Tama County Administration Building, 104 W State St., Toledo, Iowa. TELEGRAPH FILE PHOTO

TOLEDO – With Christmas just around the corner, the usual grouping of locals gathered for last week’s Tama County Board of Supervisors meeting along with several others. With people packed into the meeting room like presents in a stocking, the main topic on everyone’s mind on Dec. 23 was the proposed contract for Human Resources Manager/Insurance Administrator Tammy Wise.

The contract was first discussed by the supervisors during their Dec. 16 meeting before being subsequently tabled.

Currently, Wise is an at-will employee of the county. Tama County’s employee handbook defines such employment as “voluntarily entered into … free to resign at any time for any reason.” The handbook also states the County is “free to end its employment relationship” with an at-will employee “at any time for any reason but a prohibited reason.”

The handbook further advises at-will employees: “While it is hoped that your employment with Tama County is long and mutually beneficial, neither you nor Tama County has entered into any contract of employment, either stated or implied. The employment relationship between you and Tama County is and will always be one of voluntary employment at-will.”

Wise’s proposed contract would cover a five-year term; if she were to be terminated without cause in the first year after its signing, she would receive 21 months of severance pay among other provisions.

Before the start of public comment time on Dec. 23, the supervisors took the contract off the agenda altogether, but there was public concern about whether the contract would be adopted before the new board takes office on Jan. 1, 2025. (Editor’s note: The contract was not part of the Monday, Dec. 30, board agenda.)

Other business

The first item on the docket after the meeting got going was the funding of Peoplerides. A Region 6 representative presented a three-way split between the county and both the cities of Tama and Toledo; a County contribution of $3,800 was approved.

A representative of the Tama County Compensation Board recommended the attorney, auditor, recorder, treasurer, and sheriff all receive 6% raises, while the supervisors receive no raise as the board will be changing. After some discussion, the supervisors approved 3% raises for the attorney, auditor, recorder, treasurer, and sheriff.

County Engineer Ben Daleske provided his report saying that a few minor things have been dealt with during the slight bouts of snow, and they have been refilling their cache of sand.

The open Traer position was posted internally but received no takers so the position will be posted to the public.

The department is working on an agreement with Conservation for the lending of an employee as needed during the winter months.

A $1,000 lien for a nuisance property at Union Grove Lake was approved.

The FY24 audit was approved.

The supervisors approved opening an account at Lincoln Savings Bank for the new EMS levy fund and they approved the authorized signers of the account.

The meeting ended on a high note with Curt Kupka being sworn in as the new District 5 Supervisor. Tama County’s other newly elected officials will be sworn in following the Monday, Dec. 30 meeting – a meeting Kupka was not available to attend.

Claims totaling $62,618.17 were approved.