“We’ll have another new downtown business,” Tama Mayor pro tem Doug Ray said Monday following the approval of a series of city programs for Ashley Aylysworth’s planned new fitness facility.

A pair of storefronts formerly occupied by the Second Hand Store owned by Muriel and the late Don Rank at 210 West 3rd St. will be occupied by the fitness center.

Approved Monday under the Tama Economic Development and Revitalization Program on 3-0 council votes was a facade grant totaling $7,000, a commercial interior grant improvement for $4,000 and a 10-year low-interest revolving loan for $25,000.

The loan is at 4.25 percent repayable quarterly over a 10-year period. Loans under the city program are secured by real estate mortgages.

Fitness equipment for member use and health and fitness classes are planned according to the application. Jobs created are listed as one manager position and three- plus fitness class trainers.

Alysworth’s application states, in part: “Fitness is the highest economy boosting activity / business in the U.S. One way to look at the economy boost could be that people are living longer, so they are spending money longer, this will boost our economy.”

Calls For Business 30 Sign,

Weed Control

Bill Safely, a Tama Township trustee, appeared before the council Monday night to bring three issues to the council’s attention.

He called for the responsible party- be it the city, county or state to place a truck turning warning sign at K Avenue and Business 30 on Tama’s east side. He said westbound traffic which exits the U.S. 30 Expressway needs to be warned of the heavy traffic at the intersection.

He pointed out the corner serves a number of locations including Iowa Premium, Tama Livestock Auction, the South Tama School Bus Barn and the Iowa Department of Transportation garage.

He said he counted more than 100 trucks using the intersection in the span of a day when traffic was slow.

Safely also questioned the condition of the eastern portion of Oak Hill Cemetery which he said appears to have gown to weeds and trees are growing in the fence line adjoining his property.

A 10-year landowners agreement was entered into for a three and one-half acre portion of the cemetery on Dec. 7, 2015 to be used a monarch butterfly habitat a News-Herald file report of the meeting says.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service sought the agreement as a habitat for native pollinators including Monarch butterflies, it goes on to say.

Safely also expressed weeds growing in a portion of a ditch along the west side of Taylor Drive which is the route to the cemetery.

He called upon the city or landowner of the adjacent property to keep the area mowed.

In other business Monday the council:

approved a reduction in charges for material quantities estimated but not used for the 5th Street improvement project in the amount of $17,677 and a total of $11,500 in liquidated damages associated with the project for a 10 day completion delay.

s aid they saw no need for core drillings on the approaches to the historic Lincoln Highway Bridge which is slated for renovations. They invited the engineer for the project or city staff to provide further information.

tabled bids for new countertops for the kitchen area of the Tama Civic Center Auditorium.

approved an over the counter liquor sales license renewal for El Cerrito.