The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Tim Morehouse called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all. Roll call was done by Clerk Rebecca Jones: Mike Klosek and Blu Dow were present, Andy Riley was present by Zoom, and Scott Poppa was absent. Visitors present were: Mike Klosek, Sr., Airport Manager Brooks Hurst, Street Superintendent Jamie Quimby, Chief of Police Tyson Gibbons, Police Officer Adam Stanton, Park Superintendent Chris Hogue, Park Board President Ashlee Driskell and Secretary Candis Stanton.

The public hearing on closing the 16’ by 249.91 alley between 607 S. 10th and 609 S. 9th was called to order. There were no citizens present on the matter of the alley.

Mayor Morehouse asked for the approval of the June 10, 2020, regular meeting minutes as distributed. The minutes were approved.

There will be a public hearing July 16, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of water and sewer rates. The date was wrong on the publication and had to be republished.

Mayor Morehouse read aloud Bill No 252.20, Ordinance No. 238.20, An Ordinance Closing The 16’ By 249.91 Alley Between 607 S. 10th, Com 209’ S Of SW Cor Lot 8, Block 4 Of The 7th Add Th E 120’, Th S 250’ Th W 120’ Th N To POB Exc Pub Rd R/W Block 8 And 606 S. 9th Streets, Block 8, Com 109’ N Of NE Cor, Lot 19 Ellsworth Add, Th W 216.64’; N 124.95’; E 216.62’; S 125’ To POB And Com @ SE Cor Lot 18 Ellsworth Addition, Th W 103.05’; S 15.2’; W 113.76’; N 124.96’; E 216.64’; S 109’ To POB of the Ellsworth Addition Subdivision to Tarkio to the City of Tarkio, Atchison County, Missouri. The land is subject to easements, covenants and restrictions of record. The aldermen voted to approve Bill No 252.20, Ordinance No. 238.20.

Mayor Morehouse gave the second reading of Bill No 252.20, Ordinance No. 238.20. The bill was passed and the ordinance approved.

Mayor Morehouse read the bid estimates for the tractor and a lawn mower for airport equipment, being purchased with CARES Act money:

• Danny Graves – $18,500.00, Summa Implement – $32,000.00, Roger Livengood – $19,500.00

• Mower estimates received were: Whipp Sales, $9,945.00, Gravely; Merz Implement, $16,932.30, 900 D Grasshopper, and $12,999.99, 3300 Ferris; and Hiawatha Implement, $10,500.00, John Deere 2020.

The board discussed all the tractor and mower bids with Brooks Hurst and what would work best at the airport and be within the cost of the CARES Act amount of $30,000.00 being received. The equipment estimates were tabled until the July 16 meeting due to another estimate being received by Michael Klosek, Sr.

Mayor Morehouse opened bid estimates for airport air conditioning. The air conditioning for the airport administrative building estimates received were: Hometown Comfort Crew, Lennox Merit, $3,206.00, and Lennox Elite, $4,155.00; and Meek & Sons Heating and Plumbing, York, $4,049.00. Dow made a motion to purchase the unit from Meek and Sons, due to it being a local business. The motion was seconded and approved.

Department Reports

Dow, city buildings: Dow Construction still plans on fixing the pillars at the Community Building. Dow asked if Smith had stopped about the entrance area at the south side of City Hall. He has not been back.

Klosek had nothing to report on the fire department.

Riley, Parks & Recreation: Ashlee Driskell and Candis Stanton were present from the Park Board meeting to give names of individuals to serve on the Park Board. The bylaws and state statute says there shall be nine members and the Park Board has more people interested in serving than positions open. Paige Agnew, Jennifer Peregrine, Summer Reeves and Austin Baruth were the names given to replace Ashley Alsup and Martha McCartney. Riley made a motion to allow all the people to serve on the Park Board. Dow seconded the motion and the motion passed. The members are approved. Friendship Day has been moved to September 19, 2020, and the annual co-ed softball tournament will be held in October.

