Tama County Board of Supervisors (l-r) Larry Vest, 1st district, rural Traer, Kendall Jordan, 2nd district, Toledo and Board Chair Dan Anderson, 1st district, rural Tama. -News-Herald file

Tama County supervisors approved the second payment totaling $995,393 for the new system being assembled for law enforcement, fire and ambulance radio communications on Monday, Feb. 10.

Laura Kopsa, county auditor and board secretary, said this amount is the same as the first payment made in April, 2019. An additional total of $200,000 has been paid from local option sales tax money and county Emergency Management reserves.

As a result, there is a projected total bonding amount not exceed $4,756,163 needed to complete the system.

On Monday supervisors also approved an engagement letter with Northland Securities to act as the counties agent in bonding matters.

The present radio communications system has been described as “failing at an alarming rate” by Emergency Management Director – E911 Coordinator Mindy Benson.

The county entered into a contract with RACOM, a Marshalltown radio equipment supplier, to replace the system. New towers and some tower locations as well as radio equipment are included.

Dust Control Permits

To provide dust control on Tama County roads by rural residents and businesses are now required to obtain a permit from the Tama County Engineer’s Office. A resolution passed Monday on a 3-0 vote of the Board of Supervisors following a state law requiring a permit. Lyle Brehm, county engineer, said the new regulations reflect a policy now which had not been updated in more than 20 years.

“We felt it needed to be refreshed and to address a couple of issues, that included insurance liability and deadlines,” Brehm told The News-Herald

Voting in favor were 1st District Supervisor Larry Vest, rural Traer, 2nd District Supervisor Kendall Jordan, Toledo and 3rd District Supervisor Dan Anderson, rural Tama.

Certain methods and materials, a provision requiring insurance and a time frame are all spelled out in the newly-adopted regulations.

This includes:

method of dust control- use of calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, lugnosulfonates (tree sap) and a bituminous chip seal are permitted. Use of used more oil is prohibited by federal law according the new county resolution notes.

both individuals and companies must provide proof of $1 million coverage for general liability each occurrence personal and advertising injury; automobile liability- combine single liability $1 million; and umbrella coverage- each instance- $1 million.

May 15 is the first day application may be made in a calendar year.

a three-week period of notification of intent to apply dust control must be received to allow the county road crew to prepare the surface prior to application and a three-week notice must also be provided if there is an additional application planned.

one permit covers all customers and locations being serviced by a company if the engineer’s office receives a list of application sites three weeks prior to the date they are to begin. No add-ons are allowed after the first application for this permit.

The resolution also specifies warning signs posted for fresh oil used and additional rules, potholes must be filled and the county reserves the right to blade through improperly bladed areas or those not maintained.

In other business Monday the supervisors approved:

the appointment of John Schrier, rural Buckingham, to the Board of Review.

claims totaling $ 1,076,764 which included the radio system payment.

changing the regular Feb. 17 meeting date to Feb. 18 because of Presidents Day.