The regular monthly meeting of the Village Board of Colfax was called to order on Monday evening, May 7, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Lonnie Meiner.
Trustees present were:
Rick Vance - Aye
David Rathke - Aye
Jason Pierce - Aye
Carol Stephenson - Aye
Jason Wagoner - Aye
Vincent Beck - Aye
Also present was Village Treasurer Linda Hanson; Police Chief Michael Scott; Superintendent Brian Hereford; Village Attorney Steven Mann; Village Engineer Terry McCleary.

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

Village Treasurer Linda Hanson gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of April, 2018.
Beginning Balance as of 04/01/18 $211,257.55
Ending Balance as of 04/30/18 $181,515.93
Decrease for April 2018 ($ 29,741.62)

Trustee Jason Pierce made a motion to pay the bills as presented. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Rick Vance made a motion to Close Fiscal Year 2017-18. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to open Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee Jason Wagoner seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

The next item on the agenda was for the annual appointments for the Fiscal year 2018-19. Mayor Lonnie Meiner stated with the advice and consent of the Board the following appointments will be made:
Trustee Rick Vance made a motion to appoint Linda Hanson as Village Treasurer for the Fiscal year 2018-19. Trustee David Rathe seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathe – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion Carried.
Trustee Jason Pierce made a motion to appoint Nancy Kiper as Village Clerk for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Rick Vance made a motion to appoint Brian Hereford as Superintendent of Public Works for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to appoint Joshua Hereford as Assistant Superintendent of Public Works for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to appoint Michael Scott as Police Chief for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee Jason Wagoner seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Jason Pierce made a motion to appoint Robert Brandt; Ritchie Cooper; Mike Lay; Dustin Carter; Kelly Gordon; Joshua Saathoff; and Damon Getty as Part Time Police Officers for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee Rick Vance seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to appoint Brent Blair as Zoning Officer for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce- Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to appoint Brent Blair as Animal Control Officer for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to appoint Steven Mann as Village Attorney for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee Jason Pierce seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Jason Wagoner made a motion to appoint Terry McCleary as Village Engineer – Streets on an as needed basis for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Jason Pierce, Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee, reported on the Finance Committee meeting held tonight prior to the regular board meeting. Jason reported that the Committee went over what the Village needs to do to stay as financially healthy as possible.

Trustee Carol Stephenson, Chairman of the Police and Liquor Committee, reported that the Activity Report for the month of April, 2018 for the Colfax Police Department is in your folders.

Police Chief Michael Scott reported about the Social Media Training that he and Guy Gradert, Superintendent of School, attended.

Mike also reported on the Active Shooter Drill that was held at Ridgeview School on Friday, April 29, 2018. The purpose of this training was to get the real time information with communication from the teachers. Mike reported there will be a meeting this week to get feedback about the training.

Mike reported that the State Police Leads Audit is done and the Colfax Police Department is in full compliance.

Trustee David Rathke, Chairman of the Water and Sewer Committee, had nothing to report at this time. Superintendent Brian Hereford reported that another pump is down at the lift station. Keith is coming Thursday to pull the pump and fix it.

Trustee Rick Vance, Chairman of the Streets and Lights Committee, reported on the Street Committee meeting. Rick stated it was a very good meeting with lots of very good ideas.

Rick feels that doing asphalt on Main Street it a lot of money because don’t think it will last. The milling and asphalt would be around $172,000.00. Rick explained that the new asphalt that was done thru Lexington and on Route 9 within six (6) months was cracked clear across it.

Village Engineer Terry McCleary explained that the Committee feels the Village should start with Center Street and use it to try the trap rock.

Trustee Jason Peirce made a motion to approve the Motor Fuel Tax Resolution in the amount of $54,953.00 for the 2018-19 Fiscal Year. Trustee Rick Vance seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Village Attorney Steven Mann explained that the board needed to pass this ordinance for the Title Company for the property on Main Street. Steve explained that this ordinance is basically because when we advertised one of the lots was missing in the legal. Steve wanted to make sure the title company had everything they needed
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Trustee Jason Wagoner made a motion to approve Ordinance 2018-05 as drafted. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
The next item on the agenda for changes to restricting the home occupation ordinance was tabled until Zoning Board President Brian Blair can be contacted.
Police Chief Michael Scott gave an update on the West Wood Street address. Mike stated that the original plan was to demolish the house but that money was an issue. The house was boarded up so that no one or nothing could get into the premises. Upon re-inspection Mike found that the boarded door was not boarded up anymore. Mike sent another letter and mailed it on April 9th.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to go into closed session. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to go back into open session. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to accept UCM’s specs for Main Street to Grove Street. Trustee Jason Pierce seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Michael Rigsby, Colfax Restoration, was present regarding the upcoming cleanup day. Mike reported that Jim Beitz will have two (2) trucks on Main Street in front of the Legion to haul stuff away while they clean out the Legion building.

Greg Neuhaus was here to thank the Board and the community for the great turnout for the box car derby. It was very successful even with the cloudy and rainy weather.

Next under Public Comments A J Kirkpatrick stated when you brought up stopping of the purchase of the parish hall to save money that was a good choice. There are decisions that you guys are going to have to make whether it is cutting payroll, cutting salaries, cutting whatever you need to do. When you are a taxing body you need to take into consideration cutting where you can before or during the same time that you are raising taxes. We sub-out a lot of work that used to be getting done inhouse now it is getting subbed out while guys are standing around watching it getting done. Switched to the automated meters do not know why we have to have Brent Blair driving around reading meters.
“Nancy and Brian both replied – he doesn’t”.

A J stated we have 2 (two) full time guys – you don’t need Brent Blair sweeping streets. Something else you can do to save money – stop paying them overtime when they plow snow and hire someone else at $14.00 or $15.00 an hour whether it is Shane or Damon who is already on your payroll. I don’t know how much time you spend mowing in the summer time maybe that is something you can put out for bids. Start being a little more open minded and start thinking of some way can stop spending money and save some.

Another note – is the bond referendum done. Has it passed or where is it at. Mayor Lonnie Meiner stated it will be voted on at the June 4th meeting.

A J asked can it be stopped – what about the petition.

Village Clerk Nancy Kiper stated no - the public had thirty (30) days after the last publishing in the Ridgeview Review which was March 22nd so the public had until April 22nd to file a petition to stop the bonds.

A J stated assuming that is correct – then it comes down to the Board and no one else has input legally. The Board should take into consideration our opinions. Maybe it doesn’t matter what people think that aren’t going to be around in ten (10) years – maybe you need to focus on the people that are going to be paying that tax and are going to be in this town. As far as it goes I know that you guys put out bids for putting down asphalt but that can still be changed. You can still go back and put trap rock down – but that would be a joke – it would be a terrible thing to do in this town and if you want another nail in the coffin put tar and chip on Main Street – the cub scouts won’t come back – there will be no new business in this town. Lonnie stated it is tough on Main Street.

So we have a Mayor and a Board that have the wrong attitude. A J stated I hope most of you get voted out the next time. Carol Stephenson stated I am not running anyway – AJ said there’s one down and I know Jason Wagoner is moving so that is two gone. You all have the wrong attitude. This negative attitude. Quit combating everything. Carol stated then you run for the Board. Nancy said he can’t because he doesn’t live in town. AJ said I can move into my business.

Trustee Jason Pierce made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Jason Wagoner seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Nancy Kiper
Village Clerk