KAHOKA, Mo. — The Kahoka Board of Aldermen approved a $167,670.75 bid for sewer improvements and formally appointed Michael Newbold as the city’s Chief of Police during its regular meeting on May 12 at City Hall.
Mayor Anthony Anderson presided over the session, with all aldermen—Larry Young, Carl Hayden, Jerry Malone, and Les Billings—present. The board also reviewed and approved April meeting minutes, paid and unpaid bills, and a building permit for Gregory Container at 1385 Industrial Drive.
The board accepted the bid from Visu Sewer for upcoming sewer work. Discussion on the purchase of a new Hydrovac machine was tabled pending a demonstration of a Vermeer VX50 model.
Newbold, who left the Police Chief position last month, was officially rehired as police chief following a unanimous vote. He also presented the department’s monthly report and requested a closed session with the board.
In other business, the board approved the hire of Kourtney Meinhardt as Pool Manager and authorized a 3% wage increase for the position. Lifeguards will be paid minimum wage, with the Assistant Manager earning 50 cents above that rate.
The board considered increasing daily pool admission fees in response to rising chemical and labor costs. Two separate motions were debated: a $5 rate failed to pass, while a $4 admission rate was approved with a tie-breaking vote from Mayor Anderson.
Additional discussions included a $200 donation from cemetery mowing contractor Jeff Smith to the Boy Scouts for cemetery cleanup, a complaint about dandelions in the cemetery on Mother’s Day, and a neighborhood concern regarding school bus backup alarms. The latter prompted the board to agree to contact the local school board for a resolution.
Street Supervisor Ethan Horton addressed challenges related to ditch maintenance, specifically the refusal of some homeowners to replace failing tubes and the complications of working around paved driveways.
The board entered and exited closed session to discuss legal and personnel matters before adjourning.
