Op-ed by Peter Children –
Matt Marquardt brings substance to the table in his timely questioning of the EDC’s accomplishments under the Bookmeyer doctrine. Whereas at the same time, the flagship of our community and I might add, the entire nine county area known as NIAD – namely the Globe Gazette – has by design and with deliberate intent, run from this issue like it was a house on fire.
The mere audacity of this administration, and I am including the council in it’s entirety, to act so callously in shutting down the Human Rights agency, then blaming it on necessary austerity needs goes beyond the pale. Criticism is a necessary ingredient in building the foundations of good government. Only someone who favors full disclosure, someone like Marquardt who asks questions that are unwelcome in the hallways of the EDC and the executive offices of city hall. This is what happens when a second voice is present in a community, questions that might not be asked often surface and come to the forefront.
We all have a right to know how our dollars are being spent, after all these are the same dollars once used by the HR department… a department which was audited by Bookmeyer without discovery of wrong doing. Will the the EDC be audited? We are privy to the results of this organization outwardly, we can see no one business of consequence, no one coming here to hire people, no new enterprise. Some re-locating, some new additions…but new factories are going into the smaller communities surrounding us…I know, any business that locates in North Iowa is good for Mason City…I agree. Then why do we need the EDC and Willett?
Matt Marquardt deserves answers….we all do.
Peter Children
Peter agrees with Matt, Matt agrees with Peter and LVS agrees with both.I’m going to write this down because I really think this is like a total eclipse, it only comes once in a lifetime. I am glad I was here to witness it.I would also agree but the last time I did I got chastised by Matt.
@Reggie-it is nice to know you are on our side.
I didn’t realize that there were sides. I thought we were all on the same side, trying to make Mason City a better place. It is the US vs THEM mentality that makes this site so hostile.
@Reggie-you are such a kidder.
Oh there are sides alright. If you’re not for LVS you’re against him.
@bricks for brains-Look who woke up before noon. Smoke another joint and go back to bed pot head. You will feel better tomorrow.
That clearly looks like a side to me.
I appreciate Mr. Children’s op-ed in support of my thoughts on the North Iowa Corrdior / EDC. This agency should be audited and scrutinzed under the same microscope that our Sanitation workers and Human Rights agency faced. It is only fair and just, something that perhaps Mayor Eric Bookmeyer and his jack-booted thugs at the so-called North Iowa Commerce Center might find foreign. I also am still waiting to hear answers from the EDC on when the last time a minority person served on the EDC board. I just hope that this outfit is not racist or excluding persons due to their race or sex. Let’s expose this good old boys club once and for all and shut off the public funding until it opens up and shows some real results.
Is part of the problem a lack of minority individuals with the same qualifications as those who now sit on the EDC board? I know there are many qualified women, but I don’t know the people in the business community who are minorities who may be qualified to sit on this board. And who would want to serve on any board in this area? All that happens is you get bashed on this site for something or other. Is there any board you are happy with?
Not many quasi-public boards receive in excess of $200,000 per year in public dollars and then many of the board members stand to benefit as in the case of the EDC while the rest of the people twist in the wind. Bankers and construction company owners on the EDC Board who work many of the public works projects. Politicians on the EDC Board who take credit every time a t-shirt store adds a few $10 an hour jobs, while their construction company co-board member gets the contract to build. Check South Federal for some of this action.
@Matt – I wonder who on the EDC board Katie is related to.
I’m not related to any of them. I have met 8 of them. Two of them would greet me on the street and stop to chat. The other 6 wouldn’t likely remember me.
Good Article Peter-And why would we not have a audit of the EDC? It is taxpayer funded and we have a right to know where our money is being spent.
The Park Inn Hotel was built with public funds…try and get to those books
I dont believe that Frank Lloyd Wright built the hotel in 1910 with public funds. You might want to do more research Peter.
@child-I think he was referring to the rebuild or remodel and I think you know that. Just being a smart A## are you not?
LVS: one of your north Iowa TROLLS has learned to type a username.