The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at Tarkio City Hall at 6:00 p.m. Roll call was taken by City Clerk Danielle Madron: aldermen Scott Walker, Scott Poppa, James Navin, and Jeff Olson and Mayor Jeff Agnew were all present. Visitors present were: City of Tarkio employees – Police Chief Tyson Gibbons, Police Officers Tee Jay Thomas and Tyler Dorrel, Animal Control Officer/Parks Superintendent Chris Niles, Tarkio Board of Public Works employees Curtis Hedrick, Danny Martin, and Jessica Walker, and City Building Inspector Jesse Payne; Tarkio citizens Dan Vietze, Mike Klosek, Sr., Donnie Dockins, and Travis Kephart; Colflesh Financial Services representative JoLynn Whittington; Sector Technology Group representative Brian Finn; and Austin White with Axious Group.

The regular meeting minutes from October 16 were approved.

Sector Technology Group representative Brian Finn spoke to the board about solutions to the issues the police department has been having with in-car and body cameras. The current company the PD uses to purchase and repair its cameras has been having issues and turnaround time on repairs is very lengthy. Sector has more up-to-date technology and a wider range of options that could bring the PD up to date technologically. They offer better quality cameras, storage options for police videos, and wider GPS capabilities than the city currently has. Chief Gibbons is going to look into getting some grant funding to help with possibly purchasing this equipment.

Austin White with Axious Group spoke to the board about different offers for life insurance policies that are available to the city employees at no cost. City employees currently have policies like this through Liberty National. Axious can offer larger policies to employees and their family.

Jo Lynn Whittington presented the board with different options for the city health care for 2025. The current plan the city has will no longer be available. This topic was tabled to the December 11 meeting.

Election filings begin December 10, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. and the last day to file is December 31, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Positions up for reelection are North Ward Alderman Scott Walker and South Ward Alderman Jeffrey Olson.

At the October 16 meeting, the council opened bids for solid waste removal. Klosek’s LLC Trash Service was the only proposal the city received. The proposal from Klosek’s LLC was for a rate increase up to $24.00 per household per month, which would be an increase of $7.12 per household. Mayor Agnew gave the board some information on the solid waste rates over the last several years. Kloseks took over the trash contract from American Recycling in November of 2021. The rate then was $10.75. Per the contract, in January 2022, the rate increased to $11.00, and in January 2023, the rate increased to $11.25. In March 2023, the board approved a rate increase from $11.25 to $16.88. That rate took effect on April 1, 2023. In December of 2023, Klosek came back to the board with another proposal to increase trash prices at the rate of $1.00 per year for the next three years. After questions from the board on what other towns’ trash prices were, the board did not approve the proposal for another rate increase, but did ask that Klosek come back at a later date and present the proposal again. Agnew asked if anyone would like to make a motion to approve the current proposal from Klosek LLC Trash Service. No motion was made and the proposal died due to lack of a motion. The city will be putting solid waste removal back out for bid and hold a special meeting for bid opening on December 4, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Scott Poppa was appointed to be a representative for the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments.

Mayor Agnew informed the board that a new judge needs to be appointed to take over the city court proceedings as of January 1, 2025. The current judge has been elected to an associate position and can no longer be the judge after December 31. Pamela Blevins was previously an assistant prosecuting attorney for Buchanan County and is currently an attorney at her own law firm in St. Joseph, Missouri. The aldermen voted to appoint Pamela Blevins to the judge position as of January 1, 2025.

Department Reports

Jeff Olson, Tarkio City Buildings – The parts are in for the back doors at the Tarkio Community Building. These will just be a bandaid fix to ensure the doors can be locked, but the doors will eventually need to be replaced.

Scott Walker, Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department – The chassis for the new fire truck has been paid for by the lease purchase company.

Scott Poppa, Tarkio Parks & Pool – There was nothing to report.

James Navin, Jr., City Streets – Quimby’s Report:

• Brush Pile – The brush pile is being used a lot this time of year. They have not been able to burn it because of dry weather and the winds, but will burn as soon as it is safe to do so.

• RV Park – There are fewer campers here. The crew will be plugging in heaters on the hydrants and covering them soon.

• Winter Prep – All supplies needed for winter have come in. The salt spreader has been installed and tested in truck 1. The liquid will be installed on truck 2 when it is needed. The snow blades have been checked and are ready.

• Brightspeed – Many rodent guards have either fallen or are hanging down. Clerk Madron and Quimby have both made several attempts to contact someone to get these repaired and have had almost no luck. They did finally make contact and expressed the city’s displeasure with Brightspeed’s service and Brightspeed has sent a crew to repair these and they arrived on November 12.

• Christmas Décor – Evergy is going to assist with putting the decorations up on Main Street Monday, November 25. The crew will also try to put up the ground displays this week.

• Plugged Tube – There was a tube plugged between Walnut and Pine streets on 8th Street. The city has had issues with this tube before so Quimby had it jetted to open it, which was successful. It was plugged with tree roots. Quimby is going to place a note at the office and have this tube done again in a couple of years.

Jeff Agnew, Gould Peterson Municipal Airport – Diane Hofer with Olsson has reached out asking about the projects list for the airport. The council would like to leave it the same for the time being and not take on any new projects at this time. Mayor Agnew spoke to Brooks Hurst and he is interested in continuing his position as the airport manager.

Chris Niles, Animal Control – There was nothing to report.

Tyson Gibbons, Tarkio Police Department – Range day for all full time and reserve officers is Thursday, November 15. Chief Gibbons asked for the board to consider adding a half-cent public safety tax to the April ballot to be voted on by the people. This tax would be to help with the police salary and benefit improvements. The city is waiting on a response from MML on the particulars.

Danielle Madron, City Financials – The first income payment for the Capitol Improvement Tax has come in. The amount was $792.18.

The aldermen voted to enter into executive session per Chapter 610.021 Section 3 hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting a particular employee, etc. Following discussion, the executive session ended and the meeting moved back into open session.

The aldermen approved a pay increase for Georgia Houghton from $18.25 per hour to $20.00 per hour.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. There will be a special meeting held Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall to open the bids for solid waste removal. Next month’s regular Tarkio Board of Aldermen meeting will be held Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at Tarkio City Hall, located at the corner of 6th and Main Street.