CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC — The full route for RAGBRAI 2023, which includes an overnight stop in Tama/Toledo on July 27, was recently released.

The March 20 Tama City Council meeting started with hearing updates from the Tama Economic Development Commission Executive Director Katherine Ollendieck. Arrangements for RAGBRAI’s arrival are slowly but surely coming together, with the estimated number of visitors to the county climbing.

Also climbing is the RAGBRAI budget. The Tama County RAGBRAI website should be up and running by the first of April, and April 13 is scheduled for a RAGBRAI public hearing. A facade grant program is set up for when the former Tama-Toledo News-Chronicle building is bought. –

A public hearing is set for March 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers to review a one million dollar Iowa Economic Development water application.

Another public hearing was set for April 3 at 5:30 p.m. to review a $100,000 grant for a new generator at the sewer plant.

The purchase of a new fire truck was approved, costing upwards of $400,000. The truck won’t be ready for two years and will eventually replace current truck 212.

A new program was approved in which a high school student will become an intern in the water and wastewater divisions of the Public Works department. The student would work 20 hours a week, for the 12 week program, and the city would receive $5,000 a week from the state. Nick Peshel and another Tama Public Works representative visited STC High School to talk with students about the program. Five students were interested, and so far, they have received one application.

The water plant will be getting a new dialer. A dialer sends notices to those in charge when there are problems at the plant. The new version will give more detailed notices and will be easier to upgrade.

The council approved making the reserve/nuisance office a full-time nuisance officer. The officer will receive a new uniform and vehicle. Also, the nuisance officer provided the council with a list of a few properties he is working on.

The bid from Bill Carlson for $11,000 to paint the more than fifty Tama light poles brown was accepted.

The council approved writing a letter in support of an STC school resource officer.

Chris Harris was approved to be a volunteer firefighter for the city of Tama.

The wastewater screen contract and Lincoln Highway contract were approved.

The city is seeking quotes for an estimated $150,000 addition to the Tama street shop building.

Bruce Mann was hired for summer help and will start in late April. More summer help is needed.

EMS was approved to upgrade to a Titan 3. This will help with communication between the ambulance and the hospital, as they are currently relying on a system of text messaging.

A few locations were considered for a Tama dog park, but no decision was made.