Rural broadband internet service is a funding target of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a needed service in Tama County according to at least one rural business person and resident. Ivy Sievers, rural Tama, told the Tama County Board of Supervisors on Monday since Windstream discontinued offering service to an area east of Tama and Toledo at least 130 residents in that rural area are without good internet connectivity. She said since a meeting among neighbors in the area some three years ago pointed up the issue, there’s been no progress. Sievers said she believes money is again available from grants. Supervisors agreed she should be in contact with Heath Kellogg, county economic development executive director, to explore availability of funding. 3rd District Supervisor Dan Anderson who lives at rural Tama and 1st District Supervisor Larry Vest, rural Traer, said internet service provided via satellite has been a solution for some rural residents. However,r both admitted weather conditions affect signals. Sievers said a solution she uses now is through her cell phone carrier but it is somewhat limited. The USDA says on its website “our current programs offer more than $700 million per year for modern broadband e-Connectivity in rural communities.” It is also noted “In the coming months, USDA will almost double these longstanding programs with at least $600 million of additional funds for expanding rural broadband infrastructure in unserved rural areas and tribal lands.” In other business on Monday the supervisors: •approved funding a total of $7,418 for the Wieting Theatre, Toledo, addition project of a $10,000 request. The amount was reduced to adjust for a previous grant which was overpaid. James Roan, project manager reported work is underway on the deconstruction of the Toledo Community Building to make way for the addition. Roan said construction will begin Oct. 15 with a completion date of March 1, 2019, with winter weather permitting. •approved weekly claims totaling $405,841.