The Atchison County Health & Wellness Coalition recognized the City of Tarkio for their work on passing a smoke-free ordinance.  A certificate and letter from the Missouri Department of Health was presented to the council at the board meeting Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Tarkio is 1 of 36 Missouri cities that have a safe, smoke-free environment in all public places and workplaces. Passing this ordinance enhances the health of the city and makes it a more attractive destination for visitors. Tobacco users are more likely to quit using tobacco when they are in a community that limits where they can use it. People who live in smoke-free cities are more likely to make their own homes and vehicles smoke-free. Children are also less likely to start using tobacco when they see fewer adults smoking and tobacco use becomes less socially acceptable. Pictured are, from left to right, Coalition members Dusty Slemp, Jamie Baker, and Terri Harr, City Council members Blu Dow, Scott Walker, Jeff Olson, and James Navin, Mayor Jeff Agnew, Julie Livengood and Tammy Sly with the Atchison County Health Department, and Coalition members Roseann Nemyer and Julie Koop. (Submitted photo)

 

The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at Tarkio City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted. Roll call was taken by City Clerk Danielle Madron: aldermen Scott Walker, Blu Dow, Jeff Olson, and James Navin were present. Others in attendance were: Mayor Jeff Agnew; City of Tarkio employees – Police Chief Tyson Gibbons and Street Superintendent Jamie Quimby; Tarkio Board of Public Works employees Danny Martin and Jessica Walker; City Building Inspector Jesse Payne; Park Board member Ashlee Driskell; citizens Michael Klosek, Sr., Dan and Sally Vietze, Dallas Prather, Alanna Caufield, and Shane Bred-ensteiner; Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department Chief Keaton Shaw; Les Hinnen with Heiman, Inc.; and Atchison County Health Coalition members Dusty Slemp, Tammy Sly, Julie Koop, Roseann Nemyer, Julie Livengood, Terri Harr, and Jamie Baker.

Mayor Agnew opened the public hearing for the new tax rates at 6:01 p.m. Mayor Agnew read the tax amounts to those in attendance. There were no comments. The public hearing closed at 6:05 p.m.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the minutes for the regular meeting July 10. Walker made a motion to approve the minutes as presented and the motion was seconded and approved.

There was one addition to the agenda: Approve Just In Time Promotions, Inc. caterer’s license for Friendship Day.

Dallas Prather informed the council that Tarkio Renewal has given out all their grants for this grant cycle. Someone has also shown interest in purchasing one of the lots Tarkio Renewal owns.

Julie Livengood presented a letter and a certificate of appreciation to the council for their efforts in making Tarkio a Smoke Free City. The Health Coalition thanked the council for all their work in getting the ordinance passed.

Mayor Agnew gave the first reading of Bill 316.24 Ordinance 302.24: An Ordinance Levying A Tax Upon All Of The Taxable Property. Dow made a motion to approve Bill 316.24 Ordinance 302.24. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew gave the second reading of Bill 316.24 Ordinance 302.24. Walker made a motion to approve Bill 316.24 Ordinance 302.24 and the motion was seconded and approved. Bill 316.24 Ordinance 302.24 was adopted.

The council reviewed the current trash specifications and bid sheets that will be sent out. There are a few changes that need to be made. Clerk Madron will make the changes and get these approved before sending out the bid packets.

Mayor Agnew informed the board that there was still some paperwork that needed completed for the demolition grant that the city is trying to obtain. This needs to be completed so that the city can have an open hearing before the grant can be submitted. The council will be working to get all the information completed.

Mayor Agnew asked if the city was responsible for maintaining all the used alleys within city limits. Most cities will maintain an alley, if the cost is split between the city and the citizens who requested the work to the alley. There are some alleys that need to be graded and some gravel placed in them. Street Superintendent Quimby will be working on a policy that will be discussed at next month’s meeting.

Mayor Agnew stated that the cleaning position applications would be reviewed in closed session.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of Just In Time Promotions, Inc. caterer’s license for the Friendship Day Event on September 28. The beer garden will be set up directly in front of City Hall. Dow made a motion to approve the license. The motion was seconded and approved. The license was granted.

Department reports

Jeff Olson, City Buildings – The water heater in City Hall had to be replaced. A smaller one was purchased and installed. Olson volunteered to fix the door frame at the Community Building. The screen on the back door at City Hall needs to be fixed.

