Opinion by Peter Children of Mason City –
Ever since Eric Bookmeyer took office here there has been never ending drama and a series of litigation and complaints brought against this city… the majority of which this city has come up short and some of it brushed under the rug. They don’t want you to know about these deeds; each is too embarrassing for the mayor.
The purpose of this editorial is two fold; the first is to congratulate Lionel Foster on his very successful win against this city. He and his agency had been a target since the first day Bookmeyer took office. Mr. Foster was forced to stand witness to the systematic dismantling of the department he spent nearly 40 years building.
The Human Rights Department, under the direction of Mr. Foster was the envy of all other like agencies across the state. What remains of it is mostly a joke and is ruled by the Chamber of Commerce and their cronies.
Mr. Foster is not a Johnny come lately in this community; he has earned his mettle. He was one of the original organizers of our community food bank along with then-mayor Ken Kew. He has been feted at banquets where he was honored with declarations of excellence. This was a common occurrence. He served as “chair” of the child advocacy board for the state of Iowa and he also served on the drug court. In these capacities Mr. Foster served under two different Governors – Vilsack and Branstad. And he has been inducted into the African American Hall of Fame.
Now let’s take a quick glimpse of Eric Bookmeyer. I say that because there is simply one dimension to this man – little else to look at. At the onset of Bookmeyer’s first term, after he was sworn into office in 2010, immediately there were complaints filed against him by at least two City Hall employees. These were hostile workplace notices filed by then city attorney Tom Meyer and financial director Kevin Jacobson. It was also well-known that morale at city hall plunged to record lows as Bookmeyer began a systematic cleansing of long-standing experienced board members. These knowledgable individuals were replaced by his puppets who pandered to his every wish.
Let’s pause here for a moment and put this into a more understandable perspective.
Mason City is a “small rural farming community” where you can drive across the town in any direction in 7 or 8 minutes or less. We have a weak mayoral form of government where the office of the mayor is largely ceremonial and the real day-to-day running of the city rests on the shoulders of the city administrator, Brent Trout. But Bookmeyer bullied his way into areas where he didn’t belong…..and no one stopped him, least of all was the city council, who’s job it is to enforce such matters. By refusing to do their job fully, they themselves became just as culpable as the misfit from Clinton by way of Rochester and Decorah and Nebraska who has sullied this city like no other mayor in it’s history. Without doubt there had to be more than one incidence of malfeasance taking place at any given time.
Brent Trout totally capitulated to Bookmeyer. Instead of reminding Bookmeyer where the real lines were drawn in this city and what and where the mayor’s authority began and ended…..Trout gave him as much rope as he wanted, and he wanted so much they had to send out for more.
I operated three establishments in this city that were licensed to sell liquor, as a result I have a great deal of knowledge in that area and I can unassailably state that Eric Bookmeyer has serious issues with alcohol which can have profound effects on sound judgement. Evidence of that can be seen in the most deserved judgement awarded to Lionel Foster as a result of his suit against this city. Let it be known that the chief engineer that lit the match in that action was Bookmeyer and the flames were fanned by a more than willing council and city administrator. The city has insurance in place to cover these incidences; I believe our deductible is $75,000.00 – that’s $75K we do not have. This means we pay the first $75K and the insurance picks up the rest. You think that’s OK? You think $75K is chump change? Do you know there were settlements made prior to this one? I personally know that there is a real blockbuster lawsuit sitting in the wings that will be in court sometime in the coming new year. It will cost this city an arm and a leg….and it will never see the inside of a courtroom. Like the Foster suit it will be settled in the offices of some lawyer; the insurance representative will be present to either agree or reject the demand of the plaintiff. If the city fails to meet the demands….then the courtroom looms ahead….and that just is not in the cards. Bookmeyer cannot afford to enter a courtroom and neither can the council; the embarrassment would be too much for him to bear. If that were to happen the verdict would be unimaginable.
So who “really pays”? We do, you and I along with every other tax payer who owns property here. Our deductibles will rise with every new settlement until we become uninsurable – then we pay it all.
Bookmeyer is out of control and as a result of blind ignorance the council has handed him a blank check. What is really taking place here is a dark comedy…..a charade that is being played out right in front of you. The lawsuits are not going to stop until Bookmeyer and this council are gone….so WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH?
Whether you believe it or not, you can impeach a mayor. Look it up – alcoholism is listed as one of the reasons – so if any city meets that requirement, this one does.
