Jeff Agnew, Blu Dow, and Mark Staten were sworn in at the Tarkio City Council meeting Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at Tarkio City Hall. Jeff was sworn in as South Ward Alderman, Blu as North Ward Alderman, and Mark as Mayor.

The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen met Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Morehouse called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call was done by Clerk Danielle Madron: aldermen Scott Poppa, Mike Klosek, Jr., Blu Dow and Andy Riley were all present. Visitors present included Police Chief Tyson Gibbons, Police Officer Tyler Dorrel, Tarkio Street Department Superintendent  Jamie Quimby, Tarkio Animal Control Officer Chris Hogue, Mike Klosek, Sr., Jeff Agnew, Mark Staten, Lori Staten, Megan McAdams, Gerry Tohill, Dallas Prather, and Tarkio Park Board members Ashlee Driskell, Summer Reeves, Jennifer Peregrine, Paige Agnew, Jeff Olson, Brooke Vette, Seth Spire, and Michael Klosek, III.

Mayor Morehouse asked for the approval of the March 9, 2022, regular meeting minutes. The minutes were approved.

Mayor Morehouse read Bill No. 279.22, Ordinance No. 265.22: An Ordinance Of The City Of Tarkio, Missouri Declaring The Results Of The General Election Held In The City Of Tarkio, Missouri, On The 5th Day Of April, 2022. It was approved.

Mayor Morehouse gave the second reading of Bill No. 279.22, Ordinance No. 265.22. Bill 279.22, Ordinance No. 265.22 was approved.

Clerk Madron swore in the newly elected officials: Mayor Mark Staten, Northward Alderman Blu Dow, and Southward Al-derman Jeff Agnew.

Mayor Staten read Bill No. 280.22, Ordinance No. 266.22: An Ordinance Adopting An Amended Budget For The City Of Tarkio’s Fiscal Year April 1, 2022, To March 31, 2023. Riley made a motion to pass Bill No. 280.22 Ordinance No. 266.22 and the motion was seconded and approved.

Mayor Staten gave the second reading of Bill No. 280.22, Ordinance No. 266.22. Dow made a motion to pass Bill No. 280.22, Ordinance No. 266.22 and the motion was seconded and approved. Bill No. 280.22, Ordinance No. 266.22 was adopted.

Mayor Staten asked for approval of the following appointments: David A. Baird, Judge; Robert Sundell, Prosecuting Attorney/City Attorney; Danielle Madron, City Clerk/Treasurer; Tyson Gibbons, Police Chief; Jesse Payne, Building Inspector; and Aaron Burke, Health Inspector. The appointments were approved.

Mayor Staten asked to approve an acting president of the Board of Aldermen. Andy Riley is presently the president. Agnew made a motion to approve Andy Riley as acting president: Poppa seconded and there were three ayes and one abstained. The motion and the second are approved.

Mayor Staten asked to select department heads for 2022-2023. The 2021-2022 department heads were as follows: Andy Riley, Parks Department; Mike Klosek, Fire Department; Scott Poppa, Street Department; and Blu Dow, City Buildings. Mayor Staten asked that the council approve the following department head appointments: Jeff Agnew, Fire Department; Blu Dow, City Buildings; Andy Riley, Parks Department; and Scott Poppa, Street Department. The appointments were approved.

Mayor Staten asked for approval of Resolution 67.22: Resolution for banking needs for the City of Tarkio. Agnew motioned to approve Resolution 67.22 and the motion was seconded and approved. Resolution 67.22 was passed.

Mayor Staten asked for approval of the amendment to the trash contract with Klosek’s LLC Trash Service. (The amendment is that the normal Tuesdays and Thursdays weekly trash pick up will switch to Thursdays only. A notification will be added to the water bills when that time comes to give people enough notice.) Gerry Tohill explained to the board that she had contacted Staci Coleman at Klosek’s to ask about the price for recycling, which is $2.95 per month, billed for six months at a time, and is included on your water bill. Klosek’s will pick up recycling if the added fee is being paid. Tohill reported to the board that she reached out to Northwest Missouri Solid Waste Management and they have grants available to help with recycling, but a business or an entity has to be the one to apply for these grants. Dow informed Tohill that the city would work with Klosek’s LLC Trash Service to see what they could do and get more information on grants. Dow made a motion to accept the amendment to the current contract. Riley seconded the motion and four ayes approved the motion and the second.

Mayor Staten asked for approval to upgrade the liquor license for The Gee Spot: intoxicating liquor (all kinds) – by drink $450.00, Sunday sales intoxicating liquor at retail – $300.00. Poppa made a motion to approve the addition to The Gee Spot liquor license. Agnew seconded the motion. There were two ayes and two nays and Mayor Staten broke the tie with an aye vote. The motion and the second passed.

