City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at Tarkio City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited at 6:00 p.m. City Clerk Danielle Kephart did roll call: aldermen Scott Walker, Jeff Olson, and Scott Poppa were all present; alderman James Navin was absent. Others present included: Mayor Jeff Agnew; city employees – Street Superintendent Jamie Quimby, Police Chief Tyson Gibbons, Animal Control Officer Chris Niles, and Building Inspector Jesse Payne; Tarkio Board of Public Works employees Jessica Walker, Curtis Hedrick, and Danny Martin; Park Board member Ashlee Driskell; JoLynn Whittington with Colflesh Insurance; and Tarkio citizen Mike Klosek, Sr.

Mayor Jeff Agnew asked for the approval of the November 6 special meeting, November 13 regular meeting, and special meeting minutes of December 4 and 9 as distributed. Walker made a motion to approve the minutes as distributed and the motion was seconded and approved.

There were no additions, deletions or continuances to the agenda.

Election filings began 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.

JoLynn Whittington with Colflesh Financial presented the board with health care options for 2025. After some discussion, the board decided to table this topic and discuss it at a special meeting Monday, December 16, at 6:00 p.m.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department stipend pay in the amount of $7,990.00. Poppa made a motion to approve the stipend pay as presented and the motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of new appointments for the 2025 election of officers for the Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department. Appointments are as follows: Fire Chief Mike Shaw, Assistant Chief Kevin Sundermann, President Brett Reeves, Vice President Dakota Wooten, Secretary/Treasurer Ryan Sutter, Board Member at Large Nic Schebaum, and Training Officer Keaton Shaw. Poppa made a motion to approve the officer appointments as presented and the motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of 2025 liquor licenses for the following businesses: Casey’s – Intoxicating liquor original package, not to be consumed on premises, Sunday sales included, $450.00; Tarkio Golf Club, Inc. – Intoxicating liquor (all kinds) by drink, Sunday sales included, $750.00; Dollar General – Original package with No Sunday Sales, $150.00; Hy-Vee – Intoxicating liquor original package, not to be consumed on premises, Sunday sales included $450.00; The Roost Eatery – Intoxicating liquor (all kinds), by drink, Sunday sales included $450.00; and Gas Stop – Intoxicating liquor original package, not to be consumed on premises, Sunday sales included, $450.00. Clerk Kephart stated that all licenses could be approved, with the stipulation that all needed paperwork be turned in by December 31, or their license would be void, effective January 1, 2025. Walker made a motion to approve the 2025 liquor licenses as presented with the stipulation that were set for the required paperwork. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew asked the council to approve the land lease for Brooks Hurst hangar #13. The lease should have been renewed in January of 2024. This lease agreement will be from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2044. Poppa made a motion to approve the land lease. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the land lease agreement for Brian Kelly, Rock Port, Missouri, who purchased Matthew Heits Farms’ hangar #12. This lease will be from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2045. Olson made a motion to approve the land lease. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the land lease agreement for Brian Kelly, Rock Port, who purchased Mike and Fran Minter’s hangar #4. This lease will be from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2045. Walker made a motion to approve the land lease. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew asked for a motion to accept the resignation of Curtis Hedrick of his responsibilities to serve as the delegate for the City of Tarkio to the Atchison County Wholesale Water Commission Board of Directors, effective December 31, 2024. Walker made a motion to accept the resignation of Curtis Hedrick and the motion and the second were approved.

Mayor Agnew asked the board to accept the appointment of Jessica Walker to take the position of the delegate for the City of Tarkio to the Atchison County Wholesale Water Commission Board of Directors, effective December 31, 2024. Poppa made a motion to approve the appointment. Olson seconded the motion: two ayes and one abstain voted to approve the motion and the second. The appointment was accepted.

Mayor Agnew informed the board that it was time to discuss the employee yearly salary incentive pay. This topic would be discussed in closed session at the end of the regular council meeting.

Mayor Agnew spoke to the board about the proposed sick leave policy. Chief Gibbons suggested adding a policy for employees to deposit their unused sick time so that other employees would be able to use the banked sick hours in case of emergencies or prolonged leave. Olson suggested the city get the advice of the city attorney before implementing this policy, to make sure such a policy is allowed. Clerk Kephart will ask Deputy Clerk Becky Jones to reach out to the attorney for his suggestions.

Department Reports

Scott Poppa, Parks/Pool – Ashlee Driskell informed the board that the park board would like to change their by-laws to state that their monthly meetings will be moved back to Wednesday night of the council meetings each month. Clerk Kephart will make these changes and have them ready for the park board at their meeting in January. Park Board President Tommy Dow is working on contacting the school superintendent about the 2025 baseball lease agreement. The Park Board would like to start putting out ads for managers and lifeguards for the 2025 pool season.

Jeff Olson, City Buildings – The west doors of the Community Building need new locks. These have been ordered and have been received. They just need to be installed. All locks will be fixed soon.

Scott Walker, Fire Department – Clerk Kephart reported that this month’s capital improvement tax brought in $7,054.04. This will most likely be a close estimate to what the monthly income from this tax will be.

James Navin, Jr., City Streets – Quimby’s report: The crew was able to burn the brush pile. There was a lot of debris that had been dumped there. The hydrants at the RV Park all have heat tape on them and are plugged in. All Christmas decorations are up and working well. Evergy did help get the decorations up again this year. Quimby is starting to get numbers ready for next year’s budget. He has also been speaking with Park Superintendent Chris Niles. They would like to purchase a 3-stage snow blower to be used on the sidewalks at all city buildings. The cost for this can be split between the three main departments: Parks, Streets, and Administration. The estimated total cost is $2,400.00, making each department’s portion of the payment $800.00. Poppa made a motion to approve the purchase of the snowblower. Olson seconded the motion: there were two ayes and one abstained. The motion passed.

Curtis Hedrick, Tarkio Board of Public Works – The lawsuit pertaining to the north lift station is still ongoing. Clerk Kephart will contact the attorney representing the city to see if there are any updates.

Mayor Agnew, Gould Peterson Municipal Airport – There was nothing further to report.

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

Chief Gibbons, Police Department – The annual Holidays with Heroes event will be held on December 21st. Chief Gibbons invited council members to join in this event if they would like to. Sheriff-Elect Andy Riley will be attending as well. Officer Thomas is working with the Missouri State Highway Patrol on a string of copper thefts from Atchison County to Gentry County.

Danielle Kephart, City Financials – Clerk Kephart will be working on the 2025-2026 yearly budget. Any big changes need to be brought to her as soon as possible so they can be added to the budget.

The meeting moved into executive session per Chapter 610.021 Section 3 hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting a particular employee, etc. Following discussion, the closed session ended and the meeting returned to regular session.

Poppa made a motion to approve the yearly employee salary incentives as presented Olson seconded the motion and three ayes voted to approve the motion and the second. The motion passed.

The meeting was adjourned. There will be a special meeting Monday, December 16, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. The next regular City Council meeting will be Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. Citizens are encouraged to attend.