The regular monthly meeting of the Village Board of Colfax was called to order on Tuesday, September 4, 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 were Village Attorney Steven Mann; Superintendent Brian Hereford; and Police Chief Michael Scott.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as presented. 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.

Village Treasurer Linda Hanson had the Treasurer’s Report for the month of August, 2018 in the folders.
Beginning Balance as of August 1, 2018 $298,135.62
Ending Balance as of August 31, 2018 $311,041.56
Increase for August, 2018 $ 12,905.94

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 Jason Wagoner made a motion to go into closed session to discuss litigation for 306 S Grove Street. 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.

The Village Board went into closed session at 7:04 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.
Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to go back into open 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.

The Village Board went back into open session at 7:35 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

Trustee Jason Pierce, Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee, had nothing to report at this time.

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

Police Chief Michael Scott reported that this year’s drill at the school will be on Friday, September 14, 2018. Mike explained the procedure for this year’s drill. There will be an assembly for the grade school kids; there will be a separate assembly for the junior high and high school kids; the kids will be dismissed at noon and then the Active Shooter drill will start. There will be more interaction with the teachers and the Active Shooter actually trying to enter the classrooms.
Last month there was talk about the low speed bicycles. Mike explained that there is a law in Illinois that allows these bicycles to be ridden. Mike stated that the only way to make them be register with the Village is for the Village to pass an ordinance for a permit.

Mike reported that the “Engine Braking” signs are up on each end of Harrison Street and on Route 165 coming from the East and from the West.

Trustee David Rathke, Chairman of the Water and Sewer Committee, had Superintendent Brian Hereford give a report. Brian stated that Liquid Engineers were here today and cleaned the Tonka tank. They will be returning tomorrow and clean the tower.

Trustee Rick Vance, Chairman of the Streets and Lights Committee, reported that there is an update for Center Street later on the agenda.

The first item under Old Business was regarding Ordinance 2018-09 for changes to the Home Occupations. Village Attorney Steven Mann explained the changes that had been made to the Ordinance.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve Ordinance #2018-09 as drafted. 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.

Next the appointment and swearing in of James Scott as part time police officer.

Police Chief Michael Scott explained to the Board that Dustin Carter was leaving as part time police officer for the Village of Colfax and that needed to hire someone to fill this position to keep Ritchie Cooper and Mike Lay’s hours down. Michael explained that James will be taking his test on September 8, 2018 for the whole course.
Mayor Lonnie Meiner stated that he had a short interview with James Scott this past week and feels he will do a very good job for the Village of Colfax. With the advice and consent of the Village Board would like to appoint James Scott as part time police officer.

Trustee Rick Vance made a motion to appoint James Scott as part time police office for the Village of Colfax. 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.

Village Clerk Nancy Kiper had the swearing in of Police Officer James Scott.

The next item on the agenda was an update on Center Street.

Mayor Lonnie Meiner explained that he owes the Board an apology regarding Center Street. He explained that he is sorry if it was wrong to go ahead and do this and didn’t feel that there needed to be a vote on the bid opening since there was only one bid.
There was much controversy over the way Center Street was done even though it has been talked about since March.
Trustee Vincent Beck stated that he doesn’t like the way that it got done.
Trustee Jason Wagoner stated that he is not happy about Center Street.
Village Attorney Steven Mann explained that this was a Motor Fuel Tax Project and the Resolution was passed in May, 2018 for the court of the year. Steve explained that the statute for bids if $20,000.00. According to Municipal Code doesn’t have be open session.

Needed to get the street done before the weather got cooler.

Terry McCleary is the Village Engineer that put this out for bid. Not sure where he put it out at, the Village Clerk just received the signed and approved specs from Illinois Department of Transportation. Nancy explained that this is the first year that bid openings have been in the morning, always before they were at the regular monthly meetings in the evening.

Trustee Jason Pierce stated “The position that Lonnie is in is thankless. Lonnie didn’t seek out the mayor position but stepped up when no one else ran for the position. Jason stated that everything is above board and for the good of everyone on the Board.”

Lonnie stated that he spoke with Terry McCleary and will get back in touch with him around December 1st to start next year’s Motor Fuel Tax Project so that everything will be in place early. This year the Village was late getting everything started and had to rush to get everything done.

Next on the agenda was how to clean up the property at 306 S Grove Street. There was much discussion regarding this. The order is in place for the Village to go in and clean the outside of the property up. Cannot go into the house or the garage. The vehicles can be towed from the property. Police Chief Michael Scott will photograph and document everything that is taken off of the property. If anything is sellable the money can be put toward the fees that he already owes the Village. Someone suggested have the Colfax Restoration help clean it up but Village Attorney Steven Mann doesn’t want the public involved in the cleanup. Suggested getting a dumpster and just putting everything in there. The only for sure thing that was decided was to tow the vehicles.

The next item on the agenda was explained by Mayor Lonnie Meiner. David Dodson from Peoples State Bank is wanting the Village to condemn the property at 103 West Main Street. The Village distributed the report from the structural engineer to the Village Board. Connie Gossmeyer was present at the Board meeting as representative for the Bank.

Trustee Jason Wagoner made a motion to condemn the property at 103 West Main Street, Colfax Illinois. 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.

The only item under New Business was regarding the Drain by the edge of the street by the Petal Pusher. Superintendent Brian Hereford reported that he had a quote from Windle Concrete for this project. It is actually broken down into two separate ways that this can be done.
Brian reported as follows:
Wall only $3,600
Wall and Basin $5,200
(To do this the tree would have to come down also)
The Board feels that might as well do this right and do both the wall and basin.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve the quote in the amount of $5,200 from Windle Concrete for the Wall and Basin on Grove Street. 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.
Brian Hereford also explained about the Tile that runs behind Brian Harris’s house on Walnut Street and runs down to the Mackinaw. Brian thinks there is approximately 400 feet of tile that needs replaced. Brian stated that it runs all of the time – he doesn’t know if there is a spring under there or what. Brian stated that it would cost approximately $2,600 for Beitz to do the work.

A J Kirkpatrick commented regarding the motorized bicycles. A J also had a question regarding the starting pay for the new police officer.

Trustee Jason Pierce stated that the starting pay is $16.00 for police officers. Trustee Vincent Beck stated he thought it was $16.25. Jason will check this out.

Mayor Lonnie Meiner stated that it is late but still need to do employee evaluations. Village Clerk Nancy Kiper will put the paperwork together.

Colfax resident Stacie Kennedy was here regarding the NICOR Gas issue that has been going on for the last week. Stacie explained that she hopes there is further investigation into what happened. Mayor Lonnie Meiner explained that Nicor representative Bernie Anderson was out here and is suppose to be sending a flyer that can go out to all of the customers. Stacie stated she already received a flyer. Stacie just wonders what NICOR is doing to correct everything and to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Colfax resident Josh Ogden was here to speak with the Board regarding the benefit that is being held at the Legion for Tina Rodriquez on Saturday, October 13th from 2:00 to midnight. They would like the street closed off from Main and Center Streets to just before the alley on Center Street. The Legion will have to get a special use permit in order for them to sell alcohol in the street. The area will have to cordoned off where the alcohol will be so that no children are in the area.

Trustee Jason Pierce made a motion to adjourn. 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.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Kiper
Village Clerk