Grizz there you go again with your name calling. I do believe you need to reach between your legs and pull as hard as you can, when you hear a pop, then you know you have your head out of your smelly ass.
@FUBAR, Huh? Babble some more you idiot. Mr. Children has no creditability. By his own admission he has no morals, yet you believe his ramblings? Be gone yourself.
So Peter what did the State Attorney’s office have to say?
Love this article Mr. Children. Grizz Im not the only one that wants you, your buddy or what ever you call each other gone. Grizz are you the drunken mayor?
So Peter, where have you been crashing since the Hanford died? I would have thought you had saved enough from the sale of swag at your European Import store to live on your own. Now you pretend to be not only legitimate but a sage as well? You fool yourself by accepting the accolades of the people posting on this site who do not know your past. Some of us know better.
People calling for impeachment should settle down. The mayor was elected how many times? Twice that I know of…maybe 3 x. PJC comes out of the woodwork to try yet again. He has the right to do so, but time would be better spent looking to the future and not wasting time on impeachment efforts. I know, he gets under your skin…but Lionel Foster has made plenty of money over the years from his position and I’ve seen ZERO representation for the victims of forced drugging.
It was twice Philly. And the sad truth is that if more people would have gotten out to vote, he may not have won that second time around.
Thanks for the clarification. Who was it that ran against him the first time? Anyway, you’re right about abysmal voter turnout. When I was defeated, I may have only garnered 17% of the vote, but only 20% of the registered voters voted…hardly a mandate. Oh and I wanted to add to the above comment: Forced Drugging is human rights issue number ONE, but people don’t seem to understand nor care about the breach to civil / human rights. Foster didn’t give a damn, that’s for sure.
But the fact Foster didn’t understand the Forced Drugging issue just shows how diminished and simple North Iowa is in general. These people are appointed to positions, almost out of token, rather than truly understanding the job description, and what it is they are supposed to fight and work for. I would make a better human rights director than ANY of them, but since I don’t fit in with their club, of coursee I’d be dismissed.
And PJC himself knows that what I speak of is true. He’s written as such about the terrible fate that awaits the sick and infirm in nursing homes. I’m just wise beyond my years, and know the dirty drugging nurses and doctors do to helpless individuals to silence and control them. While you may not think of it now, someday when someone wants to drug you up with horseshit because they don’t like you or what you have to say, maybe you’ll remember me…but it’ll be 2 late then.
The picture of Bookmeyer is of him eating a snowcone at a local event. It was taken by a NIT reporter. And yes, Peter Children is a real person. I believe he has lived in Mason City for many years. This is a good article. Eric Bookmeyer is the saddest excuse for a mayor. I am a native of Mason City and so was my father. My family has been here for 11 generations. This man, along with this council has done nothing good for Mason City. They are an embarrassment to Mason City.
“In population biology and demography, the generation time is the average time between two consecutive generations in the lineages of a population. In human populations, the generation time typically ranges from 20 to 30 years.”So your family has been in Mason City from somewhere between 220 to 330 years. Hard to believe but if you say so, that is really impressive.
If my grandmother was alive she would be 125 years old. I am the youngest in my family, and my father was the youngest in his family. My family has some history here. My grandmother used to play the harp and piano for the silent movies at the strand theatre. When she was a teen ager, her sister, brother and her along with their father had a small orchestra that they played events. My aunt was a music teacher for Roosevelt junior high.
My grandfather used to have a car dealership prior to the depression, and went belly up during the depression. My father grew up across from the old McDonalds, there was a small home with a few cabins in the back that housed soldiers coming home from WW2. When my father was a boy, the fair grounds were where Sears is now. My father was Shorty Woodward. Many people knew my father and my father’s family history in Mason City.
My fsther sed to be a bus driver for the schools and then became a carpenter for the school system, back when the public schools had their own staff of carpenters. There is a very nice display at the Pioneer Museum that honors my grandmother, their orchestra, and my Aunt Rheon Woodward who was the music teacher at Roosevelt. Unfortunately Rheon died too early in life of cancer. And I lost my father 21 years ago at the age of 66. So yes, my family has been here for many, many generations.
And Lionel Foster thought pretty highly of my father. My dad would say what happened to Lionel is bulls***.
Your family has been here for a long time. I took umbrage at 11 generations. My family has been here since the early 1900’s. I’m the third generation.
