2/3/25 - Huge Financial Problems Revealed; ITC Update; Closed Session Has Shocking Result - Full Mtg

This meeting brought to light a serious budget issue that was discovered in the County, that has apparently been becoming a problem over the past two years of budget planning (skip to 0:49:03 of video for the initial explanation). As of a few years ago (around the end of the FY2023) the budget was at an ending fund of $14M above the budget, and the projected balance that the new Board walked in to is currently -$948K -- yes, planned to be NEGATIVE -- by the end of the 2025 fiscal year in June. Additional comments from the supervisors about the state of the budget are also included in the ending public comment session (skip to 1:36:40 of video).
At about 1:29:05 of the video, the Supervisors went into a Closed Session for over an hour. Action was taken as soon as the Open Meeting reconvened. It is unlikely that anyone except the direct people involved were expecting this outcome to happen in this meeting. The vote on the issue was not unanimous, but it did pass 3-2. The public was told that a press release would be coming soon with more details.
Additionally, a representative from ITC was present during the Engineer's report to provide more information about their Utility Permit Application, which would affect multiple Tama County residents.
Posted Agenda (video comments are in parentheses):
-Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance
-Approve agenda
-Public comments (skip to 0:18:03 of video; request for changing a gravel road to blacktop, Roads budget question, Closed Session question, Motor Grader Position Hiring comment)
-Discuss/Approve 1/27/25 minutes
-(representative) from the Toledo Library to give an update for funding
-Engineer: road projects report (skip to 0:36:20 of video)
--discussion/possible action to approve signing Utility Permit Application (ITC representative was present to provide additional information)
--discussion/possible action on hiring motor grader position (Board not ready to act, waiting for employment screening to complete for the Engineer's selected applicant).
--discussion/possible action Resolution to decrease Secondary Roads transfer from the general fund (skip to 0:49:03 of video; issue is tabled to continue discussion the following week)
-HR: Discussion/ possible action to approve signing the union contracts (agenda item was not discussed or acted on)
--discussion/possible action to decrease county contribution amount to the health fund (skip to 1:10:51 of video; a "cap" was included in discussions to not allow too low of funds)
--discussion/possible action on legal bills (these had been delayed from being paid the previous week while waiting for detailed information)
-Discussion/possible action to approve a Resolution to create an Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund (skip to 1:16:15 of video, money would not be put into the fund until approximately September 2025)
-Discussion/possible action to approve appointment to Board of Health
-Discussion/possible action to change salary employees to a bi-monthly pay cycle (skip to 1:18:57 of video, proposed by the Auditor to clean up End-Of-Year accounting)
-Discussion/possible action to repeal Tama County Ordinance VI.5 (6.5) Wind Energy Conversion Assessment Ordinance pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 427B.26 (skip to 1:20:47 of video; issue was introduced and discussed, but decision is tabled until more information is received)
(short recess before next item on agenda)
-Possible closed session for discussion and possible action under Iowa Code 21.5.1 (g), 21.5.1 (h), and 21.5.1 (i). (skip to 1:29:05 of video)
-(Closed session was not eligible to be recorded by the public due to the nature of the closed session rules, the video skips ahead in time to when the meeting reconvenes - the closed session was about 70 minutes)
-(Action taken after the closed session, vote was passed 3-2)
-Discussion/approve claims (skip to 1:31:20 of video)
-Public comments (**Language warning, one of the commenters swears** 4 people have comments or questions based on the Closed Session decision, one comment on road expenses, 2 comments on the financial situation, *skip to 1:36:40 of video, where a citizen asks about the financial situation and the supervisors respond with detail.)
-Adjourn
Tama County Board of Supervisors Meeting 2/3/25.