Tama City Clerk, Alyssa Hoskey, swore in Doug Ray to serve as Tama City Mayor beginning January of 2020. The swearing in occurred prior to the start of the council meeting on Monday, December 23. News Herald/Allison Graham

Prior to the start of the council meeting, new council members and the new Tama Mayor were sworn in to serve. Their service will become effective on January 2. Anne Michael and Larry Thomas were sworn in to serve as council members. Doug Ray was sworn in as Tama’s Mayor, replacing Mike Carnahan who did not seek re-election.

The council discussed the soon to be vacant council seat that will be left once Ray takes over as mayor. City Clerk Alyssa Hoskey told the council that some city councils are asking for interested persons to express interest in a written statement.

The council can hold an election or appoint for the position to fill the seat. The council chose to appoint for the seat and will require those interested to submit a written request expressing interest. Any interested Tama citizen can submit a statement for consideration.

The council voted to waive the special assessment for 508 Beautiful in the amount of $5,041. The bills are for mowing and snow removal. The city of Tama now owns the property. One of the options for the home are to work with the Tama Fire Department to use the home as a practice burn site. Nothing has been decided however at this point.

Stuart Eisentrager, Street Superintendent for Tama, informed the council he is looking into purchasing a pot hole patching machine and that one option may be to share the purchase and the machine with the city of Toledo. The council gave Eisentrager the go ahead to move forward with finding information.

Purchase of Sugar Shack

Ed Hardon was not present for the council meeting but the discussion on the possibility of Hardon purchasing the Sugar Shack was had by the council. The city of Tama owns the land the Sugar Shack sits on. The council currently gets around $250 for rent for the year. At this time the Sugar Shack land is not for sale.

Reports

City Clerk Alyssa Hoskey informed the council that Tama Solid Waste increased $16 to $23 which increased annual fee $20,000. Hoskey will be recommending an increase to landfill fees to $5 which is a $1.50 increase. This is what gives you access to the landfill and it is a state law. This will be discussed at the next council meeting.

Ray raised concern about vandalism at the gazebo at Tama Park. He would like to possibly give some money for lights next year.