Opinion: Tragedy demands answers (by Peter Children)

The tragedy that racked this community less than 17 days ago still dominates the conversation that fills the air; it’s prevalent in restaurants and coffee shops. In bank lobbies and hospital waiting rooms along with every other place people pause to congregate. The main focus is “That young Kuhn boy.” Ill-equipped and fueled with only speculation, the conversations run rampant with theories and innuendoes each more bazaar than the one before it.

But the thread that runs through all of this is were to place the blame. Tragedies at this level demand answers; the public wants not only the answers but along with it must come the unvarnished truth. The first question starting with the Mayor must be; What would compel this man to try and force this behemoth slaughtering facility into this community? There is ample evidence there were closed-door meetings with the council along with city staff, the North Iowa Corridor, maybe the chamber of commerce concerning this issue. There had to be collusion between these individuals to keep this project quiet for over two months or more. Was that legal? Next; what is the greatest motivator in the world? Money! No one was wearing a wire that we know of but information has come to me that leans toward a sizable amount being tossed around. These possible payouts are very easy to set up in such a manner that they could never be discovered….ever hear of a “cost overrun”? The amount being bantered was in the $30 million range and it was said to have been brought up at a pow-wow in a house with less than 5 people present. Allegedly one was said to be Ron Prestage the other Eric Bookmeyer. I know the name of one more but will leave that to others. Having said that let me state that it is not against the law to be in a house with other people, especially if you are in ongoing negotiations with them. The contractor bills the company for a “cost overrun” and it is paid….then distributed to where its suppose to go. The overrun costs are naturally tax deductible as part of a construction expenditure.

Lets Pause Here to Think

When you are talking $240 million….that kind of money becomes quite serious, and almost always there are funds built in that can be allocated for discretionary purposes. If correct, that sum would only amount to 0.125% of expected outlay. When you come begging to numerous communities asking for a chance to raise havoc with life as it once was….it is going to involve more than a nice smile and a firm handshake. The eagerness being displayed in Wright country is suspicious to me….just not natural given what is really at stake. $$$ is one the most powerful implements on earth, and with processors such as this, it’s just another tool in their tool kit, but it is the most effective one.

There are many forms of gratuity available; one is the promise of a high paying job when your term ends. The thought of a high paying job that pays more then you know you are worth is highly coveted. Six months after you start a guy who sweeps the hallway in your basement office stops in to tell you your job has been eliminated. That job you were just starting to grasp. The one where you were to study all north bound traffic on a East West road. What are you going to do about that? Maybe call the Sheriff and tell him you sold your vote and got cheated….I don’t think so.

What happened to Alex will not go to his grave because the public will not allow it, however if Bookmeyer and the rest of the yes votes were to offer their resignation it might slow this issue down. Currently we have a Werewolf in City Hall, one that needs to go….and I have to believe that not far from here there lives a family with a silver bullet ….

Peter Children