Retiring Tarkio City Clerk Rebecca Jones, right, swore in new City Clerk Danielle Madron at the Tarkio Board of Aldermen meeting May 12, 2021, at City Hall.

The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, May 12, 2021. The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted at 6:00 p.m. Roll call was done by Danielle Madron, Deputy Clerk: aldermen Scott Poppa, Blu Dow, Mike Klosek, and Andy Riley were all present. Visitors were: Tarkio Street Superintendent Jamie Quimby, Tarkio Animal Control Officer Chris Hogue, Tarkio Building Inspector Jesse Payne, Tarkio Chief of Police Tyson Gibbons, and Tarkio citizens Donnie Meek, Deb Beckman, Kim Herrick, Blair Broermann, Katherine Cox, Mike Cox, Earlene Hicks, Kenna and Roger Levings, James Allen, Teresa Smith, Nan and Larry Stepp, Rev. Mark Moon, Sondra and Johnnie Davis, Alan and Darlene Volker, Billie Schneider, Lori Seymour, Kelly Rohlfson, Dallas Prather, Anne Amthor, Mark and Lori Mitchell, Brad Wagner, and Kymm and Shane Bredensteiner.

Mayor Morehouse asked for the approval of the regular meeting minutes of April 14, 2021, as distributed. The board approved. Next month’s meeting will be Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

City Clerk Rebecca Jones swore in Danielle Madron as the new city clerk.

Mayor Tim Morehouse opened the only bid received for street matting. Herzog, St. Joseph, bid $98,520.00. Riley made a motion to accept the bid and the motion was seconded and approved.

Citizens of Tarkio attended the meeting to discuss several properties that are in disrepair throughout the city. A board with pictures was presented showing a few of the properties that need to be cleaned up. Meek commented that people have told him they have come to town looking for a home to buy and refused to buy here because of the unsightly properties throughout the city. Citizens would like to help figure out a solution and a plan to get these yards cleaned up and have the ordinances that apply to these violations enforced. Citizens mentioned the possibility of putting in an impound lot to take broken down vehicles to. The city clerk is going to speak to the city’s risk management company about the liabilities and what the city’s responsibilities would be with putting in an impound lot. The Tarkio citizens would also like the ordinances to be enforced equally against all citizens and not just a select few. They also voiced their concern about the derogatory flags that some residents have outside their homes around the city. They are concerned about the message it is sending to young children and people passing through Tarkio. Mayor Morehouse commented about the research that was done by the clerks. There is nothing that can be done to have the flags taken down due to the individual’s 1st Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech. The citizens of Tarkio left the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

A short break was taken at 7:30 p.m. and the meeting resumed at 7:40 p.m.

Mayor Morehouse read by title Bill No. 269.21 Ordinance No. 255.21, An Ordinance Adopting An Amended Budget For The City Of Tarkio’s Fiscal Year April 1, 2021, To March 31, 2022. Riley made a motion to pass Bill No. 269.21 Ordinance No. 255.21. Dow seconded the motion and all voted in favor to pass it.

Mayor Morehouse gave the second reading of Bill No. 269.21 Ordinance No. 255.21. A motion was made to pass Bill No. 269.21 Ordinance No. 255.21 and the motion was seconded and approved. Bill No. 269.21 Ordinance No. 255.21was adopted.

The cell phones that the Street and Park Departments use are becoming obsolete and will need to be upgraded. Riley made a motion to buy three Samsung A21 cellphones at $240.00 each to replace the outdated cellphones. Klosek seconded the motion and it was approved.

Mayor Morehouse asked for approval of Resolution 65.21, a Resolution to Destroy Records. Dow made a motion to approve Resolution 65.21 and the motion was seconded and approved.

Department Reports

Blu Dow, Tarkio City Buildings – The pillars at the Community Building have been replaced. The seal on the west door still needs fixed.

Michael Klosek, Tarkio Fire Department – The volunteer firemen have all been measured for their new equipment.

Andy Riley, Parks & Pool – ACCO came and fixed the pump again and the pool is running as it should be. The gravel road by the rodeo grounds that leads to the dog pound is needing new gravel. The Park and Street Departments will be splitting the costs to have this done. The Park Board is paying for Clydesdale horses to come be in the rodeo parade and perform at the rodeo on Friday and Saturday night.

Scott Poppa, Tarkio Street Department – Quimby’s report: The brush pile area is getting quite busy with the nice weather, but so far there have been no issues. RV Park: There have been a few electrical issues, but nothing major. A 50-amp breaker and receptacle had to be replaced. City-Wide Clean-Up: There were approximately 40 dump truck loads hauled out of town. There were some people that did not read the ad and tried to put things out that will not be picked up, such as household garbage (the guys did not pick this up). Cold Patch: This will be ordered sometime next week. Street Signs And Posts: Several street names signs and posts have been ordered to start replacing some that are in poor shape or missing. The spelling has been approved so that the order can be processed and the signs made. Tubes: Some tubes have been ordered to replace those that are in poor shape.

Mayor Morehouse talked about the possibility of an air show on August 21, depending on the completion of the new runway and lighting.

Chris Hogue, Tarkio Animal Control – The pound has not had any new dogs or cats.

Tyson Gibbons, Tarkio Police Department – The Police Department is promoting and supporting the local Tarkio College/Tarkio Tech School. On June 30, 2021, Tarkio PD with Tarkio Tech will host Intox DMT, provided by the Missouri Safety Center of Warrensburg, at Tarkio Tech. There is a ballpark figure of 15 area agencies sending police officers to attend. Tarkio Police Department and Tarkio Tech are looking to expand the horizon in law enforcement officer training as a satellite facility in general and specialized topics. The purpose of this venture is to help promote and advertise for the school by inviting out-of-area agency personnel to the campus to showcase what Tarkio Tech can offer. There are future plans and coordination with Midstate Counterdrug Training Center of Camp Dodge, Johnston, Iowa, to develop a multi-state educational and certification outreach for LEOs in the four-corners area.

Danielle Madron, Tarkio City Clerk – There were no financial questions asked and nothing more to report.

Mayor Morehouse announced an executive session would be held per Chapter 610.021 Section 3, hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting a particular employee, etc. The meeting moved into executive session. Rebecca Jones left the meeting at 8:15 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held June 9, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.