October 2025 Board Minutes
The regular monthly meeting was called to order on Monday evening, October 6, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Larry Dodds.
Trustees present were:
· Rick Norton - Aye
· David Rathke - Aye
· Janice Edwards - Absent
· 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 Benjamin Thorndyke and Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer.
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as presented. Trustee Rick Norton seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of September 2025.
· Beginning Balance $87,577.56
· Ending Balance $87,093.68
· Decrease for the month of September 2025 $ 483.88
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of September 2025. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to pay the bills as presented except for the invoice for Municipal Electronics in the amount of $1,427.57. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Public comments-Items on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Special Reports
Police Department- Chief Ritchie Cooper gave his report for the month of September 2025. He states several reports were done in September including Disorderly Conduct, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, Theft, Mental Case, Dissemination of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, Financial Identify Theft, Domestic Dispute, Domestic Battery and Aggravated Battery. There were no traffic citations given in September 2025. Village Clerk, Portia Vandegraft, discussed the outstanding invoices due to Axon for Police Equipment. It was discovered that Axon’s Accounting Department had an old email address for Police Chief Ritchie Cooper, so the Village of Colfax has not received any of the outstanding invoices since August 2024. A copy of all invoices is in the packets for review.
Maintenance Department- Superintendent of Maintenance Josh Hereford gave his report for September 2025. Josh states BPW spray patched several areas around town. The water plant had an EPA inspection on September 23, 2025. Josh and Nick prepared for the inspection by filling out the required paperwork and cleaning the water plant. The batteries on the dump truck were bad, new ones were ordered from NAPA and replaced. Josh and Nick removed the water tank and mosquito sprayer from the GMC to prepare for winter. Josh and Nick pressure washed the leaf vac and trailer and changed the oil in the leaf vac so it would be ready for fall. Josh and Nick replaced a faulty line on the Chlorinator. Josh and Nick spent several days working on broken water meters that had stopped reading. Currently, they have replaced 12 meters. Additional parts have been ordered to continue replacing the ones that are bad. Josh reports all general daily/monthly maintenance was completed.
Animal Control/Zoning- Report in your folders for review.
EMA- Report in your folders for review.
Mayor’s Report- Mayor Larry Dodds gave his report for the month of September 2025. Larry states there is a list on monthly revenue for everyone to review. Mayor Dodds reports that McLean County is currently working to update its Strategic Plan to be certain all important issues to the county are addressed. Mayor Dodds states McLean County has a new transit service that provides door to door service for all of McLean County’s rural residents. There will be a Fall Festival held on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Planned activities include Trunk or Treat, costume contest and a hot dog meal.
Committee Reports
Finance and Audit Committee Chairman, Rick Norton, has nothing to report at this time. There is a committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Police and Liquor Committee Chairman, David Rathke, has nothing to report at this time. There is a committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 13, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
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, was absent.
Old Business:
First item of Old Business was the review and consideration of the Intergovernmental Agreement for Police Services Between the Village of Cooksville and the Village of Colfax.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion not to enter into the Intergovernmental Agreement for Police Services Between the Village of Cooksville and the Village of Colfax. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda was continued discussion regarding Lexipol. Tyler St. Clair is available via Zoom to answer any questions. Lexipol will be discussed in depth further at the Police and Liquor Committee Meeting on November 13, 2025.
Next on the agenda was the continued discussion regarding properties identified for possible demolition.
Mayor Larry Dodds gave an update on his discussion with Jeff Gaster regarding the properties identified for potential demolition. The Trustees voice concern about the expense of the legal proceedings as well as the demolition costs. Mayor Dodds will send letters to all property owners of the building identified by the Colfax Police Department and the Board of Trustees.
New Business:
First item on new business was the approval to designate Halloween Trick or Treat Hours for the Village of Colfax.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve Halloween Trick or Treat hours for the Village of Colfax to be from 5:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 31, 2025. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda was the discussion and approval of Ordinance No. 2025-15, An Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Services Agreement for the First Amendment to the Colfax Business Development District No. 1 By and Between the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois and Jacob & Klein, LTD. and The Economic Development Group, LTD.
After discussion it was determined Mayor Dodds would speak with Gwen Crawford of the Economic Development Group, LTD to get answers for the questions of the Board of Trustees.
The Village of Colfax did not receive any bids on Village Owned Real Estate therefore we do not need to discuss or approve the ordinance to accept the bids.
Next item on the agenda was the consideration and approval to move the December 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting to December 8, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to reschedule the December Board of Trustees Meeting to December 8, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Final item on new business was the selection of the 2024 Village of Colfax Citizen of the Year.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to award Citizen of the Year for 2024 to Benjamin Thorndyke. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Public comments-Items not on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Absent, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Portia Vandegraft
Village Clerk