This week’s Tama County Supervisors meeting was like a new jar of pickles, filled to the brim, as every seat in the house was taken by eager citizens. The main reason for everyone’s attendance was the scheduled public hearing of Craig Sash, who the Supervisors earlier in the month removed from the Zoning Commission. As the hearing started, Mr. Sash repeated his unanswered questions from previous weeks, asking exactly what he was being accused of, and what evidence they had against him. As the board made it clear, they were again not going to respond directly to his questions.

“There’s no point in this. Why are we doing this?” Sash asked.

Chairman Mark Doland stated that the point of the hearing was for Mr. Sash to speak for himself and make his case. Sash responded saying, “I can’t make a case, when I don’t know what we’re talking about. This is just a dog and pony show in front of your kangaroo court, right now.”

Sash asked why he had never received any formal notification from the county via certified mail during this situation, stating that is how the Iowa Code states it to be done. Doland informed Sash that counsel, including County Attorney Brent Hereen, thought personal notification was better.

During the continued discourse of the public hearing, Sash was prompted by citizen Karen Murty, to state why he still wanted to be on the Zoning Commission.

“I’ve been on that board for years. I think I’ve done a good job trying to help develop reasonable ordinances. I disagree with my zoning board members quite a bit, I think while you’ve been to those meetings. I’ve won some battles, I’ve lost a lot of them, we’ve compromised on some things, and some things we haven’t, but that’s fine,” he said. “I was asked to do it seven years ago, two boards ago, and I was reappointed twice.”

Although no official or specific reason for Sash’s removal from the Zoning Commission was stated by the supervisors, a late-night text to a citizen was alluded to. The public hearing ended with no clear answers, and Sash referred to the board of supervisors as a dictatorship.

After the hearing, the supervisors got a few of the easy agenda items marked off. The board then went into an approximately 30-minute closed session with counsel to discuss the Tammy Wise vs Tama County litigation regarding the former human resources manager/insurance administrator. After the closed session, the supervisors all had a refreshing and much-needed bathroom break and went back into open session.

An hour and a half of public comment time then proceeded, where every citizen present had the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings on just about any matter that occurred to them. From the ethics of theology in government meetings, to the county land use plan, to when Berleen Wobeter’s Board of Adjustment term should end, and ditch upkeep, many subjects were covered. An email in support of Craig Sash that was received by the supervisors was read aloud. Supervisor David Turner took the opportunity to tell the public that he was not anti-wind, but anti-anything with subsidies, that he wanted fact, not emotion, and that he wasn’t a member of Tama County Against Turbines (TCAT).

A multitude of citizens brought up the subject of lawsuits against the county. Former Zoning Administrator Bob Vokoun asked the supervisors a hypothetical. Saying if the county was being sued for $50 million, then “What is the county prepared to pay out? If they have to pay out?” Doland responded to Vokoun’s hypothetical with one of his own.

“What if a missile falls on this room from Iran?” he asked. “There’s a lot of what ifs… I don’t think it’ll ever get to that.”

Former Supervisor Kendall Jordan asked for clarification on the construction stay. Supervisor Heather Knebel answered.

“There’s no building permit for extensions, but there’s no stay,” she said.

Knebel also said on the subject that it was ultimately in the judge’s hands.

In an open discussion with the public about the agenda items regarding appointing someone to the vacancy on the Zoning Commission and the possible vacancy on the Board of Adjustment, it was realized by the supervisors that a computer problem kept them from seeing some applications in full. So, the supervisors decided to table all appointments to the Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment, except for the reappointment of Carol Meyer. The correcting of the Board of Adjustment terms was also tabled.

The supervisors approved the Essential Services Advisory Board to pay for first responder services and administrative costs. The assessed 2025 Homestead/Military exemptions were approved.

The transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Capital Improvement Fund for possible future improvements was approved.

The supervisors approved the board chairman signing the cost advisory FY24 certification statement. A Noxious Weed Notice was approved.

It was approved for the board chairman to sign the Reinig Center rental contract. The supervisors approved the Law Enforcement 28E contracts with the cities with a 7% increase. This excluded Elberon and Clutier, which Sheriff Casey Schmidt will bring back for approval when he gets the paperwork.

The supervisors approved donating an old Tama County Sheriff’s Office squad car to Tama EMS for use in the trial program of a rapid response vehicle.

The supervisors also heard an update from Katherine Ollendieck about what she was doing to finish her job at Tama County Economic Development and where that department currently stands.

Claims totaling $479,684.34 were approved.