The City of Tarkio Board of Alderman Meeting was held Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at City Hall in Tarkio. The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted. Mayor Morehouse called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Clerk Becky Jones gave roll call: aldermen Scott Poppa, Mike Klosek and Blu Dow were present; alderman Riley arrived at 6:25 p.m. Visitors present were: Duane Lester and Mike Klosek, Sr. City employees present were: Chief Tyson Gibbons, Officer Adam Stanton, Street Superintendent James Quimby, part-time parks and building inspector Jesse Payne. Parks/Animal Control Chris Hogue, Mike Klosek, III, and Ashley Alsup came into the meeting at 6:40 p.m.

The auditor will be here April 29 and 30 to do the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 audits.

Visitor Duane Lester was present to speak to the Mayor and Council about the recent ordinance that was posted on the Facebook page and also to thank them for serving. His belief is that neighbors should get along and if one has an issue, they should talk with them and try to keep the government out of the problem. He believes that there should not be regulations on anyone’s property and on the appearance.

Mayor Morehouse read Bill 234.19, Ordinance 220-19 Declaring the Election results for April 2, 2019, election aloud. Dow made a motion to approve Bill 234.19, Ordinance 220-19 Declaring the Election results for the April 2, 2019, election. The motion was approved.

Mayor Morehouse gave the second reading of Bill 234.19, Ordinance 220-19 Declaring the Election results for April 2, 2019, election aloud. Klosek made a motion to approve Bill 234.19, Ordinance 220-19. The motion was seconded and approved. Results were: North Ward Scott Poppa 88 and South Ward Andrew Riley 36. The motion and second were approved, and the bill passed.

Quimby gave the board information on the possible streets to be repaved this year, spending $125,000. Dow made a motion to approve bidding out street resurfacing for 2019, Klosek seconded the motion, three ayes voted to accept the motion and second. The motions passed.

Clerk Jones submitted some changes needed for the city’s employee handbook. A few of the changes were spoken about and Mayor Morehouse asked all the board members to go over the handbook and see if there were other changes that they saw that needed changed. Handbook matter tabled to the May 8 meeting.

Department Reports

Blu Dow, Fire Department: Fire Chief Shane Bredensteiner has ordered the new truck for the department; $140,000 was raised and $15,000 was put in the budget to help with the remainder of the cost.

Michael Klosek, City Buildings: The Community Building is going to be checked soon by Umbarger Pest Control for termites. The guttering that was ripped off the back of City Hall needs to be put back until it is completely repaired.

Andy Riley, Street Department: Street Superintendent Quimby gave his street report for the month. Asphalt for the potholes has come in and they are filling. Several orders for rock have been placed. We have put in locates for ditch cleaning on those that are not draining well.

Mayor Morehouse asked to approve Michael P. Klosek, III, to replace James Navin and Martha McCartney to replace Austin Baruth on the Park Board. Poppa made a motion to approve Michael Klosek, III, to be on the Park Board. Dow seconded the motion, and three ayes voted to approve the motion and the second. The motion passed. Dow made a motion to approve Martha McCartney to be on the Park Board. Riley seconded the motion, and four ayes voted to accept the motion and the second. The motion passed.

Scott Poppa, Parks Department: Ashley Alsup came to the meeting to make a report for the Park Board. The board voted to purchase an iPad to put at the pool to help with daily attendance. Three movie nights will be decided on for the summer months. The Park and Recreation Department will be discussing a street dance in more detail. The Park Board is requesting the vendors coming to town for the Friendship Day Event, which pay a fee, to be in conjunction with a business license. Riley made a motion to allow the fee to be in conjunction with a business license. The Rotary is looking for a project for grant funds that have become available to qualifying application. The Park Board is looking at a possible climbing wall to put in the pool.

Chief Gibbons, Police Department: Chief Gibbons reported on stops and cases filed.

Riley made a request to put rock at the Niedermeyer Park at the east end where vehicles park. The American Legion Post has reported that they would split the cost of rock with the city. Dow made a motion to pay for half of the rock out of the general funds to be placed in the East parking area at Niedermeyer Park. Klosek seconded the motion. Four ayes voted to accept the motion and the second. The motion passed.

Adam Stanton, Building Inspector: Stanton reported that the Tarkio Renewal has a contract with Red Rock for taking down the old library and the old eye doctor’s building, 308 and 311 Main Street addresses. Hopefully they should begin the end of April, stated Stanton.

The board voted to pay the outstanding bills. The executive session was not held. The regular meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. The next regular meeting will be May 8, 2019, at 6:00 p.m.