Scott Poppa, Street Department: Quimby gave his report for the Street Department. A major hydraulic hose broke on the pump on the skid steer. It is under warranty except for mileage. People have rubbish set out for city-wide pick-up in September. Jamie does not think the city should be picking up furniture and other items that have set outside all summer, with who-knows-what living in it. Tyson is working on a solution. Shane and Jamie continue to try to social distance as much as possible while working. They assisted M & L Tree Service with removing a tree. They have cleaned up after storm and wind damage to trees also. There is a tube to be installed and more ditches to clean. The new maintenance building is ahead of schedule, the foundation has been poured and Meeks are scheduled to rough in the water and sewer lines July 9. The cement layers will be back July 9 to install the floor drains and pour the floor, then Morton will put the building up. They are also spraying weeds on Main and doing cold patch. The brush pile is very large from storm damage. Cameras have made a huge difference in the dumping issue.

Chief Tyson Gibbons gave his report of stops and cases.

Stanton gave the city an update on buildings to be taken down. Red Rock will be here in July to take down the vacant food pantry, Reumann’s Electronics Plus and the New-2-You buildings, all on Main Street.

Mayor Morehouse stated he would be meeting with Diane Hofer with Olsson Associates on the maintenance building at the airport on Thursday, July 9, 2020.

Jones asked the board if they had any questions on the financials. There were no questions.

The board voted to pay the outstanding bills. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. The next special meeting will be July 16, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.

Special Meeting

The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Thursday, July 16, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Morehouse called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all. Roll call was done by Clerk Rebecca Jones: aldermen Poppa and Klosek were present, Dow was present by Zoom, and Riley came in at 6:10 p.m. Visitors present were Kyra Mills, Jessica Walker, Curtis Hedrick, Nancy Barrett, Jim Allen, and auditor Kenny Hales, all representing the Tarkio Board of Public Works, as well as Gerry Tohill, Melissa Comstock, Adam Laur, Tarkio Fire Chief Shane Bredensteiner, Tarkio Street Superintendent Jamie Quimby and Building Inspector Jesse Payne.

Many questions were asked in the hearing on how the Board of Public Works could cut costs, obtain grants and recoup money for its loss. With the losses the past three years and the requirement from DNR to have funds in reserve, it is inevitable that the increase needs to happen so the Tarkio Board of Public Works can be maintained. If the board needs to apply for funds, it would need to show the board is not losing money. The public hearing closed at 7:00 p.m.

Mayor Morehouse read Bill No. 251.20, Ordinance No. 237.20 by title, An Ordinance Amending the Code of the City of Tarkio Title VII: Public Utilities; Chapter 700: Water and Sewer; Section 700.290: Water Rate And Section 700.340: User Charge Rates, Of The Board Of Public Utilities. Poppa made a motion to approve Bill No. 251.20, Ordinance No. 237.20 by title. The motion was seconded by Dow: Riley aye, Poppa aye, Klosek aye, and Dow nay.

Mayor Morehouse gave the second reading of Bill No. 251.20, Ordinance No. 237.20 by title. Dow made a motion to approve Bill No. 251.20, Ordinance No. 237.20 by title. The motion was seconded by Riley. Votes were: Dow nay, Poppa aye, Klosek aye, and Riley nay. Mayor Morehouse voted aye to break the tie. Bill No. 251.20, Ordinance No. 237.20 was approved.

The tractor and mower estimates were discussed again and another bid was opened. The Klosek bid for the tractor was $18,500.00. Mayor Morehouse has decided to hold the bid acceptance until the city gets further verification from MoDOT on the American Made guidelines.

Mayor’s comments: There is a dispute at the Gould Peterson Municipal Airport on the well usage. Nothing has been resolved at this time.

The meeting moved into executive session per Chapter 610.021, legal actions, causes of action or litigation, hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting a particular employee, etc. The meeting moved out of executive session. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.