I personally want to approach this revelation from Bookmeyer as a gift to this city. His admission he won’t seek office again is long overdue but still a gesture of an apologetic man who is finally coming to terms that he can’t win. Not one of his proposals have had merit… not one. The burning plant has never found a municipality to accept them. There is no better argument than that to fortify Bookmeyer was terribly wrong trying to put this community at risk by allowing carcinogenic debris to be released into the air across the city… close to Newman School.
The hog facility was a disaster to even think it might fit into this community. The frightening thing was the fact he came close… too close. We who live here owe an unpayable debt to Alex Kuhn who had the strength to stand firm against Bookmeyer. Of course the three yes votes – Solberg, Hicky and Schoneman – were ready to sacrifice this community after having survived 160 years of existence without a serious threat.
The saga of Prestage Foods is not over; it will live in infamy within this city for generations as an example of what can happen when clandestine meetings behind closed doors are allowed. Bookmeyer’s true behavior towards Alex Kuhn was solely brought upon Alex as a result of not complying with Bookmeyer’s wishes. The demons that will visit Bookmeyer until his last day on earth will be his constant companions.
From where I stand I see two people who could be credited with the demise of Bookmeyer.
MAX WEAVER led the opposition to defeat what he knew to be wrong. With help he was the spearhead against the burning plant. Bookmeyer even put Turnquist on the Landfill Board to try and influence them… didn’t work. Weaver was the Field Marshall in charge of defeating a multi-billion dollar corporation who already had three yes votes and was rapidly advancing into the promised land where Bookmeyer was waiting with open arms to draw and quarter this small town without a second thought.
MATT MARQUARDT had Weavers flank in leading the defense that stopped that horrible burning facility and millions of pigs from entering this town and thereby decimating life here forever more. He stood against the Globe Gazette who joined forces with Bookmeyer; Matt reported fairly during the crisis while the Globe shamelessly added to it. The Globe isn’t doing well economically, it may now be desperate to stay viable and avoid the karma headed its way. It went from a daily paper and the main news source to what is now morphing into “Shopper” mode. I’m told that soon a “Weekender” paper will combine both the Saturday and Sunday papers together thereby bringing their output to just 5 papers per week – we get stiffed on Monday – and to boot, they hiked their rates. There are also rumors its costly $2 million printer that makes blurry pictures will shut down and their paper will be printed in Waterloo. North Iowa Today was a large contributor to what has happened to the Globe Gazette. It’s been said many more people read NIT than the Globe… maybe that’s true but if it’s not, it’s dam close… this is in part generational as younger people can’t relate to a printed paper. They sure as hell can’t relate to a paper that pushed for a pig palace and protects Bookmeyer.
Times… they are a changing. With that in mind, I encourage Bookmeyer to increase the value of his gift by resigning now.
Peter Children
Mason City, Iowa
Send your letter to the editor to NorthIowaToday@gmail.com
NOTE: The opinions expressed in letters to the editor are not necessarily those of NorthIowaToday.com.
30 thoughts on “Opinion: Bookmeyer’s Gift would be complete with total and immediate resignation”
In response to the person who asked what Peter has done for the city; Peter Children is not a property developer….not even close. Your prejudice towards him is very apparent. Try to build character for yourself by being man enough to sign your real name to what you write.
A big problem and failure of this mayor and council is that they have tried to lead by a dictatorship style and not wanted to have open and honest discussions with anyone that opposes their opinion. Not everyone that disagrees with them are nut cases or anti growth. We all care about our town. This is why I think most people will look back on the past 8 years and say not much has been done that improves Mason City. Its a plain failure of leadership.
Peter WHAT have you ever done for this town,name them seeing how you want credit.Your ideas would be a town with just you in it.You think only you know best.I remember when you used to come in to Curtis 1000 and have your pencil printing of Jesus printed and you would try and standover operator when doing their job correctly.Your are a very insecure person to think you know all.All the time you didn’t work there you were just a customer to please.This is why many people don’t like you ,But Matt sure does,the old saying birds flock together holds true.OK let’s hear your big plans North Iowa Rag TAG Magazine.
Peter is entitled to his opinion just like you are (even though you are full of shit). What he has done or hasn’t done has no bearing on what the corrupt administration has done.
So basically your quality of work at Curtis was not so good.
City, County, State, Federal workers are very well paid and receive pretty darn nice benefits…..wish I could get my healthcare insurance for almost nothing. Bookie is burned out, as well as Janet & Travis. Schickel for Mayor (again) !
