TRUTH

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Shout out to the 14,000 to 15,000 people – registered voters in Mason City – who won’t take the time (10 minutes) to vote this coming Tuesday, Nov 5th. Sorry, the truth is never invited to the party. There are 20,000 registered voters in Mason City, yet 14,000-15,000 of you (yes, I’m talking to you) will not bother to vote. Don’t let a small group of voters decide this election. Show Mason City you care. I need your help – I need your vote. I can’t help you if you don’t help me.

Please get out and vote for Max F Weaver

“No more money downtown”

“No to higher taxes”

TRUTH

Please share this post!

Thank you,

Max

Find my polling place: https://www.cgcounty.org/departments/auditor/elections-and-voting

Breaking down the misleading Globe Gazette article by Jared McNett, from Oct 18, 2019

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  1. City Council Candidate attacks City Staffer religion, looks at meeting.

            This is not true in any way and did not happen. 

2.  Weaver was not invited to speak

I was invited by one of the Board of Directors of the Landlord Association to come and speak, and during the meeting I was introduced as a City Council Candidate and invited to the podium.

3. Implied that Mason City’s planning and zoning manager, Tricia Sandahl’s religion and physical appearance were reasons to remove her from her post, according to sources.

Completely untrue. This did not happen at any point during the meeting.  Here is what was actually said.  I was discussing Ms. Sandahl’s job performance, when someone shouted from the audience “It will cost the city $800,000 to get rid of her.”  I said, “No it won’t. She serves at will, and state code has given local government the ability to go into closed session to discuss an employee’s performance.”  I then said, “there will be some form of litigation I’m sure. Ms. Sandahl will likely use the fact that she’s a female, over 50, Muslim, and overweight to save her job.” 

4. Brian Huntley could not remember Weaver’s last words but confirmed that they were “something along those lines.” 

Typical Globe Gazette reporting…

5. Weaver didn’t dispute that he commented about Sandahl

I don’t dispute that.  I did talk about her job performance – and it is a campaign issue.  I did not talk about her looks or religion as it relates to her job performance. 

6.  I didn’t know anybody was offended at the meeting, Weaver said.

The atmosphere in the room was positive, with a lot of head nodding and raised hands when asked who had had issues with Tricia Sandahl in the past.  

7.  Development Services Department Director, Steven Van Steenhuyse, said that he hasn’t received any formal complaints from members of the community about her performance. 

Let’s ask him that question again under oath.

8.  Brian Huntley, Landlord Association President, stated in his letter that made its way to the Globe gazette, “I have always done my best to make sure any political or religious conversations stay at the door, outside of our meetings.”  Huntley went on to state “I was shocked, appalled and disappointed how it all played out.”

Well, Mr. Huntley, so was I.  For an Association President with your strong convictions to let me speak for 40 minutes, while feeling shocked, appalled and disappointed…..I’m curious why you didn’t just stop me.  I find this disturbing.   

Mr. Huntley, you might want to review your meeting rules, because not everyone was appalled.  I huddled with 5 landlords after the meeting and did not receive any negative comments.  A landlord came and shook my hand and said they were glad to see me running.  Another landlord approached me, offering me a plate of brownies, and said “you have my vote.”  And the conversation continued in the parking lot, so everyone was clearly not shocked, appalled and disappointed. 

Later…..MFW

Rant on North Iowa Business Rant or Rave

Taxes, ,

We’ve had approximately 5 weeks to digest the new tax levy referendum – which could cost you up to 67.5 cents per $1000 of the assessed value of your properties, yearly. The City Council promised at a workshop that they would educate the community. They put out a brochure that not everyone received, and that no one can understand. They’ve had John Skipper hard at work trying to convince property owners to tax themselves. The result is that 80% of the people I’ve talked to about this have either not heard of it or don’t understand it. They’ve done a terrible job educating the people.

Here are some facts:

  • Your city government has almost $5 million dollars of your money in a “rainy day fund,” accruing interest.
  • Of the Local Option Sales Tax – 40% of it goes towards street improvements, sidewalk repairs, etc., and 10% of that tax revenue goes to the General Fund – to be used by police, fire, airport, library, museum, etc. (millions of dollars)
  • They’re in the process of reassessing all of our residential properties that will raise another $800,000 to $1 million annually

I don’t think saving money is on their agenda – I think spending it is.

Illus. by Frankling “F.O.” Alexander

For example:

  • $435,000 on the parking lot west of City Hall in engineering and legal fees alone, on a project that has yet to be approved and voted on.
  • $250,000 cash given to Younkers (Bon-Ton) to move their home store into the old movie theater.
  • They bought a house on the 400 block of 1st St NE (across the street from Mayor Bookmeyer’s residence) for $50,000 – put $100,000 into it – and it’s now for sale at $50,000.

