Tama County Administration Building, 104 W State St., Toledo, Iowa. -- File photo

TOLEDO – As the bitterly cold winter air had everyone bundled up with mittens and scarves, blowing little clouds in the frigid temperatures, citizens made their way to this week’s Tama County supervisors meeting. One of the most interesting agenda items this week was to discuss the relationships between the County Attorney, the Board of Supervisors, and other local boards. Chairman Mark Doland explained this item.

“I’d asked for the county attorney to be here this morning. Is he not here? Nobody has seen him. So, this has come up, there’s been a lot of information that we’ve really needed to have in order to make decisions, to know what direction to go in for the county,” he said. “There’s quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative and all kinds of different boards that are appointed by this board (The Board of Supervisors). We appoint the directors of these commissions, we appoint the directors on the first day of the year. So, understanding what our relationship with those boards would be very helpful to this board as well as to the public just for clarification. I don’t want anybody’s opinion on what our relationship is. I want our relationship what it says in the contracts, in the writings, in the bylaws.”

Doland went on to question the role of attorneys in relation to local boards.

“We understand that under state law the county attorney is the attorney for all county employees, all county boards, and all county business but this is a 28E agreement,” he said. “Do they have their own attorneys? Or who’s representing their interests legally on these boards?”

The subject was then tabled for next week.

“I guess there will be no discussion without the county attorney because I want him to go through and let us know what he thinks from a legal perspective after going through the documents,” Doland said.

County Engineer Ben Daleske reported that they continue to cut brush off various roads throughout the county. The employees this week are completing their hearing tests. Interviews are being conducted with applicants for the Traer Motor Grader position.

It was approved to replace a culvert for a citizen who had been seeking damages.

The Treasurer’s semi-annual report, the Auditor’s Quarterly report, and the Veterans Affairs’s Quarterly report were all approved.

The Drainage District 1 election canvass was set for 8:15 am on January 27th.

Claims totaling $74,348.94 were approved.