Monday’s Tama City Council meeting started with a public hearing for the Water Treatment Plant project. The new system was approved, and it was also approved to award the water plants contract to WRH Construction for approximately one million dollars.

Snyder and Associates got approved for the “5th Street Project.” This is for a possible alternate route around the 5th Street bridge. Another factor in this project is the possibility of the new Dollar Store that would be built in the area.

The council approved advertising for bidders to mow out at the Aquatic Center.

Advertising for summer help for the public works department was approved as well. Two positions will be available with wages starting at $16 an hour and working 40 hours a week.

The council will also advertise for sale two saws that were left at the paper mill.

Tyler Chekal from Belle Plaine was approved to be hired by the Tama Police Department. Chekal is currently in the academy and will graduate in April. After spending years in the military, Chekal now lives in Cedar Rapids. He has worked as a truck driver and has been a reserve officer for the Belle Plaine Police Department. Chekal will have a four-year contract and will start out at $26 an hour.

Thomas Short-Desforges was approved to be a new volunteer for the Tama Fire Department.

The Tama Pump was approved to have West 3rd Street closed on March 16 for the Irish Stampede.

A public hearing for the property tax levy was set for April 1 at 5 p.m. Lights for the 117 Siegel St. warehouse were approved to be paid for in the approximate amount of $700.

A special assessment waiver request was approved for three Tama properties that will be maintained by a new owner.

The water department’s Cody Nehring passed his Water 2 test, which was the last of the plant licensing he needed. Cody was approved for a $3 raise. Nick Peshel also passed his Water 2 test and was approved for a $1 raise.

A McClellan Street property currently owned by the city was approved to be surveyed as part of the property borders a town well.

The town’s $945,000 money market was approved to be put in the LSB Bank of Tama which has a 5.09% over WCF whose rate was 5%. The town will check back every three months to see which bank has the better rates.

The council finished out the meeting by discussing future plans for a new dog park. “Peshel’s” dog park is what it was jokingly referred to as, having fun with the Tama City Worker Nick Peshel. They discussed fencing and the rules that would be enforced in the park.