For 46 years, Curtis Hedrick has served the Tarkio community, helping to provide water distribution and wastewater collection for its residents, first with the Tarkio Water Company and then the Tarkio Board of Public Works. Curtis is retiring at the end of the year.

Superintendent Curtis Hedrick supervised many water main and sewer line issues through the years.

After more than 40 years of service to the City of Tarkio and its residents, Curtis Hedrick is closing the door to his employment with retirement from the Tarkio Board of Public Works.

Curtis began working for the Tarkio Water Company in 1978 and became a part-time Tarkio police officer in 1981. In 1984, he became a full-time police officer and worked in that capacity until October of 1993, while still working for the water company as well. In 1993, he said goodbye to the police force and took up the service of water distribution manager full-time.

In 2004, the Tarkio Water Company became the Tarkio Board of Public Works, assuming the water distribution and wastewater col-lection system and treatment of the lagoon. In 2005, Curtis was promoted to Tarkio Board of Public Works Superintendent and has served in that capacity ever since.

Curtis’ duties expanded over the years as he took on membership roles in several organizations. In 2003, he became a member of the Atchison County Wholesale Water Commission, which eventually took over the supplying of Tarkio’s and the county’s water in November of 2013. He’s been a member of the Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference’s (MWWC) Northwest Section for many years and serves on the board of directors. In September of 2025, he will become its state chairman. He has also been a part of the Missouri Rural Water Association, which sees to the training of Missouri’s water operators and managers. His hard work has not only been appreciated locally, but he’s also received several awards from these boards, such as the MWWC Northwest Section’s Operator of the Year in April of 2008 and the Robert S. Miller Award in 2013. He was also presented the Award of Merit in 2012 from MWWC. The Tarkio Water Company was also recognized in 1993 as Missouri’s Water System of the Year. And in another form of “water distribution,” Curtis served the community and county for 35 years by helping extinguish fires with the Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department. Curtis has also worked closely with the Department of Natural Resources and its staff, including the late David Williams, as well as Bill Hills. Curtis said that back in the day, the DNR’s main focus was on enforcement, but under David’s guidance, it changed to become more of an assistance agency, working closely with the water companies around the state and helping them keep the water flowing smoothly. Curtis said David was one of his best friends in the industry, getting him started in the wastewater field and helped him meet many people over the years. And speaking of best friends, it’s not very often that you get to work with yours. For most of his years of service, Curtis worked alongside the late Curtis Evans, a Tarkio High School classmate and good friend. The two shared many laughs “on the job” over the years. Curtis said that he’s been very lucky with having great coworkers in all his time serving the community. He’s worked alongside 10 individuals with the water company, all who joined together in making the water distribution and wastewater collection system of Tarkio a success.

At times it was a bumpy ride, but the major changes made helped make the Tarkio Board of Public Works what it is today. Curtis was around during the designing and building of a new water tower, which was a much needed improvement, as well as taking a part in the decommissioning of the old water plant. There were trying times with repairs that shut down the water supply to the whole town, which is always hard, but they always got the job done with the support and understanding of the community. Many times, Curtis and his crew also had to fight to keep floodwaters at bay around the water plant on the east side of town. Curtis said one of the best decisions made toward the betterment of the community’s water system was joining the Atchison County Wholesale Water Commission and purchasing its water from them. He said it was a very worthwhile and good decision, as now there is a sustainable water source for the entire county for years to come. Before, Tarkio’s source of water had dry times and Curtis said that he even predicted at some point Tarkio having to ration its water. But now, the source of water running dry is nothing to worry about. Curtis has also seen some technological advances over the years. It used to be that he and another crew member would take four and a half days each month walking around town to read all the water meters. Now, the water meters in the entire town can be read in a little over an hour using a drive-by meter reading system.

As Curtis says goodbye to the Tarkio Board of Public Works crew, including Danny Martin, Charlie Kirwan, Jessica Walker, and Sara Lester, the Tarkio Board of Public Works has decided to delegate responsibilities a bit differently. The superintendent position will be eliminated and TBPW will have a Wastewater Manager, Distribution Manager, and Office Manager. The Wastewater and Distribution Managers will cross-train so each can perform the other’s duties when needed. Saying goodbye to any job held for 46 years is hard, especially when for the most part, it was an enjoyable experience. Curtis said he will miss the day-to-day interactions with customers and his coworkers the most. He’s met and made friends with many good people over the years. However, one thing he won’t miss is having a job that forces him to work outside in negative temperatures or feet of snow or be on call at all hours of the day and night. He plans to just take it easy in retirement.

A retirement reception was held in Curtis’ honor on Tuesday, December 10, but his last day is December 31. Stop by the Tarkio Board of Public Works office and wish him a fond farewell at 519 Main Street from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.