Tama County Economic Development Director Jacob Buchanan, left, and Bob Kienzle, right, pictured on Monday, June 29, with Kienzle’s winning entry in the 2026 Flag Day photo contest. PHOTO BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS

TOLEDO – The Monday, June 29 Tama County Board of Supervisors meeting featured a contentious start as the public comment section got spirited with the reading of a two-page statement by citizen Adam Todd.

Todd read a statement touching on the county’s road conditions and an offhanded comment made by Supervisor Curt Hilmer (R-Dysart) at the last meeting. During that meeting, when a local citizen lodged a complaint about the roads, Hilmer talked about the number of gravel roads in Tama County and the amount of work and time that goes into maintaining them. While he was speaking on this issue, Hilmer said, “If you don’t like it, move to town.”

In Todd’s two-page statement, he said: “They are not roads. They are creek beds.” As well as: “The ditches are the safest place to be in flash floods because all the water will be on the road.”

Todd also addressed Hilmer’s comments by shaming him. He then went on to talk about how much he pays in taxes and threatened a tax revolt.

Later in the meeting, Supervisor David Turner (R-Tama) spoke about addressing the concerns of those who complained at the last meeting. Turner stated he drove over 70 miles of gravel road in his district and hadn’t seen too big of a problem at the time of his drive. When he did come to a road with significant problems, Turner stated he saw a Secondary Roads worker resolving the issue.

In another roads-related topic, this week’s report stated that they are ditching as well as regular blading and doing maintenance and spot rocking.

Continuing down the road with the topic of roads, the Supervisors decided to go back to everyone in the Secondary Roads Department being on five (5) eight-hour days instead of having some on four (4) 10-hour days. After much concern from some of the supervisors about allowing the change to 10-hour days – which has been the custom in the past – it was agreed at a previous meeting that as long as everything was covered, those employees who wanted to work eight-hour days would, and those who wanted to work 10-hour days would.

According to a report from Supervisor Curt Kupka (R-Chelsea), this plan has proven unmanageable as the foremen are working 48 hours to manage the workers, and employees are not doing what they are supposed to with some of the workers just sitting in the shed until the wee hours of the morning for unknown reasons.

Other business

Also during the meeting, Tama County Economic Development Director Jacob Buchanan presented the supervisors with the framed winning entry from the recent 2026 Flag Day photo contest winning entry. The supervisors picked the winner a few weeks prior, and the picture will be mounted on the wall in the annex. The photo was taken by Bob Kienzle. The location of the photo was the Garwin Union Cemetery Veteran Memorial Stones.

Reorganization was the other big item during the meeting as Chairman Mark Doland (R-Toledo) made a statement about no longer having the time to dedicate to being chairman. Doland made a motion to make Supervisor Heather Knebel (R-Traer) chair of the board. The motion passed, and Knebel became not only the first female elected to the Tama County Board of Supervisors, but also the first female chairperson of the Tama County Board of Supervisors.

Following her appointment, Knebel made the following statement.

“I am truly humbled, honored, and thankful for the opportunity to be Tama County’s first chairwoman. As we begin a new fiscal year this week, I am reminded of the importance of public service, of working together, and of doing what is best for the people we represent. With America preparing to celebrate its 250th birthday, it is an incredible time to reflect on who we are, where we have been, and the responsibility we all share in helping shape the future. It is truly an amazing time to be an American and an Iowan,” she said. “I want to sincerely thank my fellow members of the Board of Supervisors for placing their trust in me to lead our meetings. I look forward to working alongside each of you with respect, dedication, and a shared commitment to Tama County.”

Doland was then made vice chair.

The supervisors approved a resolution designating the location for the posting of the Board of Supervisor meeting agendas.

Money not spent from Conservation was approved to be transferred in order to save for future projects.

Union and law enforcement contracts were approved.

It was approved to reappropriate funds from the auditor’s budget to Veteran Affairs and Relief Services.

Nancy Smith was reappointed to the Tama County Board of Adjustment.

Jim Niebergall was appointed to the Tama County Zoning Commission.

Claims totaling $333,658.08 and Health Fund Claims totaling $1,079.17 were approved.