The City of Tarkio Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, October 14, at Tarkio City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited at 6:00 p.m.  Clerk Kephart gave roll call: Mayor Jeff Agnew; and Aldermen Natasha Baruth, Jeff Olson, and James Navin were present. Scott Poppa was absent.

Visitors were: City of Tarkio employees – Police Chief Tyson Gibbons and Officer Tyler Dorrel; Street Superintendent Jamie Quimby; Animal Control/Parks Superintendent Chris Niles; Park Board member Dan Vietze; and citizens Teresa Smith and Dallas Prather.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of the September 9 regular meeting minutes and the September 12 special meeting minutes, as distributed. Olson made a motion, Baruth seconded. Three ayes voted to approve the motion and it passed.

There was one addition to the agenda: Review of the quote from General Code for recodification of city code.

Mayor Agnew asked for the approval of Resolution 81.26 Resolution to Destroy Records. Olson made a motion to approve Resolution 81.26 and Baruth seconded. The vote was Navin aye, Baruth aye, Olson aye. Resolution 81.26 passed.

Dallas and Teresa spoke to the council about the ongoing sidewalk project on Highway 59/136. They went and measured from the center of the highway back east to try and figure out approximately where the right-of-way is. There are several signs that sit in the right of way, so unless the signs are moved, the sidewalk would need to be placed outside of that area. They spoke to property owners and let them know what the project would entail. The property owners all seem to be on board with the idea, to help people walk on the highway safer and to provide a safe passage for the school kids. They measured from the north end of Josh and Haley Wright’s driveway to the old Pizza Hut building and the sidewalk would be approximately 150 yards. The sidewalk would not be completely straight. The council members are going to work on getting an image drawn up on how the sidewalk will look going around the few obstacles in the area. This topic will be revisited again in November. The project itself would not begin until spring or later most likely.

Mayor Agnew spoke to the council about the current sidewalk replacement policy. The council would like to make an adjustment to the policy. Residents can apply for reimbursement of up to $1,000.00 for sidewalk repairs on sidewalks on their properties where the sidewalks run parallel to the street. The council would like to add that businesses can apply for reimbursement up to $1,500.00 for sidewalk repairs/replacement. Olson made a motion to approve the changes to the policy and Baruth seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The council was presented with a paid receipt from Colflesh Insurance for curb and sidewalk repairs to the sidewalk in front of their Main Street business. The repairs totaled $4,722.30. Olson made a motion to reimburse Colflesh $1,500.00. Baruth seconded and the motion passed.

It is time to fill out the annual project needs list for the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments. Mayor Agnew asked to move this to the end of the meeting for longer discussion.

The November city council meeting will be November 18 instead of the 11th, due to the Veterans Day holiday.

Clerk Kephart presented the council with a quote from General Code to recodify the city code book. The quote amount is $12,000.00. Olson made a motion to accept the $12,00.00 quote. Baruth seconded and the motion passed.

Department Reports

James Navin, City Buildings: The roofs on the shelter houses at Summa Park have been completed.

Scott Poppa, Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department: Nothing to report

Board of Public Works: Mayor Agnew reported there was a main break down by the lagoons this week in two separate places. Both have been fixed.

Natasha Baruth, Tarkio Parks and Recreation: Friendship Day profited a little over $600.00. Morton has completed the building plans for the parks/animal control building. They are waiting on quotes from contractors for the electric, HVAC, etc., and then we will be moving to the next phase of that project. Boy Scouts working on their Eagle project have been painting the concession stand building at the pool. The Halloween parade is scheduled for October 31.

Jeff Olson, Street Department:  Jamie Quimby’s report was given:

• RV Park: There are still people using the RV park. If they are planning on staying much longer, they will need to prepare for cold weather.

• Brush Pile: They will be burning this at some point. Jamie would like to get as much fall yard and garden clean-up items here beforehand.

• Cold Patch: They will continue to use what cold patch is left.

• Signage: The yield sign on the west corner of 3rd and Elm was run over and has been replaced.

• Tarkio Board of Public Works: They assisted with a sewer line issue going to the lagoons and hauled gravel for them with the dump truck.

• Millings: Asphalt millings are all spoken for and considered sold at this time.

• Friendship Day: Barricades were provided for this event and they helped Chris move some of the items needed for this event.

• Drain Grates: The drain grates for the drainage project at 9th and Maple have been installed.

• Homecoming: They assisted with the Homecoming Parade by helping with traffic.

• MFA Oil: Jamie was contacted by MFA about the entrance to their fuel pumps and the potholes. This is not owned by the city nor is it a city street. They discussed who should be taking care of it. MFA is going to do some research and try to figure it out, but in the meantime, Jamie agreed to help them with this situation by providing one bucket of rock and they paid for one bucket. They are going to keep in contact about what MFA finds out.

• Elm Street Ditch: Jamie has spoken with Doug Schulte, the engineer he has contacted about this ditch. They are going to be speaking again this month as he hasn’t had a chance to look at the information Jamie sent.

Mayor Agnew, Airport: Nothing to report

Chris Niles, Animal Control: Nothing to report

Chief Tyson Gibbons, Police Department: There have been several stops and cases this past month. Officer Dorrel and K-9 Hemi went to recertification classes and passed. Hemi has been off duty due to a blown blood vessel in her right ear. She has an appointment on October 20 to be cleared to come back on duty.

Clerk Kephart, Financials: There was nothing financial to report. Clerk Kephart asked the council if they wanted the following question added to the ballot this year: “Shall the City of Tarkio, Missouri, be authorized to forgo annual elections if the number of candidates who have filed for a particular office is equal to the number of positions in the office to be filled by the election?” This was voted on by the citizens in 2020 and passed. It must be renewed in 2027, if the council would like for it to be voted on again. The council decided it does not want this question to be placed on the ballot, therefore an election would be held every year, no matter the number of filers for the open positions.

The council went over the annual project needs list and gathered their thoughts to be sent back to the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments. Clerk Kephart will prepare this and send it in as soon as possible.

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

The next regular City Council meeting will be held Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.