Another masterpiece by Pete. I remember when Pete was awarded the Golden Pen for excellence in writing – by the Globe. This piece is an example of why that happened. He just plain tells it like it is, always has, even when I lived in good old Mason City. A man with guts and a penchant for poetry.
Peter, why can’t you be a normal human being and accept that you got your way, graciously. No that is not your M.O. You are a bitter,spiteful old man with nothing better to do than spit garbage and rumors out. Your endorsement of Max is a sure death knell for his aspirations for Mayor. I guess thank you for that.
The Golden Pen of Yesteryear has become the Brown Nose of Today. North Iowa Today that is….
Your right Reg, Peter is a stand up guy and he does what he wants, where he wants. That makes him just toooooooooooo sweet!
“Your right Reg, Peter is a stand up guy” Yes Anonymous YOUR reading comprehension is on par with Peter’s writing skills. Stand up guy is exactly how I would describe Peter. In fact he is such a stand up guy ,Skipper in today’s Globe , credits him with keeping anyone with any sense from running for office in Mason City. I would have to agree. Max, Peter’s poster boy, has already started backstabbing Adams. How long will it be before Peter does the same?
Reg-You sure give that old man a lot of credit for controlling our local politics. I really think you are smarter than that.
Oh so you and Skipper have the sane reading and writing g skills. Silly me Reg.
The fact that you admit that you read the Globe makes you the next Chia pet!
Max will watch your tax dollars – if the city gets smaller then cut some city workers/clerks/officals – you do not have to keep raising taxes — CUT EXPENSES ! This is something that has been brewing for 40 years – bigger government -higher taxes – hell ! 60% of the working class in MC make less than the city garbage man.
You can never ‘shrink’ yourself back into prosperity by simply cutting expenses. If you run a declining restaurant that looks shabby and serves terrible quality food, the owner will never become successful by buying cheaper food and firing the cleaning staff. Declining businesses/cities need to make astute investments if they wish to turn the tide.
What does your comment have to do with this article. With that being said, Wow, sounds like you have it in for city employees. But I’m sure that you don’t like anybody that makes more then you, if you even work. Ever tried getting hired by the city, or any job that pays more than minimum wage. Where did you come up with the 60%. In that case, 40% of the working class make more than the garbage man, and that’s seems to be a good balance since this town is more retail than anything else. You really don’t understand how big business works, or any business for that matter.
Oh so TRUE! Mason City employees all make more than the public with better benefits and try to get a city job… they always hire a relative FIRST!
I couldn’t believe when I saw the DOGCATCHER makes over $50000. Might as well hire a veterinarian or that job!
On this I will agree. All she does is ride around in her assigned vehicle all day, and once in a while give dog biscuits to barking dogs. I’d like to know how many miles she puts on her vehicle every year, and compare that to the complaints she answers. She was worthless when she worked for the police dept, and still is.
Ok fine Peter, and Matt Bookmeyer is going to be gone you got your chirstmas wish. Lets get real now any thought on how we growth, aleast Bookmeyer for all he was good or bad had idea, where are your idea to grow this dying town. Our citizens are growing older. And with no business to attract young workers, our poplution is going down, more and more every year, which will lead to city serves costing the people we do have here more and more ever year ie: water, trash pickup ect, also the workers we do have here are retiring in the next 10 to 20 years and also the young people that are here are moving away to better jobs. I hope the next mayor,and three anti growth council members (Lee,Adams and Schickel) will not continue the way it has been for years say no to any new businesses.
I have heard that crap from every local administration for years and nothing ever changes. They all spend, spend, spend with no results. Until we get rid of special interest government it never will change and bullshit artist like you will keep on promoting more spending so the Chamber of Commerce Elites can make more money on the backs of the citizens.
all you got is name calling, where you solutions
Bookmeyer resigning is truly a blessing…best 4 mason city!! Now if NIT aka Matt Marquart would resign we all would b better off!! Let Globe Gazette do true reporting as they have for years vs nit trash!!!
The GLOB was, is and always will be a political, lying rag.
Nab I sure hope he does, what a great way to start our new year, what a gift from him to us.
Hmmm some whispers out there he might resign and take a few cohorts with him. My cleaning lady told me.
Your cleaning lady’s got the inside scoop on all the secret goings on in city hall, huh?
You’d be surprised what cleanning ladies know..especially the ones who clean the elite’s homes..And maybe this one cleans the Bookmeyer/ Dr.Erin Peterson home…I’d love to be a fly on the wall at that place !
Doesn’t matter, no one is listening to you.