Well now to be fair, if his family started jackrabbiting at age 16 it might be possible. The first settlers arrived in Iowa 1833, 181 years ago, so 11 generations would mean their family spawned a subsequent generation every 16.5 years. 16.5×11=181 years. 2014-1833=181 years. Possible, but unlikely. 🙂
@Anonymous-I knew Shorty Woodward and a lot of other Woodwards. I used to deliver newspapers there when I was a kid. I remember the old fairgrounds very well. Worked there helping set up for the circus a few times.
@Phil: Jack rabbiting now that’s funny. You helped prove my point but I think Anon meant they have been here a long time and really don’t like this Mayor.
Thank you for your insight, Peter.
My family has lived in Mason City for generations too. My Grandfather could remember shooting wolves in Central Park. In all the years I have lived here I can never remember any mayor as bad for the city as this one even though there have been some syster’s over the years. Peter Children is a very real person. I have met him (even though he probably won’t remember) and even have been in one of his establishments years ago. I don’t always agree with him, but on this I do.
So LVS what do you agree with Peter about? Not trying to flame but if I recall correctly you were not a big Lionel fan. I think it was you that said he only looked out for his own. I could be wrong about that. Besides wanting the Mayor gone ,which Matt, Peter and Max stuck out on, what do you agree with Peter on? I know you remember a past Mayor who drank also. As long as he’s not drinking in an official capacity who cares? Again LVS I’m not trying to pick a fight. I would like your views.
@Reggie-I have known Lionel and Leonard for a long, long time. I have voted for Leonard every time he has run because above all Leonard supported the people in his ward and Lionel did the same thing in his position. Both were dedicated people. There was a rumor at one time about Lionel only taking care of his own but as far as I know it was just that, a rumor. That might be what you are referring to. What the mayor and our city council did to Lionel in unexcusable. It was rank discrimination.
@Matt: I’m sure the sewer MAIN needed to be lined and the water MAIN was old and had been patched and repaired. Mercy rerouted and put in a new watermain and abandoned the old sewer. A Win-win for both entities.
@Reggie-I agree with Peter Children on his article. As I said, our mayor is absolutely the worse one I can remember. Discount his blue zone and look at all the favors he has thrown to his friends (our tax money) and the under the table and back room deals he does, again with our tax money. The problems he has caused at city hall and that is just to name a few. I agree with Peter, impeach him if we can.
Impeaching him would IMHO be very difficult if not impossible and potentially very expensive for someone . You talk about handouts to his friends but I don’t see it. Some of the help was to long standing Mason City businesses and why should only new/out of town companies get all the incentives? If Mason City would have lost Harley, Peter and Matt would have been the first ones calling for the Mayors head because he didn’t do enough. He can’t win because Matt and Peter have a vendetta against…
Quit lying Reggie, NIT already reported MC Harley was NEVER leaving MC, that is straight out of Steve Minert’s mouth.
@ Matt: So since you say it I’m supposed to believe it? I’ve never heard that story from a non-biased credible source.
It seems entirely plausible that a fake tantrum was thrown by HD as reason to justify to the public a Country Club deal to give them the alleyway and $100,000. Mason City and Clear Lake REALLY screwed up last election because Matt, and myself would have ended all these city sweetheart giveaways, and businesses would be competing on an equal footing. Cronyism and plutocracy are the worst, because when the table is set unfairly, it sends a bad message to the population.
@Reggie-Harley was going nowhere and neither was Hosmer or his other friends that took our tax money. Why should the taxpayers pay to improve their business so they can charge more and make more profits. Our taxes went up but the price of a Honda and a Harley didn’t come down. Don’t give me that crap about saving jobs. neither one pays that well and it isn’t up to the taxpayer to support them anyway. He got rid of Lionel as a political favor and everyone in town knows it.
@Reggie-I forgot one of the big ones. He gave a whole damn street to his supporters at Mercy. Including all of the infastructure and putting people out of their homes.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to expand health care facilities in a region, however Mercy has a track record of gross incompetence. My proposal was to bring in a new provider to Clear Lake to compete with Mercy, hopefully to get them to stop making medical blunders. There’s good people at Mercy, but they also slip too many times. Health care should be aced 100% of the time, because YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.
@Philly-This really has nothing to do with health care at Mercy. It is all about them wanting a new loading dock and the city giving away a whole street with the infastructure just to please Mercy. They could have had a dock and warehouse anywhere in the industrial park and brought it in by an when needed. But they couldn’t make as much money that way. So, they screwed the taxpayers and disrupted the lies of a bunch of taxpaying citizens and reduced the value of the remaining homes.
