Yet again, the biggest item on the Tama County Supervisors’ agenda this Monday was the Board of Health budget. At 10 a.m., the supervisors held a public hearing on a proposed decrease in the appropriation of the Board of Health budget.

This is an ongoing issue after the Board of Health approved two separate payments totaling nearly $13,000 in March. These payments were for two homeowners who had their septic systems improperly passed by Tama Counties’ previous Sanitarian, Todd Apfel. The supervisors’ attorney, Carlton Salmons, found the payments to be unlawful for multiple reasons after being alerted to the issue by an article in the newspaper.

Current Tama County Sanitarian Chris Behrens was in attendance to answer any questions and to clear up any misconceptions on whether or not the septic systems should have passed.

“Cory Frank (DNR) has been out there. He agrees with my decision. I’ve had other sanitarians from Iowa County (and) from Black Hawk County look at this. It is a clear fail,” Behrens said about Ashley Steven’s former septic system.

Steven, a single mother of three, is one of the homeowners who was promised reimbursement.

“To be honest with you, this is the tip of the iceberg. I mean there’s case after case after case after case that Carlton made go away when I first started out here. And there’s going to be case after case after case,” Behrens went on to say.

Behrens also made it known that on multiple occasions, he had reached out to Bill Faircloth and invited the Board of Supervisors to sit down and meet with the Board of Health and Cory Frank from the DNR to talk about the situation. Faircloth rejected the invitation.

“We’ve had our differences for two years,” Faircloth said of Behrens. “From the first time Chris came into this office, he never respected the supervisors.”

Faircloth went on to read a letter sent from Kayla Sproul, the attorney Carlton Salmons picked to take the throne once he retired. The letter reiterated the same legal reasons for not paying the homeowners.

Ashley Steven stood up as well, stating that her lawyer is ready to sue due to estoppel, which means that the supervisors had told Steven to go ahead and fix her septic system and said they would give her some amount of reimbursement before going back on their word.

“If you’re going to be illegal, at least be a human being,” Steven said.

The supervisors went on to pass the resolution two to one, with Supervisor Curt Hilmer being the only nay. This refuses any payments to the homeowners and transfers the $51,000 from the county health department budget into the county’s general fund. Faircloth stated before passing the resolution, that afterward, they could see if there is any legal way the supervisors could still help.

As they passed the resolution, one of Steven’s relatives chimed in.

“Well, gentlemen, I’m outta here. We’ll see you gentlemen in court. This was your decision. Be proud of it. Hold your heads high, you stupid f***s.”

Also at the supervisors meeting, the Tama County Engineer reported that they are out digging ditches and regrading. This week, the Toledo Deer Creek bridge is having rebar placed, and concrete will be poured for the deck next week instead of this week due to the heat. The Engineer also reported that they will be selling some equipment on GOV deals.

The supervisors also approved a 28E agreement with Marshall County to share a zoning/planning/weed worker.

The first hearing for the precinct redistricting went quick and nice with everything being approved.

The Annual Urban Renewal report for the 2023 fiscal year, as well as the annual LAD transfer, were approved.

The supervisors authorized the treasurer to oversee the conservation department’s holding account.

$17,000 was approved to be contributed to the Region 6 Housing Trust Fund. The supervisor also reappointed Pete Eikamp to the civil service commission.

Claims totaling $474,251.06 were approved.