MASON CITY – The Mason City Human Rights Commission will meet Thursday for its regular monthly meeting and deliberate on a number of issues pertaining to the future of the agency, including the elimination of the position of Human Rights Director.
As a result of this year’s budget passed by the Mason City Council, funding for Human Rights will be dramatically cut beginning July 1st. The Mason City Human Rights Department and Commission will have $15,000 to work with, and funding to pay for a Human Rights Director is not included. Thousands of grant dollars will be lost due to the city’s decision to de-fund the agency. Lionel Foster has been Human Rights Director in Mason City for over three decades and is a member of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame. He will likely be out of a job. A discussion will be held Thursday on “the separation of Lionel Foster from the Human Rights Commission.”
Also on the agenda is further discussion on a cooperative (sharing) agreement between The Iowa Civil Rights Commission and the Mason City Human Rights Commission. Read more about that agreement here.
The commission may welcome a new “friend” in Mason City educator Dan Ramaeker. Ramaeker wrote on his application that he is “very concerned over the council’s recent action and want to do my part to insure all citizens of Mason City have equal protection under the law.”
In other matters, Human Rights Commission member Steve Palmer has devised a plan to liquidate office equipment and office space currently in use by the Mason City Human Rights Department.
Palmer’s plan includes “donating” office equipment used by the commission and department to City Hall.
Palmer, an insurance agent, also said in a memo that “office space on the south side of the reception area will no longer be needed.” NIT has already reported that Blue Zones personnel and materials have begun to move into this area.
Sources also told NIT that Palmer was instrumental in ending a long-standing practice where the commission ate lunch during its monthly meeting.
Related to the issues of office equipment and office space, discussion will take place involving the securing of confidential files that are currently held in the very desks and office area that Palmer has recommended be vacated.
Time for Lionel to retire
What a bunch of socialists you have voted into office. Getting rid of the Human Services was a nice Hitler movement- vote them out -shune them -for they are evil.
Enough sucking off the teet!
was that comment for Mr. foster, Mr Palmer or the supervisors?
Foster.
Wait a minute. Is that the same Steve Palmer whose wife booted him out of their house?
Politically and practically, the Commission should vote to retain the services of Mr. Foster, at his current salary, subject to funding from the Mason City general fund.
This way the heat and blame will be on the Mayor, Administrator and Council. The City, not the Commission should own up to this decision. Turn the lights out and ride out of town in a blaze of glory.
Mr foster down on people with disablies thank God for the people who believe in the a.d.a. foster just cares about his luncheons
What’s to discuss? Funding for his position was pulled; he’s effectively been terminated. Anyone who says that Mr. Foster is smarter than the Mayor and Council members put together is claiming that Foster’s IQ is at least 700. I’m a retired teacher, and, well, guess what? Nobody’s IQ has ever registered that high, despite Captain Jack’s claim. Maybe Captain Jack had too much Captain & Jack!
Not really. Bookmeyer has an estimated IQ of 13 and the rest of the council is just below that. That makes all 7 of them dumber than the average Mason City citizen.
I would like for Mr. Foster to run for mayor…Jim
I bet Bookie would also love to have Foster run for mayor.
Dan Ramaeker would be a great asset to the commission. That is good news.
They better tread lightly here, this is a mine field and Mr. Foster is smarter than all of these people put together.
The track record for this city in court is poor, and it’s about to get a whole lot worse quick.
AND Mr. Foster is very knowledgable of Human Rights. Go get ’em Lionel!
I wonder if bookmyer and O bama are related, they sure act the same?????…Jim
Actually Bookmeyer is more akin to Rand Paul.
Bookmeyer/Obama hit’s it right on the head.
Rand Paul is a decent human being that looks out of the people. No way is Bookmeyer decent. Don’t slam Rand Paul that way it is not becoming of you.
Do you ever have this one all wrong.
@watchdog-you sure got that right. You see the damorats are afraid of Rand Paul and Sara Palin so all the can do is call them names.
Another worthless opinion from Nichole Bench. YEA!
:X
Don’t think so. He is a socialist demorat.
Bookmeyer is an Obama wannabe croanie.
I disagree with discontinuing the Human Rights Commission.
However, Bookmeyer is far right and Obama is far left. Obama would never discontinue the HRC; making it more difficult for poor citizens to receive assistance is definitely more Rand Paul than Obama.
Hey old timer – your mind is gone. Bookie is a damorat. Not right wing at all. he is a lefty and that shouldn’t surprise anyone.
@old timer-his henchman Kuhn is a lefty too. So, if you are going to blame anyone for this mess start with the damorats.
Palmer the insurance agent. Figures now there are two insurance agents on the hr commission. These no talents have nothing better to do than meddle in the rights of poor and mistreated individuals. See what happens when you get realtors and insurance agents and even people like Boozemayer who hasn’t had a job in years running things. They all got this in common: No talent and self serving.
Palmer was kicked off the Elderbridge board recently, too–not asked to step down as chair, didn’t resign–they kicked his ass off. Anybody want to guess why?
Please elaborate or email staff@northiowatoday.com if you have details on this.
Who is the realtor your talking about.
True. Realtors are soem of the dumbest people on the planet and many times they will rip you off or lie. Sell your house yourself.
It’s no big secret it takes no skill to sell insurance and houses. Soon realty will be a dead profession except in big cities. Insurance too is a scam a lot of ppl have figured that out so your post is no big revelation.