I’m going to disagree with the premise of your grievance. There’s nothing wrong with a health care facility wanting to expand its operations by keeping everything on-site, close and local. A community benefits from having a flourishing, dynamic health care facility. My grievance would be based on some of the information I’ve learned over the years (and with personal experience) that Mercy isn’t as top notch, so as to justify their expansion.
@Philly-either way we both agree that is the expansion was a bad deal. I think the taxpayers were ripped off by the mayor and the hospital. If any company could afford to pay for their own expansion it is Mercy. I have a relative that spent one night in the hospital and the bill was 15K. Now, that being said, the nurses were great.
@LVS: weren’t all the houses owned by Mercy? I heard all the infrastructure was shot/in need of major repair. The City was glad to get rid of it.
@Reggie-the houses on that street were owned by Mercy but the ones behind them and to the sides were not. They were the ones who lost value. There was nothing wrong with that infastructure. They made that up to justify destroying the street.
Exactly. The city didn’t give two cents about “the infrastructure” connected to those houses (or anyone’s, except maybe Eric Peterson’s, Jean’s, Scottie’s, Solbee’s, and McHickey’s). That is the responsibility of the property owner, all the way out to the street. Sounds like Mercy wanted them out for that reason, as well. The remaining property owners are now paying the price for the expansion. They will eventually sell for much less, and we may see Mercy gobble up those homes next.
Thanks Matt. I was doing that from memory and as I am getting older that is not as easy as it once was.
I’m sorry but this is just creepy. First of all, that picture of the mayor eating? Someone is obviously stalking the guy (whoever took the picture). Is Peter Children a real person or is this just an opinion article written by the guy that runs this website?
This website has gotten downright bizzare over the past year. There’s got to be more news about my old hometown than this?
He wasn’t just eating; he was wolfing down non-blue-zone-certified junk food at a the blue zone celebratory festival. Over and over he went back to the line to get more. Just another one of his addictions, like cigarettes and booze. The people of Mason City deserve to know what their elected leaders are doing. You sure as heck won’t find out from the newspaper, TV and radio – they lie all the time.
If you want news go to the NIT front page and stop scrolling past all the hot stories. Don’t be a cheapskate; buy yourself a subscription if you can afford it.
Just a thought; maybe, just maybe….through an act of contrition during a brief moment of sobriety, Bookmeyer might offer to resign. I know it’s a long shot and foolish to imagine such things, but it is after all a quasi-religious time of the year and the beginning of a new year when slates are often wiped clean….stranger things have happened. If it were to occur it’s importance as it relates to this community would would be comparable to finding a cure for cancer.
Well done Peter. Thoughtful, credible and professionally researched and written, without the cheap shots and rancor of many who post here. Thank you for the Christmas Gift.
If we were allowed to include the entire council on the petition I could almost guarantee we would be on network news nationwide. Law students from all across the country would come here to watch municipal law that focuses on mediation settlements.
It’s been said, bad politicians are elected by good people who do not vote. Never have those few words found the truth than they have in this city. Their meaning resonates through the alcoholic haze that engulfs Bookmeyer and ends at the negotiating table in some lawyers office. I shall elect to call the state attorney’s office in Des Moines to get the skinny on impeachment. Next petitions need to be distributed throughout the city
I learned realier this summer that the state attorney office, if you are talking about the attorney general,are on the side of the elected officials. They protect the local and state government entities. Where as the ombudsmen office is on the side of the public. I spoke with them this summer regarding a matter of a local issue in Mason City. And I think they might have certain representatives for certain parts of the state. It’s possibly a place to start.
And I do know the person that I spoke with in the ombudsmen office was familiar with alot of the negative issues in Mason City. So someone, or maybe more than one person has called them about our council and mayor. I know this, our mayor needs to be out. Whatever it takes. And yes, I do also believe he is an alcoholic. When his kids were going to Charlie Brown, he almost ran over one of their volunteers in the parking lot while picking up his kids.
He just laughed at her, and made a rude comment. He drives around intoxicated, and our police force has to know about it. It’s just none of them have the backbone to pull him over. They just look the other way. So, if the day comes that he hurts or kills someone while driving under the influence, who will be the one to take the blame? I agree with this article and Mr. Children…enough is enough. It’s long overdue that we get rid of Bookmeyer.
I’ve heard this story and several others, two in particular from that day care. One I will not repeat here because it is too sick and Christmas just got over with. Suffice it to say, the lady who told the story told it to me and about 7 other people standing on North Federal Avenue on the sidewalk outside city hall (witnesses). This is not something made up; this woman told the story twice at two locations of her own free will, she was not coaxed or goaded into speaking. If I was King Eric, I would simply get out now. Maybe Robin will give him a job at the Chamber cleaning bathrooms; the pay would be similar to what he gets for being mayor.
