During the updates at this week’s Tama City Council meeting, it was announced that Tama Mayor Brian Hanus threw down a challenge to Toledo Mayor Brian Sokol to see who can raise more money in the dunk tank at this year’s Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival. Not one to be stepped to, Sokol accepted Hanus’ challenge. Each will spend an hour in the tank attempting to raise more money than the other. All money raised in the two hours will be donated to the Safe Routes to School sidewalk program.

The meeting first started with a public hearing on the FY26 budget, after only receiving comment from the crickets, the public hearing was closed. The FY26 budget was then approved by the council.

The agenda item to give Sierra Berger, the deputy clerk an already budgeted $2 raise for getting certified as a municipal clerk and finance officer turned tempestuous. Council member Kristy Eisentrager raised questions as to whether Berger should be receiving the raise.

Eisentrager expressed the thought that since Berger is the deputy clerk and not the full city clerk, these certifications were unneeded, almost insinuating the certifications were that of an extracurricular. Eisentrager also stated that the certifications were good for Berger’s future if she wished to apply for the position of city clerk when the current city clerk, Jill Apfel, retires.

It was also thought that this would “open a can of worms” for any employee to get certified in something that is not required for their job simply for a raise. Mayor Hanus stated that a precedent had been set for giving raises to those who had completed certification.

Berger herself stated that these certifications were expected of her when she was hired and that you have to be employed for three years to get the clerk certification and five years to get the finance certification. The council approved the deputy clerk’s $2 raise, with council member Eisentrager voting no.

Nathan Doran, Co-owner of The Tama Pump, stood up in front of the council to request road closures for several different events in the coming months at The Pump. May 16 and 17 during the Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival and a partial street closure on June 14 for a class reunion was approved.

The Eagles were also approved for a street closure on May 17 during the Lincoln Highway Days Festival. The Ice Cream Shack was approved to be leased out to Sara Upah.

An agreement and payment with Snyder for the State Street culvert were approved. After originally thinking of doing a partial renovation of both the council and lounge rooms for approximately $35,000, the council approved doing a more thorough renovation of the lounge only for approximately $33,000 — $30,000 is in the budget for the project. Council member Larry Thomas voted no.

The council approved EMS the purchase of a LifePak 35 monitor and defibrillator device. EMS has $70,000 in its FY26 budget for such an item. The LifePak had a sticker price of $54,000, but with grants and other funding sources, the price has lowered to approximately $30,000.

Public works reported doing cleanup, and the new nuisance officer doing well.

The fire department reported having gotten a few vehicles back and having responded to a few fires in the dry windy weather. EMS reported that everything is good, and a few new advanced providers will be coming on board soon.

The police department reported that K9 officer Creed received his narcotics certification. Also between March 17 and April 21, the department received 259 calls to service including 19 suspicious persons or vehicles, three hazmat incidents, and one death.