Incoming Tama County Supervisor Curt Kupka, left, was sworn in by Board Chairman Curt Hilmer, right, during Monday morning’s weekly meeting. PHOTO BY MICHAEL SUGAR PLUM DAVIS

With Christmas just around the corner, the usual grouping of locals gathered for this week’s Tama County Board of Supervisors meeting along with several others. With people packed into the meeting room like presents in a stocking, the main topic on everyone’s mind was the proposed contract for County Human Resources Manager Tammy Wise.

Discussed at last week’s meeting before being tabled, the contract in question is for a five-year term. The contract also states that if Wise was to be terminated without cause in the first year after its signing, she would then receive 21 months of severance pay among other provisions. The agreement was the subject of much public scrutiny and comment. The HR contract, however, didn’t make it 30 seconds into this week’s meeting. Before the start of public comment time, the supervisors took it off the agenda altogether. With concern about whether it will be adopted before the new board takes office at the beginning of 2025, it is unclear whether it will be back on the agenda at next Monday’s meeting, which will be the last for current Supervisors Bill Faircloth and Dan Anderson.

The first item on the docket after the meeting got going was the funding of Peoplerides. A Region 6 representative spoke to the supervisors presenting a three-way split between the county and both the cities of Tama and Toledo, and a contribution of $3,800 was approved.

A representative of the Compensation Board recommended the attorney, auditor, recorder, treasurer, and sheriff receive six percent raises, while the supervisors receive no raise as the board will be changing. After some discussion, the supervisors approved three percent raises for the attorney, auditor, recorder, treasurer, and sheriff.

County Engineer Ben Daleske gave his report saying that a few minor things have been dealt with during the slight bouts of snow, and they have been refilling their cache of sand. The open Traer position was posted internally but received no takers so the open position will be posted to the public. The department is also working on an agreement with Conservation for the lending of an employee as needed during the winter months.

A $1,000 lien for a nuisance property at Union Grove Lake was approved. The FY24 audit was approved.

The supervisors approved opening an account at Lincoln Savings Bank for the new EMS levy and they approved the authorized signers of the account. The meeting ended on a high note with Curt Kupka being sworn in as a Supervisor. The other newly elected officials will be sworn in next week.

Claims totaling $62,618.17 were approved.