The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, March 18, 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 and Councilmen Scott Walker, Jeff Olson, Scott Poppa were present and Councilman James Navin was absent. Visitors present were: City of Tarkio employees – Police Chief Tyson Gibbons and Officer Tyler Dorrel; Animal Control Officer/Park Supervisor Chris Niles; and city citizens Dallas Prather, Mike Klosek, Sr., Joshua Wright, Anden Wright, Melissa White, Betty and Dean Sparks, Laura Gibbons, Vicky Rogers, and Chris King.

Mayor Agnew opened the public hearing on the zoning board recommendation for a variance for Anden Wright at 804 Myrtle Street. Chris King asked why a variance was needed for this home-based business since there was a variance at this address for a home-based business in the past. Clerk Kephart informed him there had to be a new variance due to the business owner being different. Mayor Agnew asked Anden to be sure he applied for his city business license. No other comments were made and the public hearing was closed at 6:02 p.m.

Mayor Agnew opened the public hearing for the Joshua and Haley Wright variance at (tentative new address) 602 S. 9th Street at 6:03 p.m. The public hearing notice had incorrect information. Mr. Wright will not be entering this lot through the property of Chris King. Mr. Wright stated that the only farm equipment that would possibly be driven to this property would be during planting season and would mostly likely only be a planter due to the widths of the streets available to bring in the equipment. Tyson and Laura Gibbons own property adjoining to this lot and spoke against allowing livestock to be kept there, due to safety hazards if children or adults happened to go through the field, or the animals were to get out. Chief Gibbons stated that city ordinance states that an area can not be re-zoned as RA (Rural Agricultural) unless it adjoins with an area that is already zoned RA. Mr. Wright stated he most likely wouldn’t have farm animals there anyway, unless it was for a school project in the future, at which time he will bring the issue back to the council. Mr. Wright asked that he be allowed to build the 80’x120’ building on the southwest corner of the lot. Dean and Betty Sparks asked Mr. Wright if they would still be able to access their back yard through his property. Mr. Wright stated they would still be able to have that access. Since there was no further discussion, Mayor Agnew closed the public hearing for the Joshua and Haley Wright variance at (tentative new address) 602 S 9th St. at 6:21 p.m.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the February 11 regular meeting as distributed. The aldermen voted to approve the minutes as distributed.

There were two additions to the agenda: discuss the Clark family complaint about property lines and adjacent fence and approve sick leave bank usage.

Dallas Prather wanted to dis-cuss the safe to school sidewalk project. We need to be moving forward on this, if we would like to try and receive grant funding. There are surveys that have to be sent out and returned by citizens and if it is decided this is something we want to do, we need to get the ball rolling. After some discussion, the council and Dallas agreed that we should go a different direction and not try to get the grant, due to the cost and the work that would be involved in such a short time frame. The group will work on talking to the property owners and talk to citizens about possibly raising money to do this project without a grant. We will get bids on how much these sidewalks will cost and make a plan from there.

Melissa White asked if there was any progress on the business hour parking on Main Street. Clerk Kephart will reach out to the city attorney about this again.

Candidates who filed for the April 7 election are as follow: Mayor Jeffrey Agnew, North Ward Alderman Scott Poppa, and South Ward Alderman James Navin, Jr. Since all candidates are incumbent and will be running unopposed, there will be no need for an election on April 7, 2026. Since there is no need for an election on April 7, April’s city council meeting will be on April 8 at 6:00 p.m.

Mayor Agnew asked for approval of the variance for a home-based business for Anden Wright at 804 Myrtle St. Poppa made a motion to approve the variance and the motion was seconded and approved. The variance was approved.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of variance for Joshua and Haley Wright at (tentative new address) 602 S. 9th St. This variance has changed to not being re-zoned to RA and to just allow a 80’x120’ building on the southwest corner of the property. Poppa made a motion to approve the amended variance and the motion was seconded and approved. The amended variance was approved.

