MASON CITY – Mason City Councilman John Lee wants to create a memorial for his late colleague, Alex Kuhn, and has placed the issue on a meeting agenda set for Tuesday night.
In a memo attached to the council meeting agenda set for the evening of Tuesday, June 20, Mr. Lee would like to request the City Council create the Alex J. Kuhn Memorial Fund and establish a committee to decide how the funds should be spent.
In Mr. Lee’s own words:
“Ever since the passing of Councilman Kuhn, the city has been looking for way to honor his memory and also to move on. The creation of a fund in his name will begin the process to accomplish both of these tasks.
“The fund will request the citizens of Mason City, the friends and family of Alex J Kuhn to donate any amount they feel fit over the next several months. By the end of September, a committee proposed of Mark Kuhn, City Administrator Brent Trout and Councilman John P. Lee would begin the process of deciding how the funds would be spent The ultimate goal, upon approval of the Mason City Public Library Board, is to purchase the naming rights in the Mason City room to the Alex J. Kuhn Council Chamber, including some form of bronze bust, plaque or some other form of name recognition. However, if the funds fall short of the proposed goal, the committee of three would be able to decide how to spend the money collected as best they see fit.
“I respectfully request City Council approve the creation of an Alex J. Kuhn Memorial Fund and authorize the establishment of a committee comprised of Mark Kuhn, City Administrator Brent Trout and Council Member John Lee.”
There is no budget impact from Mr. Lee’s request at this time.
Ever since Alex Kuhn stood up for his belief that a shady hog processing empire should not build a slaughterhouse in town – enduring relentless pressure and attacks from certain mis-guided citizens – and subsequently took his own life, his memory and what he went through has haunted Mason City. An in-depth expose by the Des Moines Register brought out the truth about what Alex Kuhn went through, but opened the wounds, again, of his all-too-soon passing. Mr. Lee’s memorial idea may be a way to honor Alex’s time in Mason City.
NIT IS JUST REPORTING. NO lies. We ALL KNOW who and why. Readers have the opinions written here on NIT.
Most definitely, make the mayor pay for most of it & also send money to Alex’s family for the rest of his life. We teach kids not to bully, but no one taught the mayor that apparently. I think the mayor should be blamed for wrongful death for what he did to Alex Kuhn.
larry, there were numerous people responsible for his demise. those opposing the prestage deal were just as much bullies as anyone else. so I think you are displaying a form of bullying also. grow up
Maybe the mayor could donate his paycheck for the memorial.
Anonymight please, tell us what “hateful lies” are being spewed by NIT? Do you mean Councilman Lee isn’t trying to erect a memorial for his former colleague. Let’s get this out in the open. By all means expose NIT’s disgusting words!!
And NIT once again spews their hateful lies.
That In depth expose is a load of proven sensationalized crap. Not accurate.
I don’t know what a fair sum would be to place Alex Kuhn’s name
On the current Mason City Room in the library when compared to
Other named rooms in our fine public facility. The sum is small
Compared to what it cost Alex Kuhn to serve us on the Mason City
Council. Thank you Councilman Lee for starting the process to
Honor our man of the hour.
I’ll bet the mayor will love this. Every time he enters that room he will be reminded of what he did to that poor man.
Hopefully the mayor will be long gone by the time this dedication takes place.
he did it to himself. you’re a narrow minded idiot trying to blame anyone but himself for his demise
The mayor did not do anything to “that poor man”!
Don’t buy into the hate NIT falsely spreads about the outgoing mayor.
The mayor does not deserve what some are piling on him.
The Mayor deserves everything he get for what he did to Alex!!
the mayor did nothing to him that Kuhn didn’t do to himself. Kuhn put himself in a b ad position by his decisions and you cannot blame others for this.
By many accounts Ales Kuhn was a good person and gave service to the city on the council. And taking his own life was tragic.
But I don’t see how his service warrants a memorial. Nothing against Kuhn, but there are others who gave more to this city that should be recognized ahead of Kuhn.
There is something not quite right with you, but I guess you know that already.
Thanks John, excellent initiative! Looking forward to donate!
I agree with you anonymight alex killed himself and thats a tragic end to his life, even thou prestage might have push him over the edge people who suffer like alex did they suffer for a along time before they do something like kill them shelf who knows he might have try killing himself before, but to put a memorial up is wrong what about all the other people who kill them shelf are we going to put up a memorial to them also one life is not more or less important. in gods eyes all life is important.
And NIT once again spews their hateful lies.
The mayor deserves everything he gets and then some. If not for Alex for all the other schemes he has tried. Lee was out of line with his proposal though. We have a library board that is supposed to make all decisions for the library.