TOLEDO – As the early Monday morning dew still lay upon the grass, many local citizens gathered at the Supervisor’s meeting room to have their say at the second public hearing for the new public comment ordinance. Multiple citizens stood at the front of the room calling the new ordinance censorship, and a violation of free speech.

The ordinance was first brought to the board several weeks ago by Tama County Human Resources Manager Tammy Wise. Wise answered questions about the ordinance from those in attendance. Tammy informed the crowd that Tama County would be the first county in Iowa with such an ordinance, and if it was approved, then the other nine counties in the Heartland Insurance Risk Pool would consider doing the same.

She also answered a question as to the origin of the ordinance by saying that she herself had put it together, most of which is pulled straight from the Iowa Code. This admission caused one citizen towards the back of the room to call it the “Tammy Ordinance.”

One comment by Citizen Karen Murty got a big reaction.

“Since we are setting, sort of an example for the rest of the state of Iowa, do we really want that on the front page of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, ‘Tama County Removed Little Old Ladies for Disorderly Conduct?” Murty asked.

The third and final public hearing for this proposed ordinance will be held on May 6, at 9:45 a.m.

The County Engineer started the meeting like usual with his report, saying that Denko finished crack filling on V37. Iowa Bridge and Culvert has been working on 220th, and will possibly be moving on to P Avenue, also the department just got a new road groomer.

Some seed will be picked up this week, and a resolution to go to 4-10 hour days was approved. US 63 from the Iowa bridge to Highway 6 being shut down was discussed, as well as dust control for gravel roads that will be utilized for detours.

A public hearing was held for the FY25 budget, there were no comments and the budget was approved. A credit card for the Treasurer’s office was also approved.

The Veteran Affairs quarterly report was approved as well. Claims totaling $179,177.74 were approved.