It was approved to call in the state auditor to look into discrepancies at this week’s Tama City Council meeting. This has come about because a council member had requested information that the city attorney, Thomas Hillers, who has since resigned for unrelated reasons, said they couldn’t give out. The council believes the city attorney is wrong and that this is indeed public information and can be given out.

So the council has hired the state auditor to determine if this information can or can not be given out. As to what information the council member is looking for and believes is public information, is unknown as of the time of writing this article. When asked what information the council member was looking for, the city clerk stated that they had to consult the new interim city attorneys as to whether that could be shared publicly.

The hiring of the state auditor will cost up to approximately $25,000. The council fielded a few brief questions on this topic from the public, including as to why they are spending money on this while cutting back on other items. After an audience member said the city had no money, Mayor Pro Tem Kristy Eisentrager responded.

“I don’t think anybody’s ever said we don’t have any money,” she said. “We’re cutting out some of the spending that doesn’t need to be happening.”

Council members Larry Thomas and Danny Robinson voted against hiring the auditor.

Another divisive agenda item was cutting police take-home vehicles. The only part all council members could agree on was that the K-9 officer needed to retain his vehicle due to being in charge of K-9 Officer Creed. Two separate motions on this subject failed. Finally, the council tabled the item to look into it more.

The council approved a lien waiver request for 108 E. 1st St., as long as they follow the 155 building code for the city of Tama, and that the lien stays with the property. Kyan McBride was approved to be hired as the nuisance and zoning official with a wage of $20 an hour.

The resignation of City Attorney Thomas Hillers was accepted. The council approved sending out requests for proposals for new city attorneys and approved an interim city attorney contract with Lynch Dallas in Cedar Rapids.

The council approved the new cleaning contract, and for the current cleaner to have 90 days to review and possibly accept the contract. The Safe Routes to School DOT contract was approved.

A culvert was approved to be purchased for Business 30 and L Avenue.