MercyCare Tama Clinic in downtown Tama on Tuesday, May 16. News-Herald/John Speer

Tama City Council members voted 5-0 Monday to enter into a lease agreement extension involving MercyCare, Cedar Rapids, and the clinic building at 4th and Siegel to the year 2026 during the regular council meeting on Monday, May 17.

Members Robert Tyynismaa, Doug Ray, Mike Carnahan Aaron Haughey and Kenny McAdoo voted in favor.

Tama’s MercyCare office has been owned jointly by city and Jerry Wille M.D. since 2003.

In 2003 the city entered into an agreement with Dr. Wille to buy the facility from Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center with each paying one-half of the $300,000 cost. At the end of a 15-year period, in 2018, the building becomes under the sole ownership of the city.

The clinic building was built in 1995 by MMSC and Wille was the primary physician there until 2002. Then he relocated to the MMSC Clinic on South Broadway in Toledo, returning to Tama upon the purchase in September, 2003.

The agreement with the City of Tama entitled Wille to free rent with him assuming responsibility for the upkeep and property taxes on the building.

MercyCare,Cedar Rapids, offered to extend their commitment to the clinic building to 2026 if the city would choose to continue when it obtains the full ownership in two years.

Council members Kenny McAdoo and Aaron Haughey recommended the city explore selling the property to MercyCare during the discussion.

Mayor Dan Zimmerman said he has learned MercyCare plans to add an addition to the existing clinic and will make a concentrated effort to recruit a physician for the clinic if Dr. Wille chooses retirement in the future.

In other business the council:

learned the East 5th Street project involving some street and intersection widening at 5th and State and resurfacing much of Eats 5th has been formally approved for $300,000 in federal funding. With the approval City Clerk Judy Welch said Snyder and Associates, the city’s engineering firm, will prepare engineering estimates for the work.

discussed allowing electric motors to be used on boats on city-owned Cherry Lake. All motors are currently prohibited. Council member Haughey said he had received request from several older persons asking for the change. No action was taken as the time was not on the agenda.

approved downtown revitalization loans to Hardon’s Inc. for 413 McClellan and to Ed and gloria Hardon for 115 West 3rd St., each in the amount of $25,000.

approved payment totaling $68,167 to Twin Cities construction for three separate jobs including curb and gutter from State to Hall streets on 7th Street, 7th and Hall and 6th and Hall west of Hall Street and sidewalk and fire station drive entry repairs at the Tama Civic Center.