Public hearings at this week’s Tama City Council meeting outnumbered the members of the public that were actually in attendance at the meeting. Three public hearings regarding the sale of different City of Tama properties kicked off the meeting. All three public hearings received no comment and were readily approved.

The fourth public hearing dealt with the repair of the Highway 63 box culvert repair project. It is now estimated to come in $100,000 under the original estimated cost. The resolutions were approved, and the contract was awarded to Boulder.

Next up was the setting of a public hearing to enter into a Water Revenue Loan that deals with the Water Plant planning and design. The hearing was set for the next council meeting, May 6.

Also on May 6 will be a public hearing for another loan for money that will be dispersed among many various projects.

The council also approved following the CDBG Fair Housing Policy and the hiring of Jim Hala for summer help.

Jimmy Hicklin with Tama EMS asked the council’s permission to buy a brand new power load cot. A power load cot is an electric cot that helps EMS workers put patients into the back of the ambulance.

The purchase is in the budget for next year and will cost $32,000. The new cot will arrive sometime in early summer and be put in the back of the older ambulance.

Bargain hunter Hicklin had been on the search for months for a power load cot, but for all of his clearance searching he was unable to sniff out a deal. Hicklin at one time even tried to barter for the purchase of a cot out of a wrecked ambulance in Marshalltown but was denied.

Also approved was a contract with Stryker for yearly maintenance on the cot. EMS also reported receiving 106 calls in the last month, 35 of which were transports.

The property at 117 Siegel St. — or the old paper mill — was on the agenda for its office space. The Tama Police Department has expressed interest in utilizing it. The council approved cleaning out the offices and having a work session on the 22nd to suss out what needs to be done with the space.

The council approved putting together a committee to figure out what to do with the revenue from the new traffic cameras. Since starting the 30-day grace period, over 4,000 warnings have been sent out.

Michelle Jimenez and Clayton Killian were approved to join the Tama Fire Department.

The street department has begun filling potholes. The fire department reported receiving a $4,000 grant for boots and receiving more members.

The water department reported that the wells down at the old mill are looking good.

Chief Jason Bina reported that between March 11 and April 15, the Tama Police Department received 320 calls to service. These calls include 15 for theft, 73 moving violations, and two hazmat incidents.