The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Tarkio City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted at 6:00 p.m. City Clerk Danielle Kephart did roll call: Mayor Jeff Agnew, Councilmen Scott Walker, Jeff Olson, and Scott Poppa were all present; Alderman James Navin joined the meeting at 6:10 p.m. Visitors present were: City of Tarkio employees – Street Superintendent Jamie Quimby, Building Inspector Jesse Payne, Police Chief Tyson Gibbons, Police Officer Tyler Dorrel, and Animal Control Officer Chris Niles; Tarkio Board of Public Works employee Danny Martin; Tarkio Park Board members Ashlee Driskell and Danny Vietze; Tarkio Chamber of Commerce mem-bers Melissa White and Mandy Whipple; Jo Lynn Whittington with Colflesh Insurance; and city citizens Blu Dow, Teresa Smith, Vicky Rogers, and Mike Klosek, Sr.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the November 12 regular meeting and November 19 special meeting minutes 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 9, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. and the last day to file is December 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Positions up for reelection are Mayor Jeff Agnew, North Ward Alderman Scott Poppa (appointed after resignation of Blu Dow) and South Ward Alderman James Navin, Jr. (appointed to fill vacant spot).

Jo Lynn Whittington asked the council if they had looked over the options for health coverage for 2026. The council looked at the plans presented and decided to stay with the current plans that they have. Poppa made a motion to keep the same insurance policies with Blue Cross Blue Shield. The motion was seconded and approved.

Dallas Prather has been work-ing on a grant intake form for the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments to assist in getting grant funds for the sidewalk project on the highway. The council discussed how much to budget for the city’s matching funds in the event they do receive a grant. Walker made a motion to set aside $25,000.00 in the 2026-2027 budget for the sidewalk project. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the yearly stipend pay for the volunteer fire department as presented, in the amount of $5,145.00. Olson made a motion to approve the stipend pay as presented and the motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the 2026 fire department officers as presented: Mike Shaw, Chief; Allen Wennihan, 1st Assistant Chief; Kevin Sundermann, 2nd Assistant Chief; Dakota Wooten, president; Keaton Shaw, vice-president; Ryan Sutter, secretary/treasurer; and Nic Schebaum, training officer. Poppa moved to approve the officer appointments. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the 2026 liquor licenses as presented: 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 Grainery – Intoxicating liquor (all kinds) by drink, Sunday sales included $750.00; and The Gas Spot – Intoxicating liquor original package, not to be consumed on premises, Sunday sales included $450.00. Clerk Kephart suggested the aldermen approve all licenses, contingent on all paperwork and payments being received by December 31. The city is still waiting on the paperwork for one business. Walker made a motion to approve the licenses for 2026, contingent on all paperwork and payments being received by December 31. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew reviewed the information that the city attorney sent back in response to the citizen questions about apartments being put in on the first floor of business buildings on Main Street. After some discussion, it was decided that Clerk Kephart would reach out to the city attorney and see if he could come to the next council meeting, as some of the questions and answers were still unclear.

Mayor Agnew informed the board it is time to discuss the yearly salary incentives for all the employees. This will be discussed in closed session.

Mayor Agnew informed the board that there needed to be a discussion pertaining to the Jeanette Glenn lawsuit. This discussion will be in closed session.

Department Reports

Jeff Olson, City Buildings – Jeff is organizing ideas and estimates for projects for the 2026-2027 budget year.

Scott Walker, Volunteer Fire Department – There was nothing to report.

Scott Poppa, Parks/Pool – Poppa is working on a quote for a new animal control/park building. The speakers on Main Street have been installed so that Christmas music can play during the day. Parks have $50,425.00 in donations for the tennis courts. The bid paperwork was signed and the project will begin in February.

James Navin, Jr., Streets – Quimby’s report:

• Repairs/Equipment – Some repairs were done to the air system on the dump truck. It is working much better now.

• RV Park – This is still being used by two people. Everything so far this winter is working well.

• Liberty Gas – Quimby has contacted the company several times and given them names and numbers of contractors to fix the area on 8th Street. They have finally asked him if he could line someone up and bill them for the repair. Quimby has contacted a contractor that said they will do the repair when the weather is acceptable to do so.

• Christmas Décor – The city Christmas décor was put out between November 18 and 20.

• Drainage – Quimby met with Chris King at his Grounds Control shop property about some drainage work he is planning and working on. He wanted to make sure that the city had no issues with what he was doing. He has also had discussions with MoDOT. There are no issues with what he is planning on the city’s part.

• Accident at 6th and Pine – As a result of the accident at this location, the yield signs have been changed to stop signs. The street name sign was damaged in the accident and will be replaced.

• Weather event – There was a weather event that was a mix of winter precipitation. We did not receive enough snow to push off the streets especially with the rain involved. Quimby chose to fight this event with salt and he believes the crew did a pretty good job trying to keep intersections and traction areas passable.

• Brush pile – The brush pile has been burned. It will continue to smolder for some time.

• Animal Control/Parks Department Building – Scott has had Quimby reach out to get some budgetary numbers for a new animal control/park building. Quimby has not heard anything back yet, but will pass the information on as soon as he receives a response.     

Danny Martin, Tarkio Board of Public Works – Danny and Vicky both attended the recent wholesale commission meeting. There was a water main break on 3rd Street between Spruce and Poplar and it was fixed within a few hours.

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

Chris Niles, Animal Control – There was one animal in the pound this month and it was returned to the owner.

Chief Gibbons, Police Department – The new patrol car has been delivered and is in service. Sector and Geta will be here December 15-17 for installation of all the new in-car camera equipment, new tablets, and new body cams. Holidays with Heroes will be December 19.

Clerk Kephart, City Financials – Clerk Kephart asked about the holiday hours for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The board decided that the city offices would be open all day Christmas Eve and closed Christmas day and the day after on December 26.

A break was taken from 6:52 to 7:00 p.m.

At 7:02 p.m., Peter Rottgers, the representative for the city in the Jeanette Glenn lawsuit, joined the meeting to discuss the settlement that is being presented.

Walker made a motion to enter into executive session per Chapter 610.021, Section 1. Legal actions, causes of action or litigation and Chapter 610.021 Section 3. Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting a particular employee, etc. Navin seconded and the motion passed.

Navin made a motion to close executive session. Walker seconded and the motion passed.

Olson made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Tarkio Board of Public Works concerning the proposed settlement of the Glenn litigation and to authorize the mayor to enter into a settlement agreement containing terms substantially similar to those proposed by the attorneys representing the city in that matter, with no payment of funds to the plaintiff. Walker seconded and all approved. The motion passed.

Walker made a motion to approve the salary incentives as presented. Poppa seconded and all approved.

The meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m. The next regular city council meeting will be held Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. Tarkio residents are encouraged to attend.