MASON CITY – Angela Determan will likely be retained by the city of Mason City in a role that furthers the Blue Zones initiative.
Determan and two others are currently employees of Healthways, which is working in conjunction with Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance company, and have worked in Mason City for two years in the Blue Zones program.
A contract between the city and Healthways expires in May after the two year contract expires, leaving the city with the onus of finding their own personnel to run the program, a requirement to stay a Blue Zones Community.
Now, the city is proposing a contract with Angela Determan to keep her here working on the Blue Zones program. She would be paid $53,153.25 per year on a contract basis for this part-time position, city documents say, with mileage of 56 cents per mile and office space and equipment provided by the city.
“The program has been very successful under the leadership of Angela Determan,” City Administrator Brent Trout said.
“There are many unknowns with this program,” Trout continued, in a city hall document released this month. He said that the agreement with Determan will have to be re-evaluated after the first year, at which point (3 years into the program) the city will face a re-certification process to remain a Blue Zones Community.
“The city is currently committed to this program,” Trout continued, “but as we move forward there may come a time that we no longer want to be affiliated with the program.”
City documents say that Determan will be paid out of the $57,153 budget that the council allocated to the Blue Zones program, leaving $4,000 “to support the program” plus supposed “commitments” from local businesses who support the program.
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Funded by Grants? Grants originate from taxpayers money. Only we have no say in the matter.
Did you notice in the Globular Gazette on this subject that it is intimated that after the contract with Blue Zone is up in a couple of years– that it may not even be continued ? Go back and check. It will give them the out when it happens. So all the hoopla and all the money spent, could be all for naught!!!
We can spend hundreds of thousands on this, and now this new downtown $ 30,000.000 deal and $ 53,000 for Ms. Determan’s part-time job and so much more..will it ever end???
Sometimes I think the Blues Zone project is a lot like a fat guy like me getting a gym membership. It’s a great idea, works wonderful in theory and I think, when I purchase it, that if I spend money on it, I’ll take it seriously.
I’m still fat.
You know the Blue Zone was invented and promoted by Blue Cross/Blue Shield as a way to get people to lose weight so their expenses would be less and they would then make more profit. Big Blue has no money involved but got idiots like Mason City to buy into it at their expense. What a deal for the insurance company.
Can someone please explain what blue zones does really. I don’t want to bash Determan but what are her and the cities goals they want to accomplish? What has she done so far? What the heck is the purpose of this, that you or I organizing couldn’t do?
It’s a program to promote wellness. Some call it a bottomless pit that needs funding forever that tells people what they can and can’t do. For example, Mason City school kids can’t bring cupcakes to school on their birthdays anymore because of Eric and his Blue Zone that he doesn’t even live by. It’s a sad state of affairs when a Booze Hound Grinch like Eric takes treats away from children.
Personally, I believe in making my own wellness choices and would never let Eric and his cronies tell me how to live. I get in the gym almost everyday, stay active, (try) to avoid sugar a much as I can. Judging by the long lines at the fast food drive thrus, the ever-expanding waistbands here in MC, no one is following the Blue Zones program.
@Matt-Eric and his buddy’s (Trout included) are real shining examples of how not to keep fit. To have them champion something like the Blue Zone would be laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic.
You’re right. Mason City has become the Bizarro World of right and wrong and common sense. Booze-guzzling wife-paycheck-cashing turds like Eric who can’t walk around the block without an oxygen mask preaching to the rest of us how to stay fit. Makes me snicker every time I run 10 miles and spend an hour in the weight room.
The death penalty would save a bunch of money and get rid of the undesirables and may just stop some of the crime. Sounds harsh but what the hey, it would save a bunch of money.
It don’t have to cost a lot of money. It’s only because the voters want it to. Just make it swift and complete. This day and age with all the loons running around you could hire people at minimum wage to pull the switch/handle/lever/ whatever. Heck, lets get a robot, that would be way cheaper. At $40,000 a year to house these fools I can’t see the death penalty more costly though.
More money down the drain!
Sinfully Outragious
What kind of credentials, experience or degree could this Blue Zone position require that commands $53K for a part-time position. This is an absolute waste of tax payer money.
I liked America when she wasn’t so sinfully gluttonous and when she was more needy…an underdog even. Those were the days when America recognized and put to work true talent and didn’t make enemies out of their skilled and talented workforce. Now she is a post industrial, post modern fat woman queen sitting on her prior generation constructed throne, importing the wares of oompah loompahs and doling out the money of what’s left of blue collar serfs to her fat and ugly friends.
You aren’t fooling anyone. If you were born into a utopian society, you would butch about the color of your free robes. That is your nature.
I am so glad I no longer live in Mason City and have to pay for such nonsense. Must be something in the water. It has to be something like polluted water that makes Mason City residents unable to think for themselves. Why don’t the people of Mason City rise up and speak out and demand better?
Two of the largest businesses that “support” the Blue Zones are businesses that got huge favors from Eric Bookmeyer and his council. Mercy got 1st SW and a rezoned neighborhood. Metalcraft has gotten massive help from the city and the North Iowa Corridor, just to move across town. Trinity Lutheran Church… Eric’s church. Was Blue Zones a deal where Eric scratches their backs and in return, they support his program?
@Matt-How can they possibly justify this kind of salary for a part time position. This is nothing more that political payoff.
Eric gets what he wants. No one tries to stop him because the price would be too high for them. Spoiled brats are like that. Blue Zones is part of his legacy, even if he personally is gaining all the weight that everyone else is losing. Anyway, this position is “justified” in that Bookmeyer wants it, and no one will say no. That’s about it. When Bookmeyer finally dries up and leaves city politics, there will be no Blue Zones. He is all that keeps it going. I said it before, no one in town is into Blue Zones except people who want to impress him and get a kickback.
Yet, the idiots who did this were re-elected… WTH? What a waste of taxpayer money! I knew this Blue Zone stuff was “crap” when they vetoed birthday treats in schools. Too bad they aren’t more worried about jobs like the distribution center in Clear Lake.
Good grief its a fricken part-time job 53k, come on man you guys cant be that stupid!! ARE YOU?????
Gief Moniez Plox!
I want that “job”
Wow. This is outright theft. What in the hell does this woman do? What would she continue to do? This is fraudulent application of taxpayer dollars. $53K for part time whatever-it-is-work?? she allegedly does. I don’t even think Clear Lake City Council is this stupid and corrupt.
Wow, this is so messed up!!! We don’t have the money for Human Rights but we can give this kind of money for something we may or may not be committed to. Proud to live in Mason City NOT
I totally agree. How can the city justify paying $53K for blue zone but send civil rights down the river. Just does not seem right at all! Did not think this council could surprise me by their greediness but they did.