November 2025 Board Minutes
The regular monthly meeting was called to order on Monday evening, November 3, 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 - 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 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-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of October 2025.
· Beginning Balance $ 87,093.68
· Ending Balance $106,413.51
· Increase for the month of October 2025 $ 19,319.83
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of October 2025. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, 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-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Public comments- Items on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Special Reports
Police Department – Police Chief Ritchie Cooper gave his report for October 2025. Reports were completed for Financial Identity Theft, Fraudulent Use of Electronic Equipment, Harassment by Phone, Domestic Battery, Obstructing Justice, Aggravated Battery of Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Trespass to Real Property, Other Mental Case, Motor Vehicle Theft, Retail Theft and Domestic Dispute. No traffic citations were issued in October 2025. Police Chief Ritchie Cooper presented (3) Purchase Orders for board approval. Two quotes of $252.00 each to have the low tire sensors on two of the patrol cars removed. 1 quote for $60.80 for an oil change. Board approved quotes to have the maintenance done on the patrol cars.
Maintenance Department- Superintendent of Maintenance Josh Hereford gave his report for the month of October 2025. Josh reports he and Nick worked for several days in the water plant on numerous projects to be in compliance with the EPA inspection. A sample port was added to well #4, now all wells have their own sample location. Josh and Nick replace all chemical feed lines with colored lines and labeled the chemical storage tanks. Josh and Nick painted each well main a different color so each well can easily be identified. Josh created a new monthly operating report (MOR) to include all information the EPA requires the Village of Colfax to keep record of. The Safe Routes to School Project was completed with the installation of lights and signs at the crosswalk of Wood and Brook Street. A speed radar sign was installed on South Harrison Street as well. Josh reports all the equipment is ready for winter. The Maintenance Department has started to pick up leaves. All daily/monthly maintenance was completed.
Animal Control/Zoning- Report in your folders for review. Two building permits were issued.
EMA Report- Report in your folders for review. Shane reports the south siren by the softball diamond did not sound; Lincoln land Communications repaired the blown fuse on October 9, 2025. No severe weather watches or warnings.
Mayor’s Report- Mayor Dodds reports there is a list of the monthly revenue for October 2025 for your review. Mayor Dodds reviewed the BDD information he received from Gwen Crawford. Dollar General was included in the first BDD but excluded from the TIF District due to it being newly built. The expected additional revenue by including all the Village of Colfax in the BDD would be about $30,000 annually. Mayor Dodds reports he has instructed the demolition attorney to put the demolition activities on hold for the properties that had been previously submitted. Letters have been written to each homeowner that provided them with 90 days to demolish the structure or face demolition lawsuit by the village.
Committee Reports
Finance and Audit Committee Chairman, Rick Norton, reports a committee meeting was held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Rick states at the meeting that the committee reviewed the preliminary work done by Connie Gossmeyer was reviewed to keep better track of the expenses vs. appropriations monthly. The committee reviewed the overtime expenses YTD, at this time the village has paid about $30,000 in overtime. The committee urges better documentation of the overtime hours. Rick Norton, David Rathke and Portia Vandegraft met with Brandon Harbison, Genesis, to review the agreement and invoices. At the time of the original agreement the monthly cost was $1,443.51, at this time our current monthly expense is $1,817.01 plus $183.00, which is an increase of over $4,000 a year. The Business Development #2 was discussed. It is expected that adding the remainder of the village would bring in approximately $30,000 a year. The debt structure and payment plan schedule was reviewed. A draft of the 2025-2026 Tax Levy was reviewed by the committee. Rick Norton states in conclusion that the size of our town is unable to keep up with the mandates from the State of Illinois and we need to focus on cutting expenses.
Police and Liquor Committee Chairman, David Rathke, reports there is a meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Water and Sewer Committee Chairman, Vincent Beck, has nothing to report currently. Committee Meeting was scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Streets and Lights Committee Chairman, Janice Edwards, has nothing to report currently.
Maintenance Equipment and Vehicle Committee Chairman, Charles Morefield, has nothing to report currently.
Old Business:
First item of Old Business was the presentation by Blake Beitz and John Maurer about the drainage problems from Sunset Drive to Mackinaw River, followed by discussion. Landowner John Maurer is asking for financial participation from the Village of Colfax to help with the drainage from the subdivision across his property and onto the Mackinaw River. Blake Beitz reports there are sump pumps hooked into the current tile that flows directly onto the property owned by John Maurer.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to participate in the drainage report in the amount of $4,200 with payment to John Maurer by December 2026. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-No, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-No, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item of Old Business was the continued discussion regarding properties identified for possible demolition.
Letters have been sent to property owners whose properties have been identified as “dangerous buildings.” Mayor Dodds has heard back from all but two of the property owners and will be following up with each of them as they make progress.
First item on New Business was the approval of Ordinance No. 2025-16, 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.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-16, 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. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda was the review of the Proposed 2025-2026 Tax Levy for the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois. Final adoption of the 2025-2026 Tax Levy in December. Mayor Dodds reports the estimated EAV for the Village of Colfax is $17,356,344, this is $989,110 higher than the EAV in Tax Year of 2025. The total increase revenue to the Village of Colfax, reflecting the increased EAV, is approximately $9,549.13.
Next item on the agenda was the authorization to pay the bond payment to Atlanta National Bank in the amount of $39,034.38.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve the bond payment to Atlanta National Bank in the amount of $39,034.38. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was authorization to renew insurance coverage with IML Risk Management Association for 2026 in the amount of $25,518.17.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to renew insurance coverage with IML Risk Management Association for 2026 in the amount of $25,518.17. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Final item of New Business was discussion regarding Ordinance No. 2007-03, Amending Section 4.01, 4.03, Section 4.04 and 4.06 of Chapter 4, Municipal Purchasing of the Municipal Code of the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois.
Portia Vandegraft, Village Clerk, states she was approached by two different people to review the policies and ordinances regarding municipal purchasing. Portia states the ordinance reads that any purchases over $50 must have board approval. The board would like Portia to reach out to other municipalities to see what their policy is and have the attorney draft up a new ordinance for approval.
Public comments-Items not on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to go into executive session to consider appointments, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, dismissal of village employees and pending litigation pursuant to Section 2 (C) (11) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
The Board of Trustees entered Executive Session at 8:51 p.m.
Trustee Janice Edwards made a motion to return to Open Session at 9:13 p.m. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Portia Vandegraft
Village Clerk