Malfeasance does not equal
resignation in Mason City.
It equals promotion.
MASON CITY – Bill Schickel, set to become the new mayor in Mason City, will appoint councilman John Lee to be the Mayor Pro Tem, sources within City Hall tell NIT.
The Mayor Pro Tem shall perform the duties of the Mayor in case of absence or inability of the Mayor to perform the duties of his office, city code states. Schicken will have the move placed on a City Council agenda, likely in January.
It is unusual, but not unheard of, for a mere ward councilperson to get the nod for this minor promotion. Typically, an At-Large council person is the top choice for the post, as they were elected city-wide. The late Alex Kuhn was Mayor Pro Tem until his death in 2016. Then, Mayor Eric Bookmeyer selected Travis Hickey to take the post.
Known to stay home
for big meetings
that have huge impact
on the future of Mason City.
What a leader.
Insiders tell NIT that Schickel is promoting Ward 1 Councilman Lee in a show of strength and solidarity to possibly shore up votes for a potential insurrection with the stumbling Renaissance Project. Schickel will need at least 4 votes to bring back his favored hotelier – Gatehouse Mason City, LLC, when and if he tries to jettison G8 Development out of the project. Schickel, who may truly lack real-world business experience in evaluating people for promotion, appears to be ignoring Lee’s very recent act of gross malfeasance in recently turning over a top-secret memo to a young KIMT reporter. This brazen, traitorous act upon the citizens likely was the genesis of extra pay and benefits to a top city employee who willingly quit his job for undisclosed reasons.
Lee could be on the hot seat in the future as Mayor Pro Tem – especially if things get dicey. Schickel is noted as a councilman who skips big meetings and when he does it again, Lee will have to fill in and hold up under pressure. Schicken phoned it in when the monumental Prestage Foods plant vote was held back in May of 2016. He also ducked out completely back in March when the City Council fired G8 Development from the Renaissance Project and selected Gatehouse.
NIT is right this is a minor promotion. Lee gets an upgraded name plate in front of him at the council meetings. This is just the kind of thing that impresses the Lee’s. Paul Adams was the better choice. Why did Schickel pass him by?
a far bigger issue involves Bookmeyer attempting to gain favor with people in town to gain the City Administrator job. Oh, he hasn’t had a full-time job in like 10 years. He has never been a City Administrator in any town ever. But he did stay at a Holiday inn express once.
I wonder if mr lee ever invited his wife to his classroom? What was the lesson all about?
Matt, you were upset when the Globe wrote your name wrong when you were campaigning for city council. How many times in this article did you refer to Mr. Schickel as Mr. Schicken? Trying to be clever, but looking like an ass! There is a reason why people call this “news website” a tabloid. And, you just gave them ammunition!
Holly, I blame the spell-checker. I typed “Schickel”. Clearly, Bill’s name is not “Schicken” – even though the computer wants to call him that. I’ll try to upgrade the software so it doesn’t call Bill “Schicken” ever again.
Ya right, blame the spell check.
Why would the computer call S-chickel a S-chicken? Does he have a beak? Is he covered in feathers? Does he produce tasty, gooey eggs out his rear end? Does he strut around slightly bent forward as if he is important? Is the computer trying to tell us something?
Mmhmm, spell check, ok….and what about the pictures you chose. This makes you look like a fool!
The only thing worse would be Marquardt on City Council. The tribe has spoken, again!
Actually, Bookmeyer as City Administrator would be far worse. He has presided over terrible community conflict the past 4 years. He highhandedly attempted to backdoor Prestage into MC. He leaves a legacy of pain and suffering. Does MC want more articles like the DM Register did on him? The bully of N. Iowa.
…you are kidding me aren’t you…this “picture” alone tells you how goofy and disoriented/disconnected Lee has become!!!
You folks do know that Schickel and Lee read these comments and think that the folks making the negative comments are just a few simple minded people that don’t know squat.
Well, they have it most awfully wrong. Most people do see Schickel and Lee and buffoons but they just don’t comment about it on NIT.
Actually the vast majority of people commenting on NIT are simple-minded people, with a few real dumbasses like the stupid old coot thrown into the mix.
Like a flame to moths, NIT tends to draw in the slow-witted, the dull and the ignorant.
You must be right about the dull and ignorant. It never was that way until you showed up, Dumb Ass!
And look who’s commenting.
How creative, you’re about as sharp as the leading edge of a marble.
Is there a way to have Lee removed if he refuses to resign ?
There has to be a way to deal with gross incompetence of public officials. The objective evidence would be his failure to hold in confidence personel matters that are in anticipation of claims or litigation. This breach and many more in the case of Mr. Lee.
Theres alot of ways to remove Lee. Some legal, some not.
Get him out. Now.
Lee is the worse football coach Mason has ever had and I’m sure he can’t be a council stiff either.
Dumb and Dumber at the helm in Mason City’s government.
What a complete joke. Putting John Lee in charge of anything shows the incompetence of the person doing it.
Piss on confidential info that’s other’s peoples business, not mine. Of late, there’s been a lot of clowns wandering around. lol
Wasn’t it Mr. Lee who leaked confidential documents. If so his judgement at best is questionable and he should not have this honor.
Man you masoncityites sure can pickem ! — just skating your way to prosperity NO DOUBT !
Lee should resign immediately for what he has done. He certainly can never be trusted. Schickle should resign for incompetence just for proposing this farce.
turd,dork,turd,dork, Pull yourself off the council and save face.
Probably kind men in their own right. What we voting on again.Just endless politics can only lead to no good. Dry scandalous rhetoric only enhances suspicions and takes up TV time. But with all due respects good luck!
Figures. Duh
Damn whiners,you are much worse.Nothing but negative attitude.Have a Merry Christmas oh! and maybe Vote next time.Now get on with your own life.
Lee should resign immediately and so should Schickle. Both are a waste of time and space.
You got to be fricken kidding me>>>
He really should resign. He has repeatedly and consistently demonstrated his incompetence.
My comment applies to either or both of the gentlemen pictured in this news article.
Seriously, who else is he going to choose. Not one of them qualified to work the Target snack bar let alone run a city. I didn’t think it could get worse than Eric’s team, lol, but it did!
Why not Councilman Adams?
He’s as bad as Lee! Just not as smart. He would have to ask his wife before making any decisions.