The person that told me this is very credible. I cannot go into great detail without someone being able to figure out who they are.
” I shall elect to call the state attorney’s office in Des Moines to get the skinny on impeachment. Next petitions need to be distributed throughout the city”
I really hope you follow through on this. Get a petition,post a bond then the authorities can question witnesses under oath and take their statements. If they lie they can be charged with perjury but if all these rumors have legs then it will all come out in the hearings. I can’t wait Peter, don’t let us down.
How do we as citizens get the ball rolking? This impeachment process needs to be started as soon as possible.
all it takes is 5 registered voters. Go for it!!!
And post a bond that a judge decides that is large enough to cover all lawyer fees and court costs. Probably about $20,000. Peter should be able to cover that easily.
If a judge decides that this action was not warranted then whoever posted the money would forfeit it. This keeps frivolous actions from coming up. I think Peter should put his money where his mouth is. Go for it Peter.
No money will be put up or raised. As the saying goes; when all is said and done, more will be said than done.
I’m the exception to that Buzz, because you know I’m a man of action. You may not agree with my actions, but you have to admit, that when i say I’m going to do something…I do it.
” You may not agree with my actions, but you have to admit, that when i say I’m going to do something…I do it.”
With that statement, you are 100% (well, almost) correct. Every time you say you are leaving NIT, never to return EVER again, you’ve kept your word and stayed away haven’t you. Who could think of a more credible person than you when it comes to keeping your word???
Buzz, I want to discuss that warehouse situation with you, because I confess at the heart of it all, I have a loathing for landlords, and cannot build my business under the roof of someone I deem incompetent or ignorant. I started something good there, but I was not happy with the trajectory of where those druggies were taking the place. I wanted a community center open to all, and they wanted to peddle drugs. Rent was cheap, but I bow to no man.
Philly….again…nice deflection. But…who but you knows what in hell you are rambling about now? Your comment isn’t even germane to what I posted. I know, I suppose it’s all the pressure of your high stress, full time job that’s got you all amped up. What with the yoga, saunas, kids and posting here non-stop on NIT, I can understand why you are not making any sense…as usual.
Buzz I extract similarities in writing styles, but it would be so much better if you were not the editor of NIT. I’ll chuckle either way, but just knowing you were out there, glued to your computer screen waiting for my every post, would make me feel all that more special.
One more time….Philly….again…nice deflection. But…who but you knows what in hell you are rambling about now? Your comment isn’t even germane to what I posted.
You really are mental, aren’t you? Think about it genius, if I were the editor of NIT, do you really think I would have put up with your mumblings this long. Come on man, get a clue. Even if its a small one.
Buzz, you know how I feel when people insult my intelligence. The editor of NIT has every reason to spark an antagonist to my musings to give neanderthals a reason to believe someone is rivaling the impeccable wit and political stylings of the great Philosophus. If you didn’t exist contrapuntal, who would take me on? By creating the Brazillian knife dance, NIT keeps customers cheering for one side or the other. Like I said though, I hope ur not him. But timelines don’t lie.
Brazilian knife dance???? I’m thinking you are more the mumbley-peg type, based on your continual trips to the sauna with the “boys”. In your case, it would probably be more along the lines of fumbley-peg.
Again, nice deflection about the time lines etc. Any further questions about them need to be addressed to NIT.
Rumor has it you lost the kid watching job too. That didn’t last long did it? You must be heart broken.
Oh Buzzard, I’m watching them now. At least the TV has been off all day, and they’re out riding bikes. I was getting sick of all that Disney crap. You still haven’t explained that Kris Angell trick you pulled with the timeline. Doug Henning’s still crapping his drawers trying to figure out how you did it. And sauna isn’t for sausage shopping, it’s for health and conversation only.
Again and again and again…. about the time lines etc. Any further questions about them need to be addressed to NIT.
Come on man, grow some hair and ask Matt about it, he’ll give you a straight answer. And hey, just between us…you know your looking at those other guys in the sauna aren’t you?
Yes, a great article, I agree with you 100%. I’ve lived in Mason City all my life and have never seen a mayor of this caliber. If somebody would start a petition for impeachment I would gladly sign it…
@Allen-Me too. Sign me up.
Great Article Peter. Very well said. Let’s impeach this worthless mayor before he can do any more harm to the city.