Mayor Agnew gave the first reading for Bill 332.26 Ordinance 318.26 – An ordinance adopting an amended budget for the City of Tarkio’s fiscal year April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. Walker made a motion to approve Bill 332.26, Ordinance 318.26. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew gave the second reading for Bill 332.26 Ordinance 318.26. Poppa made a motion to approve Bill 332.26, Ordinance 318.26 and the motion was seconded and approved. Bill 332.26 Ordinance 318.26 was adopted.

Mayor Agnew gave the first reading for Bill 333.26 Ordinance 319.26 – an ordinance adopting a budget for the City of Tarkio’s fiscal year April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Walker made a motion to approve Bill 333.26 Ordinance 319.26. The motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Agnew gave the second reading for Bill 333.26 Ordinance 319.26. Olson made a motion to approve Bill 333.26 Ordinance 319.26. The motion was seconded and approved. Bill 333.26 Ordinance 319.26 was adopted.

The council discussed dates for Tarkio City-Wide Clean-Up. The dates will be May 1 through May 3. Clerk Kephart will contact Kloseks to finish setting up the dates.

Mayor Agnew opened the bids for the 2017 Ford Explorer. There were five bids received: Rob Quimby placed a bid for $2,016.93; Spencer Smith placed a bid for $4,000.00; Ringwood Motors placed a bid for $2,520.00; Stella VanGundy and Sarah Johnson placed a bid for $5,022.23; and Austin Baruth placed a bid for $2,150.00. Walker made a motion to accept Stella VanGundy and Sarah Johnson’s bid of $5,022.23. Olson seconded and the motion was approved. The bid was accepted.

Clerk Kephart will be going on maternity leave soon and might have to take more time off before her delivery date. She is requesting to use some of the sick bank hours to cover any hours she needs off that her vacation and accrued sick time won’t cover. Clerk Kephart’s request was approved.

Department Reports

Jeff Olson, City Buildings – There was nothing to report.

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

Scott Poppa, Parks/Pool – The tennis court renovation project has some changes to the cost estimate. There will be extra crack repairs that need to be done, with an extra cost of $8,500.00. These repairs will be added to the scope of work for the project.

Street Department – Quimby’s report was given:

• Repairs/Equipment – No major repairs were needed in the last month.

• Brush Pile – This area is starting to see an uptick in use due to the mild weather.

• Dog Pound Building – They are starting to level and pack the ground where the new building will be located.

• Alley Policy – There have been a couple of people taking advantage of the alley policy (they will sell gravel for alleys that the city does not maintain for 75% of what they are selling it for currently). One had their whole alley done; the other did about half of their alley.

• Parking on 3rd Street – Quimby has been approached by a business owner and a resident on 3rd between Main and Broad Street. The resident wanted the creation of designated parking spots (the city can’t do this in a public parking area). The business owner wanted to know if more parking could be created on the southeast end of 3rd near Main so that perhaps their patrons would park there instead of on the east side of the street. Quimby told him people could start parking there and that the city would paint parking stalls this summer.

• Trees – The crew cut a couple of trees that were in bad shape with the help of Mike this last month.

• High Winds – There have been several days with high winds that have blown small branches down into the streets. The crew has done their best to keep these picked up.

• 2026 Street Matting – Quimby included the streets he is proposing to do this year. It includes seven blocks of residential streets. He would like this put out for bid in April.

Tarkio Board of Public Works – Clerk Kephart relayed an update from Charlie Kirwan. The south lift station has been ordered and will be delivered in May. The city had to pay $62.00 for the legal fees associated with the Glenn lawsuit. MIRMA covered $10,000.00 and the city had to cover anything over that amount.

Mayor Agnew, Gould Peterson Municipal Airport – Danny Martin will be fixing the toilet in the office, There is nothing else to report at this time.

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

Chief Gibbons, Police Department – The K-9 golf tournament is scheduled for Friday, May 29. There have been several cases this month, several have also been closed.

Clerk Kephart, City Financials – We had the annual MIRMA review and we scored a 95%, which is higher than last year’s score. Clerk Madron asked when the council wanted to set dates to give the employees their annual performance reviews. The council set a special meeting for Tuesday, March 31, at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. There will be a special executive meeting on Tuesday, March 31, at 5:30 p.m. The next regular City Council meeting will be held Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.