As many of the usual suspects woke up Tuesday, warmed up their vehicles, and faced the frosty fingers of the frigid morn, some stayed home. This was planned as this week’s supervisors’ meeting acted as a trial run for the new Owl live streaming system.

Supervisor Heather Knebel attempted to telecommute with the new system and communicated with the board via phone.

The meeting started with Tama County Engineer Ben Daleske reporting that with last week’s snow, both trucks and motor graders were out. He also elaborated on last week’s “golden” truck box that cost approximately $160,000. The box in question is not just a box but also comes with snow equipment, a plow, a blade, a salt spreader, and chloride tanks.

The supervisors went forward with their plan from last week to borrow money from E911, with the approval of two resolutions. The first transferred money from E911 to the general supplemental fund. The second resolution took $500,000 of that money and moved it to the general fund.

The supervisors approved having State Auditor Rob Sand look over the county’s financial situation.

“I talked with the State Auditor’s office, one of their representatives. There are several complaints that have been brought forth either through board members or through the public that the state auditor would like to look into,” Chairman Mark Doland said.

The supervisors approved changes in wording to the severe weather policy. After looking at other counties, they decided to take some wording from Benton County’s book.

Doland read out the change as follows, “In the event of severe weather, the County Auditor, directed by the Board of Supervisors may determine that it is necessary to close the courthouse or other county offices and facilities. If an employee’s office is closed by the county regular full-time employees scheduled to work during that time will be compensated at their regular rate of pay to complete their normal work hours.”

This new policy became controversial when it was realized that it gave neither incentive nor compensation to the Sheriff’s Department or the Roads Department, both of which would have to report to work in severe weather regardless of the county’s shutdown. Former Supervisor Bill Faircloth spoke on the issue during the public comment time.

“What we had for severe weather, if the county was shut down, secondary roads and the sheriffs both got eight hours comp time because they have to be here to clear the roads so everybody else can go to work. They’re putting their lives at risk,” he said.

“But you didn’t put it in policy,” Doland responded.

The supervisors also received their report from North Risk Partners Insurance.

Claims totaling $44,603.13 were approved.