Three cities in Atchison County have recently hired new city clerks to run the offices and to see to the management of the financials.

Christy Stevens

Fairfax City Clerk

Christy Stevens is the new Fairfax City Clerk. Christy and her family, which includes her husband and two kids, moved into Fairfax about three years ago. Before working as the city clerk, Christy worked at Kawasaki in Maryville, Missouri.

Christy started as city clerk  April 15, 2024. Her daily tasks include taking water bill payments, answering phone calls and emails, and keeping track of records. Some obstacles she’s faced so far include not being able to shadow a city clerk before starting, so it has taken a while to get trained on everything. However, she remarked, “The city council members and other city workers have helped by answering all my texts and calls for the first few months that it took me to get my responsibilities down and  I’m grateful to work with them!” She also remarked that some of the positives in her clerk role are getting to meet all the residents in town and being able to help with city improvements. “There are not many changes I’m wanting to make yet as I’m still learning many new things every day, but I’m excited to be switching over to a new billing system in the next couple months! I want to thank everyone of Fairfax for being welcoming and patient with me as I learn my job, names, and addresses!”

When not working, Christy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing summer slow pitch softball, shopping and driving everywhere for her kids’ practices and games.

Danielle Madron

Tarkio City Clerk

Tarkio City Clerk Danielle Madron has worked for the city since January 4, 2021, having replaced Becky Jones upon her retirement. Danielle is no stranger to the Tarkio community, having lived there for 40 years. She resides in town with her fiancé Bobby Kephart, son Easton Madron (14) and stepson Cameron Kephart (17), who both attend Tarkio High School, and stepson Chris Kephart (18).

Danielle commented, “I have always wanted to raise a family here. Growing up in a small town was amazing for me and I want my kids to have the same, if not better, experiences than I did! I attended preschool, where Head Start was in a little house on Pine Street, through senior year at Tarkio High School, and now I have children and nieces that go to school here as well. I wouldn’t trade my time as a Tarkio Indian for anything! Taking pride in and supporting my hometown has always been something I have taken seriously and now, I literally do it for a living.”

Before becoming City Clerk, Danielle worked at Eaton’s in Shenandoah, Iowa, at Cooper Nuclear Station in Brownville, Nebraska, at the truck wash in Rock Port, and at Ag Partners, Casey’s, and the Tarkio Housing Authority in Tarkio. Working in those positions, whether it was dealing with the public or running the business offices and handling budgets, has helped her transition to city clerk.

As Tarkio City Clerk, Danielle manages all the city finances, including budgets for all departments and payroll, makes deposits of the money taken in, and pays all the bills. She also listens to and passes along any complaints or concerns that come into City Hall from local citizens. Working the desk, she also takes non-emergency messages for the police department, street and park departments. She also prepares all the information needed for the monthly City Council meetings. Besides being the clerk, she is also the treasurer for the Tarkio Park Board and the treasurer for the Tarkio Chamber of Commerce.

Danielle said one of the hardest things about the job is the emotional aspect, as dealing with citizens, whether they are angry, scared, or just concerned, places a lot of weight on her shoulders knowing that they are counting on her to do what she can to help them, even if that is just passing the information onto the right people. She remarked, “Sometimes keeping calm, cool, and collected is the hardest part of my day. There is so much more to this job than people think and it can really wear a person out at times.” However, she’s also lucky in the aspect that she was one of very few clerks to be trained by the city clerk she was replacing. “I got six months of hands-on training with Becky Jones before she officially retired and she still helps me any time I need something, even after four years.” The only thing Danielle would like to see changed is getting more people involved and informed on city government and everything that goes on. Danielle said, “I get questions all the time about different topics and people are surprised by the answers or information I give them most of the time. I’m almost four years into this job and I know there is still so much I don’t know or understand yet, but I have really enjoyed getting to learn all the things that make city government work.”

When not working, Danielle enjoys watching her boys play sports, having girls’ days with her friends, watching NFL games (being a house with allegiances divided between three teams, they watch a lot of games), shoe shopping, singing karaoke, cruising in her Jeep, and spending time with her family.

Natasha Baruth

Rock Port City Clerk

Natasha Baruth is the new Rock Port City Clerk. Natasha has lived in Tarkio since 2011. She was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young and then once they started school, she worked for Roger Livengood & Associates in Rock Port for four years.

Natasha began her duties as the Rock Port City Clerk August 12, 2024. She remarked, “I’ve mostly been working on the CDBG grant and getting things organized and sent off before the deadline and keeping financials up to date. There was no overlap with the previous city clerk so I have been learning on the job.” One of her goals includes finding more grants for sewer and street repair.

When not working, Natasha enjoys reading, golfing, and being a Tarkio Girl Scout Leader.