Scott Walker, Fire Department – Fire Chief Shaw informed the board that he has been speaking with Les Hinnen from Heiman, Inc. about the purchase of a new fire truck. The city passed a capital improvement tax to help fund the purchase. There is currently a truck in production which should be ready in February or March. A $2,000.00 payment is needed to hold the truck. Olson motioned to pay the $2,000.00. The motion was seconded and approved.

Blu Dow, Parks & Pool – Painting has been done at the North Polk School House. Friendship day is September 28. The Park Board will be hosting a Halloween softball tournament on October 26, the Halloween Parade on October 27, a turkey trot tentatively scheduled for November 16, and all the normal Christmas activities to take place on December 7. The pool is now closed for the season. There is still a water leak somewhere. They are not positive as to where and have been in contact with KC Gunite to see about having the pool checked. The board will set opening and closing dates for the 2025 pool season in September. Both managers have stated they do not want to be managers again in 2025, so advertising will be out in December to get managers to run the pool next summer. There will be no reimbursement from MIRMA this year for the pool audits. There is also an open Park Board position.

James Navin, City Streets – Quimby’s Report:

• Rip Rap – The county has taken all of the material located at the old rip-rap location. Quimby has put signage up indicating that it is private property and there is no trespassing allowed.

• Brush Pile – This area is getting large and will be burnt probably in the next month or so depending on how dry it stays and the wind. There was one person that dumped trash there this weekend and Tyson took care of that situation.

• BrightSpeed – They trimmed a tree located at 3rd and Elm. Quimby told them where they could dump the brush. They removed part of it. Quimby made multiple calls over a period of two weeks trying to get the rest removed. He finally called and didn’t give them a chance, getting a billing address instead and billing them for having to clean up their mess.

• Potholes – There are some new potholes showing up and the crew is going to start working on them as soon as they are done trimming low hanging branches.

• Curb Project – This part of the Main Street project is completed. The street matting should take place in the next few weeks.

• Tree Trimming – Bob and Jamie have been trimming low hanging branches over the last several weeks. They are getting close to being done with this project.

• RV Park – There are currently four campers located there. There is an electrical issue with one site that Quimby has made arrangements to have repaired. The person in this site is able to use the hook up to a vacant site so no one is inconvenienced.

• Water Leaks – The street crew has assisted the Board of Public Works with a couple of water leaks they have had this last month.

• Radar Sign – In the past, the city has used a radar cart that has a sign that shows one’s speed. This is often times hard to get and requires someone to set it up. If you want it moved, they have to come move it, plus it is bulky and can’t be placed just anywhere. Quimby has done some research and found a sign that is easy to move from place to place, has good battery life, and is capable of being located on any normal sign post. He has talked with Tyson about this and it could be an asset in reminding people what the speed limits are and make them aware that they are speeding. The cost is just over $3,000. It is within the budget and Quimby believes it would be a good safety item. It is possible that they may be able to get part of the money spent on this back from MIRMA with their grant program.

Danny Martin, Tarkio Board of Public Works – Restoration on the inside of the water tower started this week. BrightSpeed has been doubling up on their locates and has become a problem. This has been reported to BrightSpeed personnel twice now. There were four water leaks last week. The main break was on North 10th Street. Water samples were taken and the boil order was lifted. Pool usage as of August 12 was 727,600 gallons.

Jeff Agnew, Gould Peterson Municipal Airport – Jeff had nothing to report

Animal Control – There was nothing to report.

Tyson Gibbons, Police Department – The K-9 Golf Tournament was a success. There were 11 teams. Chief Gibbons has come up with a new cadet packet for possibly sending someone through the police academy. The council will review this and discuss it further with Chief Gibbons.

Danielle Madron, City Financials – There was nothing to report.

A break was taken from 7:50 to 7:57 p.m.

Walker made a motion to enter into executive session per Chapter 610.021 Section 3 Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting a particular employee, etc. The motion was seconded and approved and the meeting moved into closed session.

Dow made a motion to close executive session. The motion was seconded and approved and the meeting moved back into regular session.

Dow made a motion to hire Danny Martin for the cleaning position, at a rate of $14.00 per hour. The motion was seconded and approved.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Next month’s regular Tarkio Board of Aldermen meeting will be held Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at Tarkio City Hall, located at the corner of 6th and Main Street. Tarkio residents are invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.