SEPTEMBER 2025 BOARD MINUTES
The regular monthly meeting was called to order on Monday evening, September 8, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. by Trustee Vincent Beck.
Trustees present:
· Rick Norton - Aye
· David Rathke - Aye
· Janice Edwards - Absent
· Dustin McCarty - Aye
· Charles Morefield - Aye
· 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 Charles Morefield made a motion to appoint Vincent Beck as Pro Tem Mayor for tonight’s Board of Trustees Meeting. Trustee Rick Norton seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as presented. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of August 2025.
· Beginning Balance $69,651.76
· Ending Balance $87,577.56
· Increase for the month of August 2025 $17,295.80
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of August 2025. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee David Rathle made a motion to pay the bills as presented. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Public Comments-Items on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a comment regarding being concerned about the financial status of the Village of Colfax. There was much discussion regarding how to increase revenue and reduce spending. Finance and Audit Committee Chairman, Rick Norton, states when Mayor Dodds is back to good health he would like to schedule Finance and Audit committee meeting and do a deep dive into the budget and see where we can reduce spending.
Special Reports
Police Department- Police Chief Ritchie Cooper gave his report for August 2025. Chief Cooper states reports were completed for Criminal Damage to Property, Restricting Obstructing, Assault, Domestic Battery, Battery, Home Invasion and Criminal Tresspass to Property x 2. Also included in his report were a list of pending cases with the State’s Attorney and a list of current chicken/duck permits for the Village of Colfax. Police Chief Ritchie Cooper presented the Trustees with an email chain from IML Risk Management Association regarding use of the shooting range. IML stance is that the shooting range only be utilized by trained officers following proper firearm shooting practices and not by the general public. Ritchie recommends that if retired law enforcement and military sign a waiver drafted by the Village Attorney, he believes they should be allowed.
Maintenance Department- Josh and Nick pressure washed the sidewalks along Main Street for the Good Ole’ Days. Getty Landscaping swept Main Street and Center Street in preparation for the Good Ole’ Days as well. There was a service line leak on Sunset Drive. Getty’s dug up the line and Josh and Nick repaired the leak. The leak was on the village’s side of the service line. Josh and Nick trimmed bushes, tress and weeds along the alleys that were overgrown. Weeds in the alleys, along the curb and gutter streets, water plant and sewer plant were sprayed. BPW Road Construction paved the alley that runs from Oak Street to Shadeland Street. Josh and Nick removed several trees out of the drainage ditch and sprayed weeds along the ditch. Potholes were filled with cold patch, trap rock and gravel where needed. All daily/monthly maintenance was completed.
Animal Control & Zoning- Report in your folders for review.
EMA- Report in your folders for review.
Mayor’s Report- No report tonight due to absence of Mayor Dodds.
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, was absent.
Maintenance Equipment and Vehicle Committee Chairman, Charles Morefield, has nothing to report at this time.
Old Business
First item of Old Business was the review and consideration of Intergovernmental Agreement for Police Services Between the Village of Cooksville and the Village of Colfax. Ritchie Cooper states this topic is dead in the water. Trustee Charles Morefield stated he was absent next month and asked what he meant by it was “dead in the water.” Ritchie states because last month, no one could make a decision one way or another. Village Clerk, Portia Vandegraft, read the notes Mayor Dodds had written down regarding Intergovernmental Agreement from other local municipalities. Police Chief Ritchie Cooper states he is going to leave it up to Mayor Dodds to discuss it further with the Mayor of Cooksville.
Discussion regarding Lexipol. Trustee Rick Norton asked for clarification regarding Law Enforcement Full Implementation and Focused Implementation. Village Clerk Portia Vandegraft read the language regarding the difference between them from Lexipol representative Tyler St. Clair. Trustee Rick Norton recommends we look at adding this to next year’s budget if the board wants to move forward with this. Trustee Vincent Beck asked for more information regarding how the billing is done, because he is in favor of this. Portia Vandegraft stated she would reach out to Tyler for more clarification and asked if the board would like to schedule another zoom meeting with Tyler for further questions. The board agreed to do that.
New Business
First item of New Business was the review and approval of Ordinance No. 2025-14, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 4 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois Clarifying Permitted School Uses in the Single-Family District.
Village Clerk Portia Vandegraft stated that a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting was held, and it was voted by the Zoning Board to recommend the passage of this ordinance.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-14, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 4 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois Clarifying Permitted School Uses in the Single-Family District. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was the review and approval of Ordinance No. 2025-15, An Ordinance Rejecting Bids for the September 8th Bid Opening and Authorizing the Revised Selling Process By Sealed Bid for Village-Owned Surplus Real Estate Located at 305 E. Fifer Street.
Trustees Rick Norton made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-15, An Ordinance Rejected Bids for the September 8th Bid Opening and Authorizing the Revised Selling Process By Sealed Bid for Village-Owned Surplus Real Estate Located at 305 E. Cooper Street. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was the discussion regarding BDD Agreement with Casey Holevet, County Insurance. Trustee Dustin McCarty suggested that since the village just started receiving funds that he suggests we encourage Casey to reach out to the Colfax Restoration Project for help with her building updates.
Next item on the agenda was the motion to approve Connie Gossmeyer as an authorized signer of the BDD Account at Peoples State Bank of Colfax.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve Connie Gossmeyer as an authorized signer of the BDD Account at Peoples State Bank of Colfax. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Final item of New Business was the discussion regarding “Dangerous Buildings” provided by Chief Ritchie Cooper. The photos taken by the police department were forwarded to the Village Attorney and we have not received any further information at this time.
Public Comments-Items not on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to adjourn. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Portia Vandegraft
Village Clerk