TOLEDO – This week’s Toledo City Council meeting started out with the annual insurance renewal review for property and work comp. After Matt Zmolek gave his presentation and answered a few questions from the council, the renewal was approved.

The committee heading up the Safe Routes to School program was back once again, this time to get a resolution approved. After talking out some details, the council approved a resolution to go ahead with the grant application with no commitment to funding cost share from the City of Toledo. Councilman Steve Vesely voted no.

Marty Wymore was up next to speak to the council about the People Rides program as he did at last week’s Tama city council meeting. The People Rides public transit bus service has been in operation in Tama County for decades.

The service charges its passengers $3 for a ride and has provided 1,000 rides annually to the community. Funding for the program is running out and if it does not receive approximately $11,400 by April of 2025 the program will have to shut down in Tama County. The Toledo council asked Wymore to do a survey of the people who utilize People Rides, and he will return at another meeting with the results of the survey and more information.

A public hearing for a proposed amendment to the FY25 budget was approved with no comment from the public. The council heard and approved the FY24 Street Finance Report.

The council approved the lien utility/mowing assessment to the Tama County Treasurer. The council talked about a few new properties to add to the nuisance abatement list. One such property has a part of its roof covered only in a commercial banner.

The public works department reported that they will continue mosquito spraying for both Toledo and Tama. The circus came to town and cleaned up well after themselves. Street patching is being done, and some of the big pile of dirt in Toledo is being used.

Well number 1 is up and “half-a**” running. October 25 is a possible date for a 911 trunk or treat in the park with some visiting helicopters.

Lieutenant Nathan Wunn of the Toledo Police Department reported that between Aug. 12 and 25, they received 135 calls to service and affected three arrests. The clerk reported that she is working on reports.