| Highlights of the proposed revisions to the present city ordinance covering burning: |
| •only yard waste which primarily is garden and plant materials and leaves can be burned. The times burning can actually take place, expected to be in the spring and fall, will be set by the city council. |
| •burning of grass clippings is prohibited. |
| •all trees and tree trimmings cannot be burned on site and will be required to be taken to the city brush pile for disposal. |
| •a prohibition of the burning of household materials and garbage continues to be in effect. |
| •no accelerants can be used to start fires. |
| •recreational burning, grills and fireplaces will continue to be legal but only wood can be burned. |
The council has heard public comment on the issue over the summer and again will be seeking citizen input before implementing final changes to a city ordinance.
Council members Mike Carnahan, Robert Tyynismaa, Crystal Kaufman and Steve Baier voted in favor of the preliminary step. Member Kenny McAdoo was absent.
The issue first came before the council earlier this year when Police Chief Dan Wilkens said his department found itself caught in the middle between residents who were burning material and residents who objected.
The council again plans to invite public comment at the next regular council meeting on Aug. 20.
Agree To Be Fiscal Agent For STC Grant
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Application
Tama City Council members voted 4-0 to allow the city to act as the facilitator and the fiscal agent for South Tama Schools for a grant application.
Joanna Hofer, the STC director of Finance and Operations, told council members the school was exploring a computerized temperature control system for the high school in Tama.
She sad the Iowa Office of Energy Independence has grants available to help pay for such systems but only cities are now eligible to apply. However, Tama apparently can act on behalf of the school district and make the application. There is no cost to Tama, she said.
Hofer said the control systems are excepted to save 25 percent of energy costs.
The grants were also available directly to schools last year but have expired.
Hofer said the proposal for the grant for the system is expected to come before the STC School Board for consideration as soon as Monday, Aug. 13.
More Study
For Sewer Grant
Marty Wymore, Region 6 Planning Commission executive director, led discussion with the council about application for up to $600,000 in federal funding to aid with sanitary sewer rehabilitation in Tama. The city qualified to make application as the result of an income study made earlier this year which found more than 50 percent of the population fell below minimum income guidelines.
John Lloyd, Tama Public Works director, and Wymore both cautioned the council the grant application must include a considerable commitment on the part of the city. They said the city's share of funding could be expected to be in the $2 million range.
They also said a portion of the grant might be directed at the proposed East 5th Street- Business route 30 gateway project. However, they said the direction of the grant money would be expected to be for overall sewer system improvements and not for paving and other work discussed for East 5th-Business 30.
Wymore said it may be necessary for Snyder and Associates, the city's engineering firm, to conduct a study of sewer system needs to best determine the direction the council could take.
Lloyd told the council a slip lining project and possible lift station or plant improvements would likely be the focus. He said city employees believe the infiltration of city's sewer system by ground water means the plant is treating double the actual sewer intake. Lloyd said slip lining could reduce this considerably.
In other business the council:
approved payment totaling $2,025 to Ed Hardon for facade improvement to his business building at 114 West 4th St. under Tama Economic Development and Revitalization Plan. The amount was one-half the cost of the improvements. City Clerk Judy Welch said the city recovers the funding from the county under the tax increment financing (TIF) arrangement. Hardon also made application for a pair of Economic Development and Revitalization loans for $25,000 each for business properties at 122 and 124 West 3rd St.
discussed alternate parking problems on Iuka and Sesame streets and said they might consider calendar parking on one side on an alternating yearly basis.
approved purchase of a GIS mapping device at a cost of $6,585. A Tama County Foundation grant paid an additional cost totaling $3,195 for the device which will make it possible to pinpoint water and sewer lines, shut-offs, hydrants and other items in the city water-sewer system. John Lloyd said the device will allow for production of maps to overlay new aerial maps which will be provided by Tama County.
approved purchase of a new sewer treatment plant pump at a cost of $5,795 and repair of a pump used on the flood dike control system at a cost of $1,799.58.
approved a liquor sales permit license renewal for Venture Lanes.