PHOTO BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS - The mayor’s seat sat empty during Monday night’s Tama City Council meeting after the resignation of Brian Hanus, the second Tama mayor to abruptly resign in the last three years.

For the second time in less than three years, the mayor of Tama has resigned. Mayor Brian Hanus put in his resignation on Wednesday, March 4. The letter of resignation read, “Due to the fact that certain members of the City Council believe that they can run everything the way they want, I will not serve as mayor to the City of Tama any longer.”

The Tama City Council held a special meeting on Monday to accept the resignation. Council Member Chris Smith motioned to accept the mayor’s resignation, but before it could be seconded, a member of the audience asked some questions. After asking if council members had to follow the City Handbook, and being assured they did since they were technically city employees, the audience member referenced Hanus’ letter.

“In Brian Hanus’ resignation, he mentions something about council members, and I would just add that there is a potential that his resignation came from bullying and harassment. Which is against the policy in the city handbook, so I feel like that definitely needs to be looked at, if not for sure, at least documented for future reference,” the audience member said.

Mayor Pro Tem Kristy Eisentrager responded by saying they will keep Hanus’ resignation on file for future reference.

After fielding a couple of other comments and questions, council member Chris Smith again made his motion to accept the resignation, and this time, Kristy Eisentrager seconded the motion. The motion went to a roll call; Danny Robinson was the only no. The motion passed, and Hanus became the second Tama mayor in the last three years to abruptly resign from the post after Doug Ray did the same in July of 2023.

The next agenda item was to remove the now Ex-Mayor Hanus from all accounts. Chris Smith motioned, Kristy Eisentrager seconded the motion, all voted yes, the motion passed.

Eisentrager then made a motion to appoint a mayor within 60 days instead of having a special election. Chris Smith seconded the motion. During a roll call, Danny Robinson was the only council member to vote no. The motion passed.

Chris Smith motioned to approve the resolution stating that a notice of intent to appoint a mayor will be published. Kristy Eisentrager seconded the motion. The resolution passed.

The council will appoint the new mayor at the April 6 meeting. The mayor’s term is set to end in December of 2027.