NIT – Readers have asked about the installation of sidewalks in Mason City in the Indianhead development on the city’s west side. Specifically, sidewalks that were installed within the last 18 months or so along 9th Street SW, west of Eisenhower Avenue to Calmus Court (behind Wal-Mart, where WS Live sits) and then another block west.
It is a curious project, some say. Other parts of the city lay in ruin, weed infested and crumbling; some busy roads such as Monroe Avenue with no sidewalks at all, where a path has been beaten into the grass by the average person just trying to get across town. Then, in recent months, this street gets brand new, wide sidewalks. Take a regular drive back to this area and spy on the sidewalk – you’ll be lucky if you ever see a person walking or even biking on the path.
Some have pointed out that the land that got the sidewalk is owned by Santa Ana Properties, LC – which just so happens to be owned by big shot Charlie MacNider, who is President at Indianhead Farms, Inc.
Some have asked, who paid for the sidewalk? Why is it there? What is the reasoning behind doing the project.
Well, if the private property owner paid for the project, all the best to him. If not, if the people paid, well, that would seem shady. Perhaps another sleazy deal brokered in our city hall?
NIT will try to get to the truth of the Sidewalk to Nowhere.
Email sent by NIT to our elected officials, Alex Kuhn and Bill Schickel, sent Sunday evening, November 29, 2015:
Looking for some information on sidewalks that were installed in Indianhead development, specifically newer, wide sidewalks traveling west from Eisenhower Avenue into the Indianhead property to Calmus court and then further west around the curve toward Wal-Mart.
– Why were these sidewalks installed? It seems the sidewalks are rarely used. What was theory behind doing that project?
– Who paid for the sidewalks?
– Was that project completed in summer 2014?
– Were other projects put on hold or pushed back due to this project (for example, sidewalks along Monroe Avenue, where people have been killed or hurt traveling this much busier street)?
Thanks for you time on these questions.
Matt Marquardt
NorthIowaToday.com Publisher
Contractor was as best bet the outfit on 12th and north federal . Paulson -could be wrong but he gets most city contracts -by the way you should have some Manly toilets installed along the path – no on here uses them. Well its just taxpayer money no one will miss it?
Thought that was a bike path.
I work over in that area & it was during the summer of 2014 I believe.
I was wondering what in the hell they were doing.
There was already a sidewalk there (narrower).
I observed over the weeks as they tore out the old one, regraded & put this one in.
Thank you for this information.
I’ll bet you don’t get a answer. Or if you do they will just try to B.S. you. It has always been that way in this town. The elites get what they want and the rest of us get squat.
I will get an answer. One way or another.
There you have it. Spend thousands on a bike path to nowhere and make people walk in the streets.
Call the property owner a.k.a. the man you insulted for no reason. MacNider. I do think this is an extension of the bike paths. Or in antisipation of more building. Either way property owners always pay for it’s contruction. People always want sidewalks until it comes time to pay for them. And a good way to not get run over is to not walk in the street on a foggy misty rainy night when cars can’t see you. duh.