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

TOLEDO – As there was no Board of Supervisors story in last week’s paper, there is a double whammy in this week’s edition. Due to Memorial Day, last week’s meeting was pushed back to the morning of Thursday, May 29. All supervisors were present including David Turner, who telecommuted via the Owl live streaming system due to his traveling abroad. It was like he was in the room only invisible and on a three-second delay.

The apex of the Thursday agenda regarded wind energy. Ideas were exchanged on the topic during public comment time among citizens. This included some snappish discourse between supervisor Curt Hilmer and former Supervisor Bill Faircloth.

Tama County citizens Richard Arp and Jon Winkelpleck, in tandem, asked the supervisors to enforce the stay for commercial wind energy conversion systems. Both citizens began with prepared statements on the subject, talking about discrepancies with permits and other documents that were brought forth at the May 27 court hearing, along with county ordinances and laws. “There was stricter laws in this county for putting in hog confinements then there was putting up wind energy towers,” Winkelpleck said.

As activity is “blatant” at the wind energy site south of Traer, Arp and Winkelpleck implored the supervisors to enforce the county’s stay by sending Sheriff Casey Schmidt to the site to halt the construction.

“We are requesting you send Sheriff Casey Schmidt and the resources he needs to serve a stay and stop any further construction. All of this is within the authority of what the Tama County taxpayers have bestowed upon this board,” Winkelpleck said.

Tama County Sheriff Casey Schmidt.

The supervisors responded, talking about the Tuesday hearing, and where litigation currently stood, and by saying that the stay is automatic and that the problem is with enforcement. It was mentioned that the county attorney had agreed, in emails, that there is a stay, and that a stay has been in place for some time “and yet construction continues,” Chairman Mark Doland said.

The Chairman went on to read an affidavit that was filed and sent to Salt Creek Wind on May 5 regarding an automatic stay imposed not only by Tama County ordinances but supposedly by Iowa Code section 335.14.

At the Thursday meeting, this agenda item was tabled to see if any action could be taken. When the agenda item popped back up at the regularly scheduled Monday, June 2 meeting, no action was taken, but the supervisors stated that they were working with legal counsel on the issue.

Also at the Thursday meeting, in a less ambivalent manner, the board of supervisors rescinded the conditional use permit (CUP) for Salt Creek Wind LLC due to “multiple inconsistencies.”

Tama County Engineer Ben Daleske reported that traffic counters are out on roads, and the spray crew is spraying thistles. They will be replacing the cap on the 340th St. Bridge this week, and all the work on the G Avenue tanker cars is finishing up and will hopefully be open at the end of the week. Last week, they started to grade K Avenue. North of the shop to 270th Street, this should take a couple of weeks, going section by section. Interviews were conducted for the Bridge Crew Laborer position, and references will be checked before a conditional offer is extended. The four-ten work days have started. Also, a permit for the Iowa Regional Utilities Association was approved.

At the Thursday meeting, it was discussed what to do with the county’s West Annex, as office space has opened up recently. Schmidt submitted a proposal to move his patrol deputies out of the cramped Sheriff’s Office and down to the annex, as there are currently multiple to an office. It was approved that the Sheriff’s Department can use the space, although the layout of the building, and offices need further discussion.

A public hearing was held at the Monday meeting for an FY25 budget amendment. There was little comment and discussion and the public hearing closed after only a few moments. The supervisors then approved two resolutions for FY25 budget amendments.

Dave, a supervisor at the Tama County Landfill, brought the issue of the insurance premiums before the board. For years both the Landfill and Economic Development who both have 28E agreements with the county paid more for their insurance than other departments. The Landfill’s insurance bill is approximately $6,500 higher than others. Doland stated that he looked into this pay disparity and only seemed to find the explanation that it was because of the 28E agreement. After some research and finding that no other counties do this, the supervisors approved making the Landfill and Economic Developments insurance premiums the same as every other department, beginning at the start of the new fiscal year. Dave thanked the board, stating he had been trying to get this changed for many years.

During the supervisor updates, Hilmer talked about attending the latest Economic Development meeting, where director Katherine Ollendieck resigned. The next, and final meeting of the Economic Development Board will be held on June 24.

Supervisor Heather Knebel spoke more about the current state of economic development and the hope to find a path forward.

Doland covered Turner’s meeting with Central Iowa Detention and spoke about how they are moving forward with a lawsuit. Doland also spoke about the current state of mental health in Iowa and in Tama County specifically. He is having multiple discussions with Center Associates and Prairie Ridge, trying to develop a transition period.

Claims from the May 29 meeting totaling $136,365.02 were approved, along with $112,195.64 on Monday.