Department reports:

Blu Dow, City Buildings – Smoke and CO2 detectors have been ordered for City Hall and will be installed when they arrive. Danny McCoy came to look at the windows leaking air in the building and noticed the windows hadn’t been locked properly causing them to leak additional air.

Jeff Agnew, Fire Department – Clerk Madron informed the board that the final billing for the turnout gear has been received. The city’s half of the bill totals $28,656.22. Riley made a motion to pay the $28,656.22. Agnew seconded and four ayes voted to pass the motion and the second. Clerk Madron will pay the bill.

Andy Riley, Parks and Pool – They are still waiting to hear back from different companies about someone coming to re-do the caulking in the pool. Aquachem is going to be here next week to bring chemicals and fix a valve that needs repaired. Ashlee Driskell informed the board that the Park Board would be holding a Par 3 golf tournament on August 27, 2022, as a fundraiser. The board is going to talk to the FFA at the school about making benches for outside the pool. The Park Board asked for the approval of the appointment of Tommy Dow to the board. Riley made a motion to accept Tommy Dow’s appointment: Poppa seconded and there were three ayes and one abstained. Tommy Dow was approved for the Park Board.

Scott Poppa, Street Department – Quimby’s Report:

• Potholes – Quimby was hoping to not have to order any more of the bagged patch used during colder weather, but there are several holes that need to be patched so more was ordered. It has recently arrived and the crew will work with it.

• Light Pole Improvement – The new electrical drops have been made and will be installed on 20 poles. Quimby has to contact of Evergy to get this done. He is waiting until the street matting project is complete. He does need to know if the council wants him to move forward and get bids to have the poles done. The estimate received was $26,880 which is over the limit to not get bids. The board decided to hold off on this project until next year.

• RV Park – Currently there is one camper using this facility.

• Christmas Décor – Quimby wanted to know if any progress been made on purchasing new décor. He believes that the sooner it is ordered the better, plus the price may be lower than it would be closer to the Christmas season. With shortages of some materials, the sooner its ordered, the more likely the city is to have them in time for use this year.

• Street Signage – Several signs that were faded or damaged have been replaced. Quimby will be ordering the street name plates to continue with the street name sign renewal process. This year, the city is doing 5th to 10th and next year will do 11th to 13th. These signs are expensive, which is why the city is taking a three-year approach to replacing them.

• Main Street Project – The Board of Public works has gotten done with the improvements that they needed to make before the city could move forward with its project. MO Concrete has started doing the curb work. Some of the building owners have chosen this as a good time to replace their sidewalks also. The timing for these is working well with the scheduled street matting project. Quimby has kept in contact with Herzog and will be letting them know when all curb work is complete so that they can come do the project.

• Ditch Work – The street crew has been working on cleaning some ditches and digging out some of them.

• Snow Equipment – All snow blades have been removed from trucks and the salt spreader has been taken out of the F350. The blade for the F350 and skid steer have been stored inside with the salt spreader. At the end of the season, the city has used nine pallets of salt. Last winter, 12 were used. There are three left stored in the building.

Chris Hogue, Animal Control – There are no animals in the city pound at this time.

Tyson Gibbons, Police Department – Chief Gibbons gave his report of stops and cases. The 2nd Annual K-9 Golf Tournament is July 1, 2022. The police department has been assisting the street department with curb clean-up and making sure residents aren’t putting out items for city-wide clean-up too early. Vehicles 690 and 64 have had some maintenance work done.

Danielle Madron, City Financials – Clerk Madron asked the aldermen if they had any questions on the financials. There were no questions. Clerk Madron informed the board that the city would be paying the full cost for the judge to go to his annual conference, instead of half the costs like in the past, due to Rock Port no longer having City Court.

A break was taken at 7:00 p.m. The aldermen returned from break at 7:05 p.m.

Mayor Staten announced an executive session would be held per Chapter 610.021 Section 3. Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting a particular employee, etc. The meeting moved into executive session. Dow made a motion to close the executive session. The meeting moved back into regular session.

Dow made a motion to put Park Superintendent Chris Hogue on a 90-day Personnel Improvement Plan. Riley seconded the motion and four ayes voted to approve the motion and the second. The motion passed.

There will be a special closed session meeting held on Monday, April 18, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.

Dow asked about the street lights on 13th Street by the TAC. Madron will contact Evergy to see if one of those lights could be moved.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. The next regular meeting will be May 11, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.