Property taxes on improvements on 23 acres of the Iowa Premium Beef plant site on Tama’s east side will be rebated back to the company.

The Tama City Council approved a development agreement on Monday night, July 1, which will rebate up to a total of $3.6 million in taxes to the company over the next 10 years. Voting in favor were members Crystal Kaufman, Kenny Mcadoo and Steve Baier. Members Robert Tyynismaa and Mike Carnahan were absent.

No comments were made during a public hearing on the proposal.

The council made the decision as part of its commitment supporting the reopening of the beef kill which has been closed since 2004.

Two company officials on hand for the meeting expressed their gratitude and the appreciation of the IPB Board of Directors for the efforts made on the part of the city.

Under the agreement approved Monday, during the first five years, 100 percent of the total improvement money will be rebated to IPB.

For the next five years, a sliding scale beginning at 90 percent and reducing by 20 percent each of the following years will be in place.

IPB plans a custom beef processing operation and expects to employ about 575 meatpackers when the plan reopens. This number is projected to grow to close to 1,000 employees over time.

The original Tama Pack on the site operated under various ownerships until December, 1999, when IPB closed it and gave the plant to the city of Tama.,

It was leased for a period by Wisconsin meatpacker Valley Pride owned by Rick Stewart. Later, a group of 950 midwest cattle producers bought the plant and it operated for less than a year before shutting down in 2004.

No time line for an actual start up of the plant has been announced. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, in Tama for a town meeting last week, said he believed progress can be expected in about four months.

Salaries

Tama council members approved city employee pay for the 2014 fiscal year beginning July 1 on Monday night.

Salaries include (with previous year in parenthesis): police chief – $45,000 ($47,500- Jeff Filloon is taking over on July 10 from retiring chief Dan Wilkens); police detective $42,00 ($40,500); police sergeant $42,000 ($40,500); certified police officer $41,000 ($39,500); starting wage for certified officer $38,250 ($36,750); city clerk $44,523 ($43,023); deputy city clerk $37,222 ($35,722) street superintendent $42,819 ($41,319); street laborer $37,222 ($35,722); cemetery sexton $36,120 ($34,620); paramedic $39,739 ($38,239); water department $42,000 ($40,500); sewer department $44,000 ($42,500); public works director $55,500 ($53,000).

In other business the council:

approved hiring Mark Bear as a police officer on the five-member force to fill a vacancy resulting from the retirement of Chief Dan Wilkens and the advancement of Sgt. Jeff Filloon to chief. Bear is a certified officer and has been working part-time for Tama police. He formerly was a Meskwaki Nation Tribal Police officer.

gave the go ahead for incoming Police Chief Filloon to seek part-time officers for the department.

said the Tama Development Group could explore possible grant applications and the council would consider them for develop,ment of the Pocket Park in the 200 block of West 3rd street downtown.

did not allow a sewer charge rebate requested by Kelly Waseskuk for having to refill a swimming pool damaged by vandals at her residence. She asked for consideration because the water which leaked from the pool did n to enter the city system. Council member Baier said he could foresee other requests for city assistance due to vandalism and the requests escalating if Waseskuk’s claim were allowed.

approved a beer sales permit renewal for Casey’s General Store.