“I think the council is making a mistake here because by postponing this, it’s gonna end up costing more money,” Mayor Brian Hanus said after the council approved for Tama EMS to withdraw their request to purchase an ambulance at this week’s Tama City Council meeting.

At the Feb. 2 meeting, Tama EMS requested to purchase a new ambulance for $316,532. Among other funds, Administrator Jimmy Hicklin stated that the projected income from the coming months of transfers will help pay for the ambulance. Council Member Kristy Eisentrager talked about not having the money first and prepaying.

“If we would prepay for it we’d save almost sixteen thousand dollars, that’s a big, that’s a big deal. So, it makes a big difference if the money was in hand, we could have gave it to them, saved $16,000, but we’re kinda hopin’ and prayin’ these transfers continue and that we keep making that money, cause their contract, they could stop it,” she said.

Eisentrager went on to talk about shopping around for a cheaper ambulance at the Feb. 2 meeting before the majority approved to table the subject. Council members Larry Thomas and Danny Robinson voted nay.

When the agenda item was brought up at this week’s meeting, Tama EMS member Duane Backen stated they were withdrawing the request to purchase an ambulance at this time stating, among other reasons, possibly looking for a cheaper ambulance, and making sure they have the money upfront.

The other contentiously debated topic at this week’s meeting was the cleaning contract. After it was motioned to accept one proposed contract, the majority decided to wait till the next meeting to see another proposed contract so both can be weighed equally.

The council did, however, decide via majority to hire Vestis to clean the rugs in the Tama Civic Center. Once a week, Vestis will come in, roll up the dirty rug, take it away, and then replace it with a clean rug for a fee of $51.50 a week. Mayor Hanus stated his opinion on this.

“We’re trying to cut every penny we can out of our budget, yet we’re gonna spend five-thousand dollars a year on rugs? I think that’s stupid,” he said.

Council member Eisentrager simply corrected Hanus, saying that it only cost $2,600 a year.

A lien waiver request was approved. After asking the requester some questions through a translator, the council approved a two-year contract. The contract would waive the lien for the two years on the condition that the requester fixes up the home in the allotted time.

The second lien waiver request on the agenda was tabled after some discussion about the condition of the home.

Kendall Jordan and Stuart Eisentrager spoke about the retaining wall for the Tama-Toledo Aquatic Center property, which recently has fallen. A repair with a curb and gutter for an approximate $30,000 split between both Tama and Toledo was proposed. The council approved moving forward with the curb and gutter repair.

Melanie Messerli was hired on again for the summer as a plant waterer at $15 an hour. A public hearing for a property tax notice was approved for March 23.