The regular monthly meeting of the Village Board of Colfax was called to order on Monday evening, July 2, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Ricardo Onken.

Trustees present were:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye.  Trustee Rick Wagoner was absent.

Also present were Village Attorney Tom Shields; Police Chief Mike Scott; Superintendent Damon Getty.  Village Treasurer Linda Hanson was absent.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as presented.  Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion.  Vote:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Absent; Motion carried.

Board members had a copy of the Treasurer's Report for the month of June, 2012.  Beginning Balance as of 06/01/12  -  $109,685.14; Ending Balance as of 06/30/12  -  $131,989.90; Increase in June, 2012  -  $22,304.76.

Nancy reported that the last backhoe payment is on the bills.  Trustee David Rathke asked why it is on here twice.  Nancy reported that for budget 1/3 comes out of streets, 1/3 comes out of water and 1/3 comes out of sewer.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to pay the bills as presented.  Trustee Rick Vance seconded the motion.  Vote:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Absent; Motion carried.

Trustee Lonnie Meiner, Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee, reported that this was the last backhoe payment.

Village Clerk Nancy Kiper reported the the MFT Audit id done and returned from IDOT.  Everything is good.

Trustee David Rathke, Chairman of the Police and Liquor Committee, reported that the Activity Report for the month of June, 2012 is in your folders.

In the absence of Water and Sewer Chairman Rick Wagoner there was nothing to report.  Superintendent Damon Getty stated we didn't have anything.

Trustee Carol Stephenson, Chairman of the Streets and Lights Committee, asked Superintendent Damon Getty iof he got a quote for the sidewalk work down on Center Street at Zelma Schleeters.  Damon reported he didn't get a quote.  Mayor Ricardo Onken asked Damon to get a quote on this sidewalk project in case we don't get the funding for the Safe Route to School Project.

The Board asked Police Chief Mike Scott if the speed bump is working - it is but some are starting to go around it into the grass.  Mike said that will be remedied - it is slowing people down going through the alley.  Damon stated will put a sign up right next to it so they can't go around it.

The first item under Old Business was the Sticklen property.  Mayor Ric Onken asked Village Attorney Tom Shields if him and Mike had gotten together regarding this.  Tom stated we ran into some difficulty - table to until next meeting.  Ric stated if we bulldoze it down I would like to do it this summer.  Police Chief Mike Scott reported that we issued Ordinance Violations both for the inside of the property and the outside of the property on July 5, 2011.  We had issued them years before that.  Mike stated he has copies of all of the violation letters here.

It has been 362 days and our one ordinance on penalties says that it can be fined anywhere from $50.00 to $500.00 - so if we go with the lowest amount for the 362 days which each day is a new violation.  That total amount would be $18,500.00.  Mike stated that is just for one of the two - Mike says double that if we use both of them.  Mike stated he gave them the benefit of the doubt for the outside of the property because they made an occasional effort there.

The other is for a dangerous building - the exposed wiring; insulation; beam support.  Trustee Lonnie Meiner asked about what was all of this that it was going to be repaired.  Mike stated he received a couple of follow up calls from Brian.  Mike says he thinks the bottom line is they weren't going to pay him to fix it and they were trying to make deals with him and he just walked away from it.  Mike stated they were to come in and communicate with us once a week to let us know what's happening.

Village Clerk Nancy Kiper reported their water is off again.  It has been off for two months again.  Nancy reported shut if off because they didn't pay.

Trustee Lonnie Meiner asked about the Steinlicht property.  Mike reported that he spoke with the brother and he has had some health issues too.  Once the family is comfortable there are no more valuables in there that they need then they are willing to sell the property.  The Board asked if there is something that we can do to move this along too, maybe send them a letter or an ordinance violation.

Mike asked Tom if they are subject to that.  Mike stated that I am assuming the kids inherited the property so they are subject to these fines.  Tom stated it probably didn't go through probate so technically they probably picked it up as heirs of law but they can also decline and there would be no deed issued unless someone acted on it.

Lonnie stated it's a hazard if you try to walk across the yard.

Tom said we'd still be faced with the same type of situation as far as bulldozing or whatever it would be at the Village's expense and put a lien against the property.  Mike stated adding to the frustration is the fact that we have someone who wants to buy it and when he had a team who was tearing other stuff down and was going to know this house down.  Tom stated we might be able to approach it with a letter to whoever the heirs might be and indicate that the Village is going to take severe action and see if we can't get it settled that way.

Mayor Ric Onken addressed the next item under Old Business.  This was tabled from the May meeting.  Dan Winters from Allied Waste was to be here and address the Board regarding a new Recycling Program.  Ric stated he spoke with Deb Tull regarding Ridgeview Recycling contract.

Lonnie explained that we are presently paying for everyone who brings recycling to Ridgeview Recycling - whether they live in the Village or not.  If we would go with the Allied Waste Program each resident who wants to do recycling would be paying a flat fee on their water bill.  Village Clerk Nancy Kiper reported that before they had said it would be $2.00 per month.  The Board would have to decide if everyone had to do this or whether each resident can decide and if they don't want to recycle then wouldn't be charged for it.

Table until next month to see if can get a hold of Allied.

Trustee Lonnie Meiner made a motion to go into closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of employees.  Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion.  Vote:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner- Aye; Rick Wagoner - Absent.  Motion carried.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to go into open session.  Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion.  Vote:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Absent.  Motion carried.

Mayor Ricardo Onken explained in open session what the Board decided in closed session.  Ric explained that there will be no overtime or comp time unless it is an extreme emergency.  That is at your discretion - don't have to contact anyone unless you need to.

Ric stated I knoe you have given us reports but would like to see a more specified report.  Ric stated sort of hour by hour thing.  Break it down a little bit more so we can have a better idea about what is being done during the day.  Need to get a better handle on the overtime as to why it is needing to go into overtime.

Superintendent Damon Getty had a question regarding the comp time.  Damon said, "No Comp Time?"  Ric Onken stated comp time is basically creating overtime.  Damon asked what the Board is going to do about plants on weekends.  Ric stated you work that in during the week.  Take off four (4) hours on Friday or sometime during the week.    Your total hours is forty (40) hours per week.

Trustee Rick Vance made a motion to adjourn.  Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion.  Vote:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Absent.  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted, Nancy Kiper, Village Clerk