August 2025 Board Minutes
The regular monthly meeting was called to order on Monday evening, August 4, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Larry Dodds.
Trustees present were:
· Rick Norton - Aye
· David Rathke - Aye
· Janice Edwards - Aye
· Dustin McCarty - Aye
· Charles Morefield - Absent
· Vincent Beck - Aye
Also present were Superintendent of Maintenance Josh Hereford, Assistant Superintendent of Maintenance Nick Sandage, Police Chief Ritchie Cooper, School Resource Officer Ben Thorndyke and Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer.
Trustee Janice Edwards made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as presented. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of July 2025.
· Beginning Balance $104,200.62
· Ending Balance $ 69,651.76
· Decrease for the month of July 2025 $ 34,548.96
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of July 2025. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to pay the bills as presented. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Presentation: Tyler St. Clair, Lexipol, gave a presentation to the Board of Trustees regarding Lexipol’s Law Enforcement Policy Program.
Public comments-Items on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Special Reports
Police Department – Chief Cooper reviewed his month report for July 2025. Reports were completed for Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Hate Crime, Aggravated Battery to a Child, Criminal Damage to Property, Ordinance Violation x 5, Resisting Obstructing. A list of active chicken permits was reviewed. Police Chief Ritchie Cooper provided the Board of Trustees with a packet of photographs to review and discuss regarding several vacant properties that have structural damage.
Maintenance Department – Superintendent of Maintenance Josh Hereford gave his report for the month of July 2025. Josh and Nick trimmed numerous trees around the intersections, around stop signs and above sidewalks for visibility. Rock was spread in the areas where construction was taking place. Becker’s Tree Service removed the remaining trees for the Safe Routes to School sidewalk project. Phoenix Corporation started the sidewalk construction on July 7, 2025 and completed on July 29, 2025. The electrical conduit for one of the warning sirens pulled away from the light pole. Josh and Nick borrowed the bucket truck from Alliance Grain and put new straps on the conduit. New posts and signs were installed at the dump for no dumping. Josh reports that the alleys were graded. Josh and Nick pressure washed the sidewalks on Main Street in preparation for the Good Ole Days. All general daily/monthly maintenance was completed.
Animal Control & Zoning Report - Mayor Dodds reports there is an Animal Control/Zoning Report in your folders for review.
EMA Report - Mayor Dodds reports there is an EMA Report in your folders for review.
Mayor’s Report – Mayor Dodds reports there is a summary of revenue for the month of July 2025. Mayor Dodds reports a separate account will be established for the Business District Development Funds. All funds received thus far were appropriately handled since they were reimbursing the General Fund for properly identified BDD expenditures. An account will be set up at Peoples State Bank for the incoming monthly disbursements.
Committee Reports
Finance and Audit Committee Chairman, Rick Norton, has nothing to report at this time.
Police and Liquor Committee Chairman, David Rathke, has nothing to report at this time.
Water and Sewer Committee Chairman, Vincent Beck, has nothing to report at this time.
Streets and Lights Committee Chairman, Janice Edwards, has nothing to report at this time.
Maintenance Equipment and Vehicle Committee Chairman, Charles Morefield, was absent.
There was no Old Business on tonight’s agenda.
New Business:
First item on the agenda was the authorization to open an account at People’s State Bank of Colfax for Business Development Funds with Larry Dodds and Portia Vandegraft as authorized signers.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to authorize the opening of an account at People’s State Bank of Colfax for Business Development Funds with Larry Dodds and Portia Vandegraft as authorized signers. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda was the review and approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the School Resource Officer with Ridgeview CUSD #19 for the 2025-2026 School Year.
Trustee Janice Edwards made a motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement for the School Resource Officer with Ridgeview CUSD #19 for the 2025-2026 School Year. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was the review and approval of Ordinance No. 2025-12, An Ordinance Authorizing the Selling Process by Sealed Bid for Village Owned Surplus Real Estate Located at 305 E. Cooper Street.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-12, An Ordinance Authorizing the Selling Process by Sealed Bid for Village Owned Surplus Real Estate Located at 305 E. Cooper Street. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was the review and approval of Ordinance No. 2025-13, An Ordinance Approving An Agreement For Purchase and Sale of Real Property Commonly Known As 104 E. Fifer Street, Colfax, Illinois.
Trustee Janice Edwards made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-13, An Ordinance Approving An Agreement For Purchase and Sale of Real Property Commonly Known As 104 E. Fifer Street, Colfax, Illinois. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Final item on the agenda was the review and approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement for Police Services Between the Village of Cooksville and the Village of Colfax.
After much discussion it was determined that this item would need to be tabled until further information is received.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to table New Business, Item E, until further information is received. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Public comments-Items not on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Trustee Dustin McCarty made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Portia Vandegraft