The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, January 12, 2022, with the Pledge of Allegiance conducted at 6:00 p.m. Roll call was done by Danielle Madron, City Clerk: aldermen Scott Poppa, Mike Klosek, and Blu Dow were all present, with alderman Andy Riley present via Zoom. Visitors included Street Superintendent Jamie Quimby, Animal Control Officer Chris Hogue, Building Inspector Jesse Payne, Chief of Police Tyson Gibbons, Chuck Platt with Vestas, and citizens Donnie Dockins and Megan McAdams.

The board voted to approve the special meeting minutes for November 30, 2021, the regular meeting minutes of the December 8, 2021, meeting, and the special meeting minutes from December 17, 2021, as distributed.

Donnie Dockins asked the aldermen if the city would be interested in selling the property at the corner of Highway 136 and 7th Street for a possible new business to be placed there. The council informed Mr. Dockins the property was not currently for sale, but they would look into that as a possibility and get back to him after it has been discussed further.

Candidates for the April 5, 2022, General Municipal Election are: South Ward Alderman – Jeffrey Agnew; North Ward Al-derman – Blu Dow (incumbent); and Mayor – Timothy Morehouse (incumbent) and Mark Staten. 

Megan McAdams asked the board what could be done about animals that are being left out in extreme cold temperatures in the winter and hot temperatures in the summer and what could be done to take animals out of bad situations. Megan presented the board with many options to change and add to city ordinances to better help these animals. The board will be reviewing her suggestions and changing ordinances that they decide need to be updated.

Chuck Platt with Vestas spoke to the board about continued use of the lay down yard just south of the ballfield. He asked the board what Vestas could do for the city to continue use of this area. The board has asked for Vestas to lay another gravel lot closer to the south fence of the baseball field to allow for more parking, and also to add gravel to the lot inside the fence at the baseball field to fix that parking lot. There will be a special meeting on Thursday, January 13, at 3:30 p.m. for the council members to meet with Mr. Platt at the baseball field to go over the exact location they would like the parking lot placed.

Street Supervisor Jamie Quimby presented his proposal for the 2022 street matting project to the board. The clerk will be sending out bid packets to be returned and opened for approval at next month’s meeting. There is some additional curb work that needs to be done on Main Street before the matting can be done. The board approved MO Concrete to start this work as soon as possible to ensure it is done before the street matting begins.

Mayor Morehouse asked for the approval of the Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department officers election: Fire Chief, Shane Bredensteiner; 1st Assistant Chief, Keaton Shaw; 2nd Assistant Chief, Allen Wennihan; President, Craig Vance; Vice President, Brett Reeves; Secretary/Treasurer, Curtis Evans; Board Member At Large, Kevin Sundermann; and Training Officer, Garrett Alsup. Dow made a motion to approve the 2022 Fire Department’s election of officers. The motion was seconded and passed. Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department Officers are approved.

Department Reports

Blu Dow, City Buildings – Dow will be contacting Danny McCoy to be in touch with Chief Gibbons about getting the work on the evidence room door completed.

Michael Klosek, Fire Department – Almost all of the new fire gear has come in. The final bill will be sent to the city as soon as it is received for the city to pay its half.

Andy Riley, Parks & Pool – Chris met with a representative from Morton Buildings earlier today and discussed plans for a new parks department/animal control building. They will be sending plans and an estimated cost for the building.

Scott Poppa, Street Department – Quimby’s report: Repairs/Equipment – No major repairs. Brush Pile – This area was burnt and continues to smolder at this time. RV Park – No campers here at this time. Christmas Décor – Evergy is going to assist the city by taking décor down when they have time. The other items have been taken down. Winter Storm – The snow storm on January 1 was not as bad as was expected, but Quimby feels the department did a good job with snow removal. 2022 Street Matting – Information for this project is being sent out for bid and will be opened at the next meeting so that this project can be completed at the same time as the 2021 project on which was given a contract extension of May 31, 2022. Quimby has received a bid to repair curbs on Main Street so that this year’s project can be properly done. He would like to allow this work to take place as soon as possible. Trash Bins – Several of the trash bins on Main Street were in need of replacement. These were replaced with new ones that were built in the shop. Currently work is being done to build several for the Parks Department so that their trash cans won’t blow over. Parking on Residential Main Street – A proposal for consideration has been made that might offer a solution to the congested parking on Main Street from 6th to 10th streets. The board has decided to have a public meeting in February to allow the public to bring any questions or concerns to the council. Budget – Clerk Madron and Quimby have been working on the budget trying to figure out the best timing to make a final payment on the new building. Because the street matting project is taking place much earlier in the year than normal, it looks like the city will be able to make this payment midway through the new budget year. This pays the street department building off early as was the goal.

Timothy Morehouse, Gould Peterson Municipal Airport – Plans have started for the new hangar building that will be going up at the Gould Peterson Municipal Airport. Olsson will be getting with the board once they get more definitive numbers on costs.

Chris Hogue, Animal Control – No animals are in the pound at this time.

Tyson Gibbons, Police Department – Nic Schebaum is all set and ready to start at the Police Academy next Tuesday, January 18.

Danielle Madron, City Financials – No questions were asked.

A break was taken at 7:15 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:20 p.m.

The meeting moved into executive session would be held per Chapter 610.021 Section 3 for hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting a particular employee, etc. The executive session was ended.

Poppa made a motion to increase Sherrilyn Bowlin’s hourly rate to $12.00. Klosek seconded and four ayes voted to accept the motion and the second. Sherrilyn Bowlin’s increase in pay is approved.

Dow asked Clerk Madron to bring the vehicle nuisance ordinance to the next council meeting to be reviewed.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. The next regular meeting will be February 9, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.