The Tama County Supervisors tour old STC Middle school with Tama County Sheriff Casey Schmidt, STC Superintendent John Cain, and others as part of their meeting on Monday morning. PHOTOS BY MICHAEL OLD SCHOOL DAVIS

One of the most interesting parts of this week’s Tama County Supervisor’s meeting was a field trip. With their permission slips signed, the majority of the supervisors, along with a few other county employees and the sheriff, went on a guided tour of the old STC Middle School building. This empty colosseum of education had the group looking in every crook and cranny as they thought of the possibilities, expenses, and everything else that comes with the centuries old building.

One possible use for the building mentioned recently was for it to become the new county jail. After the tour, Sheriff Casey Schmidt shared his thoughts.

“We need to do something countywide with space. We have a lot of older buildings. The jail obviously needs to be addressed, and that’s one thing I don’t think anybody can disagree with. I think it’s good to look at this building and identify what would work, what wouldn’t work. I think there’s a lot more legwork that needs to be done on identifying the absolute needs of the sheriff’s office as far as a feasibility study is concerned, and looking at either renovating the current or building new,” he said. “I think there’s a lot more legwork that needs to be done, but I’m glad we were able to come in here and take a look at it. See if it’s something we can renovate if we can’t, we can’t. If we can, then it’s something that needs to be obviously discussed.”

Before the fun and games of the field trip, the supervisors had their regularly scheduled meeting that started with them approving a resolution to establish the position of mental health and substance use disorder advocate/Law Enforcement Liaison. According to the resolution, 75% of the position’s funding will come from the Tama County General Fund, which will then be reimbursed by the state of Iowa. The other 25% of funding will come from the Tama County Opioid Fund.

Tama County Engineer Ben Daleske started his report by saying that the plows had been out since 5 a.m. after the county received an inch of snow. Brush cutting has been continually done with the tractor mowers, and road rock has been stockpiled at Traer and Chelsea. Ben sent the County Five-Year Plan (CFYP) to the DOT last week. Some projects were added to the CFYP, and others were amended before the plan’s approval.

All planned work on L Avenue was removed. The paving of E49 or old Highway 30 in fiscal year 2028. The paving of V18 south resurfacing, 13 miles from Clutier to Chelsea, is set for the fiscal year 2030. Two bridge projects were added: the Oneida 22 bridge replacement on E30 just west of W Avenue, set for fiscal year 2027. And the York 21 bridge replacement on 310th Street just west of V Avenue for the fiscal year 2030.

The supervisors opened bids and accepted bids for county land. The landfill crop land went to Rick Hopper for a bid of $37,000. The pasture land went to Annette Kotouc for $190 per acre.

The Veterans Affairs Quarterly Report was approved. The supervisors approved to certify a lien to recover mowing and yard clean-up fees for a nuisance property.

The supervisors also approved a new IT Network Engineer, Cory Reynolds. Their starting salary is $50,000, and Reynold’s start date is Feb.16. Claims totaling $53,311.97 were approved.