The regular monthly meeting of the Village Board of Colfax was called to order on Monday evening, May 6, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Lonnie Meiner.
Trustees present were:
Charles Morefield - Aye
David Rathke - Aye
Jason Wagoner Aye
Vincent Beck - Aye

Trustees Jason Pierce and Carol Stephenson were absent.

Also present was Superintendent Brian Hereford; Police Chief Michael Scott; and Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer.

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

Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of April, 2019.
Beginning Balance as of 4/1/2019 $238,403.17
Ending Balance as of 4/30/2019 $232,041.09
Decrease for April, 2019 N ($ 6,362.08)

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

Village Clerk Nancy Kiper read the Canvassing of the votes for the newly elected officers.
For Mayor – 2-year unexpired Term:
Larry K. Dodds 57 Votes
For Trustees – 2-year unexpired Term:
Jason Wagoner 59 Votes
For Trustees – 4 year Term:
Benjamin Thackeray 52 Votes
Vincent Beck 59 Votes
Charles Morefield 52 Votes

Village Clerk Nancy Kiper had the swearing in of the new board members and new mayor.

Jason Wagoner; Benjamin Thackeray; Vincent Beck; and Charles Morefield were sworn in as Trustees for the Village of Colfax.

Larry K. Dodds was sworn in as Mayor for the Village of Colfax.
Roll Call was taken for the new board:
Charles Morefield - Aye
David Rathke - Aye
Benjamin Thackeray - Aye
Jason Wagoner - Aye
Vincent Beck - Aye
Carol Stephenson was absent.

Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to close Fiscal Year 2018-19. Trustee Jason Wagoner seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to open Fiscal Year 2019-20. Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Next on the agenda were the appointments for the new Fiscal Year 2019-20. Mayor Larry Dodds stated with the advice and consent of the Board would like to have motions to appoint the following:

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to appoint Connie Gossmeyer as Village Treasurer for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee Jason Wagoner seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Jason Wagoner made a motion to appoint Nancy Kiper as Village Clerk for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee David Rathke made a motion to appoint Brian Hereford as Superintendent of Public Works for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield -Abstain; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made a motion to appoint Joshua Hereford as Assistant Superintendent of Public Works for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Abstain; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee David Rathke made a motion to appoint Michael Scott as Police Chief for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made a motion to appoint Ritch Cooper; Robert Brandt; Mike Lay; Kelly Gordon; James Scott as part-time police officers for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made a motion to appoint Brent Blair as Zoning Officer for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Jason Wagoner made a motion to appoint Brent Blair as Animal Control Officer for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to appoint Shane Beck as EMA Director for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to appoint Terry Mc Cleary as Village Engineer on an as needed basis for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Trustee Jason Wagoner seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck -Aye; Motion carried.

Finance and Audit Committee there was nothing to report at this time.

Trustee Carol Stephenson, Chairman of the Police and Liquor Committee, was absent.

Police Chief Michael Scott reported that the Activity Report for the month of April, 2019 for the Colfax Police Department is in the folders.

Trustee Jason Wagoner asked if there was any news from South Grove Street. Michael Scott said that the hearing is set for judgment on May 30th. There was a hearing on May 2nd but it was continued until May 30th.

Mayor Larry Dodds explained that he spoke with Police Chief Michael Scott earlier this week. Mike explained to him that even though there are five part time officers there is only one person per night working.

Trustee David Rathke, Chairman of the Water and Sewer Committee, asked Superintendent Brian Hereford if there was anything to report. Brian stated just that there was major flooding at the sewer last week but it has gone down now and hopefully there is no more rain coming for a while.

Trustee Jason Wagoner, Chairman of the Street and Lights Committee, reported that the 2019-20 Motor Fuel Tax Resolution has been turned in. Brian stated that the Street Committee needs to get together to see what streets we are doing so we can put out for bids. Brian asked Lonnie Meiner if he was right regarding the sidewalk at the Bank. The Village agreed to pay for the new sidewalk if the Bank paid to have it torn out. Brian is trying to get another bid.

Mayor Larry Dodds asked if the drainage will be affected for the properties to the south of the new Dollar General Store. Brian stated that they are going to be putting in a new culvert behind Tongate’s house due to the Dollar General Store using the present entrance to the farmer’s field.

The first item under Old Business was regarding reappointing Republic Services for Garbage/Recycle Services.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to appoint Republic Services for the Garbage/Recycle Services for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year with a forty-nine cent (49) monthly increase per resident. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

The next item was regarding the division of lots at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church property. The Farnsworth Group submitted the new plat to go with the Ordinance.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve Ordinance 2019-01, St. Joseph’s Church Subdivision Plat as drafted. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

The last item was regarding the rezoning of the Dollar General property. The Board voted in April to rezoning from Agricultural to Commercial and there has to be an ordinance to that affect to go along with the vote.

Trustee Jason Wagoner made a motion to approve Ordinance 2019-02, Revision of Official Zoning Map as drafted. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee David Rathke made a motion to go into closed session to consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal and litigation. Trustee Jason Wagoner seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

The Village Board went into closed session at 7:45 p.m. on Monday evening, May 6, 2019.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to go back into open session. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

The Village Board went back into open session at 8:21 p.m. on Monday evening, May 6, 2019.

Trustee Vincent Beck asked about moving the 45 MPH speed limit sign back to before the Dollar General corner. Police Chief Michael Scott reported that he has already contacted IDOT regarding this and as soon as they break ground he is to contact IDOT again.

Mayor Larry Dodds asked the Village Board whether the Village Clerk has to live in the Village of Colfax in order to apply. It has always been that way – Brian Hereford said that it’s probably because at one time it was an elected position and you had to live in the Village. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray stated maybe it could be they should live within the school district.

The deadline for applications for the Village Clerk position is May 31, 2019.

Larry will be going around with Brian and Josh to look at the alleys – particularly Pool Drive and see what can be done with them.

Larry will be out of town from May 14th through 21st. Trustee Jason Wagoner will be acting mayor during his absence.

Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield – Aye; David Rathke – Aye; Benjamin Thackeray – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Absent; Jason Wagoner – Aye; Vincent Beck – Aye; Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Kiper
Village Clerk