Rights Commission. It was not revealed what that meeting might entail. Trout, Bookmeyer and the council members have mostly avoided discussing the HRC ever since it was revealed that Bookmeyer and Tornquist (pictured) were on a mission to shut it down.
Watch video of goals discussion:
httpv://youtu.be/CJrihVyhBr4
Hey there “anonymous”, Ralph is a friend of mine and I thought I would let him know “you” have dropped his “name” in your blog…which made him reply that he didn’t know if he should feel “honored” or move out of town. He did ask that if at all possible, you try to spell his name right!
Let’s find more things to fix that are not broken.
If the Council needs some ‘low fruit’ try fixing up the properties the City now owns, instead of letting them sit and rot, and become safety issues.
Remember how long they let the Dodge House property sit empty, open, and full of traps for unsuspecting pedestrians. But the City turned a blind eye. More ‘low fruit’!
What about actually enforcing it’s own sidewalk laws? For ten years, a particular sidewalk near the downtown was sinking by four inches. Even after the building was inspected, the City refused to enforce it’s own laws. More ‘low fruit’!
Mason City is full of ‘low fruit’ to grab a hold of, and improve the quality of life by leaps and bounds, making our community more attractive to outsiders. Instead, they placate insiders!
If you want wireless internet, go to Nora Springs or the west side of town and sign up for Internet@go. It works in all parks, far better than Verizon. We do not need to spend taxpayers money for that!
Why is RALP MADISON trespassing on Frc’s land looking at Vicor? Give it up Ralph don’t you have anything better to do?
The fire department spends a heck of a lot more than $50K in overtime. NIT is pitching softballs on this to Platts and the union just to make the council look bad.
Every time I see what the council has in store for Mason City, I just get angry!! Why fix things that aren’t broke and worry about the crime in this town!! People are not going to move to this town when the do research and see how bad it is here. If I were looking for a place to move my family to it wouldn’t be here. Why would I want to worry about my wife being raped, if it weren’t for NIT know one would even know about the rape story. Why would I send my kids to a school that is being sued for bullying and why would I come to a town that everyone is afraid to go to a certain part of town at night. hmmmmm know brainier here not on my list of towns to move to!!!
the answer would be they don’t care, their bread is already buttered so everything is fine. I am a college grad and haven’t worked in four years now, i’m just a little concerned about that and besides all the things you mentioned this town looks like a third world shanty town. Clean up the shithole and get some jobs, and clean up the holier than thou attitude.
Lived here my whole life and I have never been afraid to go anywhere in this town and Iam still not. So grow a pair or keep yourself locked in your basement!
You have know how bad it really is in Mason if you are willing to walk on the north end at night as a woman. When I was growing up you could walk anywhere in this town and not have to worry you can’t do that anymore. If you say you would walk on the north end at night you are either nuts or lair I’ll go for the first one.