Right there, folks, is almost $800,000 of waste. And I could keep going.

Vote no on Monday at the courthouse, or on Tuesday at your polling site. Don’t let 1000 people in our community decide this for you. Government loves it when you don’t care. Most of us have to live within our budget – let our City Government do the same.

Everyday Jane – Everyday Joe

Future of Mason City

“A successful community needs the mayor, the city administrator, the City Council, the various city agencies, and the non-governmental Chamber of Commerce and EDC.
But a city also needs the curious and caring Everyday Joes to help keep everything in proper perspective and perhaps ask the questions that need to be asked.”
John Skipper – Globe Gazette – June 19th 2016

“This seems like a really good time to ask ourselves:  Who are we?  What do we want?  What risks are we willing to take?  What sacrifices are we willing to make to get where we want to go?”  John Skipper – Globe Gazette – May 9th 2016

“North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Chad Schreck said the community needs a consensus on what type of development it wants to attract in the future.  ‘I think what every community ultimately has to do is evaluate who are we, what do we do, what do we want to be (and) how do we get there,’ said Schreck.”
Molly Montag – Globe Gazette – May 4th 2016

Well, John and Chad are absolutely right.  We need to evaluate who we are, what we want, and how do we get there.  And we’re going to do just that.

Our second work session:
When: Monday, June 27th, 2016 @ 6pm
Where: First Congregational Church 

The Golden Rule: Those with the Gold, Rule

Future of Mason City

Let’s call all of that gold you earned “political capital“…and you have a lot of it!  I’m asking those of you with an interest and a passion in bringing out the tremendous economic and cultural future that Mason City and North Iowa could have.  We will be the new drivers of this political machine, and we will share and show them (local governments, North Iowa Corridor, the Chamber of Commerce, local media, etc.) how to create, design and grow a 21st century, livable community for the young and young at heart.  Let’s join together to create a new political force.  We’ll shoot for Thursday, June 9th at 6pm at Rancho Deluxe, 500 2nd St NE.  Let’s roll.
More later…MFW

Why Robin? Why?

Prestage Farms

Robin-Anderson
Robin Anderson

Why are Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce willing to wreak havoc on Mason City and Cerro Gordo County?  What Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce are doing makes no sense at all.
Why are Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce behaving with the same arrogance as Eric Bookmeyer?
Why are Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce so willing to divide and alienate our community and their membership?
Why are Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce holding private meetings of a legislative nature?
Why are Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce referring to the vast majority of Mason Citian’s as naysayers and aginners?
Why are Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce willing to import poverty?
Why are Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce so hell-bent on dramatically changing our way of life and the culture of Mason City, after 146 years?
Why are Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce so willing to revisit a toxic company that has labeled our citizens as racist and kooks?
What Robin Anderson and the Chamber of Commerce are doing makes no sense at all.   Robin Anderson has never been elected to city government, yet she has the keys to the front door of City Hall.  Who gave Robin Anderson the authority to act in this way?

Here’s who:
Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of The Chamber of Commerce 

There are two things the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors can do to make this right in the community:
1.  Immediately cancel the private meeting on Thursday, June 2nd at the Park Inn.
2.  Take a good look at Robin’s employment status…it’s time.

More later…MFW

 

 

Wake up Mayor, Council Members.

Future of Mason City

“We firmly believe here that if students’ basic needs aren’t taken care of, they’re not going to be able to concentrate on reading and math and writing.” – Austin MN Public School Principal Shelia Berger

I thought we were a “community on the march” that’s what Robin Anderson and the Chamber often say about Mason City.  They also like to use the phrase “Keep Mason City Moving Forward.”

Will Prestage Foods, LLC keep Mason City moving forward?  I don’t think so.

Read: http://www.austindailyherald.com/2016/05/sumner-provides-loads-of-help-washer-and-dryer-gives-basic-need-to-sumner-students/

*Austin MN is the home of Hormel Foods and Quality Pork Processors.  Both play a dominate role in the city’s economy.

WAKE UP MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

More later…MFW.

Round One: The People – Round Two: The Money

Prestage Farms

And lots of it – $$$.  Sources tell www.maxfrankweaver.com that a deal has been struck.  The prime time players are the usual suspects: Robin Anderson and Chad Schreck.  The duo have gone on the offense and have been working around the clock the past four days, convincing and giving Mayor Eric Bookmeyer the will to live again.  This back room deal has given Eric Bookmeyer a new mission:  To convince one of our favorite council members to bring this back (and I hear he’s willing to do it) – with the promise of lots and lots of new found cash in the hastily written, regurgitated development agreement with Prestage Foods, LLC.  On a side note, it seems not all is well with all of the Economic Development Board Members.  There’s been a shake-up and some dissension.  Look out Mason City and North Iowa.  It’s back.  And with a vengeance $$$.
More later…MFW