Jeffrey Johnson

“We’ve had a good start up,” was the report Jeffrey Johnson, the CEO of Iowa Premium Beef, made to the Tama City Council Monday night.

Production at the Tama plant got underway last month after some $47 million was invested in modernizing the old Tama Pack facility on Tama’s east side. It had been closed since 2004.

Johnson said employment has reached “just north” of 350 employees and the daily kill is exceeding 100 head as training and start up work continues. He said “there’s still some work to do.” Phase I in the Iowa Premium Beef plan calls for total employment of 600 with an 1,100 head daily slaughter.

Johnson praised the workforce as “amazing,” citing their “interest in training.” He said the employees and the start up “have been everything we thought it would be and a little bit more.”

He said the focus remains on buying cattle from local and area beef producers. He said cattle are being delivered to the plant by area cattlemen and Iowa Premium Beef is buying cattle at Tama Livestock Auction.

He said the quality is the “finest I’ve seen in 37 years in the business.”

Iowa Premium Beef is committed to “high end, high grade cattle,” Johnson said.

Johnson thanked council members for their patience in cooperating during the renovation and start up of the plant and said (it will) “pay off – this is going to be here a long time and it’s going to be an asset.”

Approve Fire Truck Loan

Council members voted 4-0 to secure a $275,000 loan for a new fire truck from the State Bank of Toledo. No comment was received during a public hearing Monday night. A 10-year term was set.

Voting in favor were council members Crystal Kaufman, Doug Ray, Mike Carnahan and Kenny McAdoo. Member Steve Baier was absent.

The bank quoted a 2.7 percent annual interest rate which was the lowest found by the city.

The truck will replace a 30-year-old pumper.

Iowa Skilled Workforce

Council member Carnahan, chair of Tama County Economic Development, said the county is closing in on Skilled workers national certification. He said Tama could be the first county in the region to reach this goal. He told council members employers and employees need to be urged to take part.

Skating Rink

Council members Ray and McAdoo discussed possibilities for a city ice skating rink.

McAdoo said locations at Oak Park, the East 3rd Street Park and an area northwest of the Civic Center might be suitable locations.

However, he said cost and city insurance liability needs to be checked. McAdoo said he explored hat the City of Grinnell had done last year and was told the cost was some $30,000.

Ray said he believed a roofing materiel might be used to form the base enclosure for a rink.

In other business the council:

approved the bid of Quality Roofing totaling $22,140 for housing rehabilitation of a property owned by rebecca Garcia at 115 McClellan. The work is part of a City of Tama Community development block Grant program for home improvements.

approved Louis gold and Jason Moore as new members of the Tama Fire Department.