The regular monthly meeting via Zoom was called to order on Monday evening, June 1, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Larry Dodds.

Trustees present were:

Charles Morefield - Aye
David Rathke - Aye
Benjamin Thackeray- Aye
Carol Stephenson - Aye
Jason Wagoner - Aye
Vincent Beck - Aye

Also present were Superintendent of Public Works Josh Hereford; Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer; Police Chief Michael Scott.

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

Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May 2020.

Beginning Balance $183,088.87
Ending Balance $185,399.77
Increase for the month of May 2020 $ 2,310.90

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May 2020. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Benjamin Thackeray-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Jason Wagoner-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to pay the bills as presented and received. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Benjamin Thackeray-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Jason Wagoner-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.

Public comments- Items on the agenda

There were no public comments.

Police Chief Michael Scott gave the first special report. Police Chief Michael Scott started there is a report in your folder’s for review. He continues to search for a police officer to fill in after he retires and until Officer Cooper is able to become full-time. He also reported that due to the looting in Bloomington he has chosen to leave the squad car in Colfax and is using his personal vehicle to drive back and forth to the department.

Superintendent of Public works gave the next special report. Josh stated there is a report in your folder’s for review. Josh stated he has been spraying weeds around the Village. He has continued to sell and deliver rock to the residents of Colfax. The speed limits signs on Winget Drive have been posted as well as a new sign at the landscape dump. Josh reports there was an issue with the sewer backing up and they ran the diesel pump for 2 days. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray asked Josh about smoking testing done by the IRWA for illegal hookups to the sewer. Josh stated he will look into what can be done.

Mayor Larry Dodds stated there is an Animal Control/Zoning report in your folder’s for review.

Mayor Larry Dodds stated there is an EMA report in your folder’s for review.

Mayor Larry Dodds gave the final special report. Mayor Dodds announced that the Village Engineer Terry McCleary passed away and that he would do some research for a new Village Engineer. Mayor Larry Dodds also discuss the funding Colfax would be receiving for the next 3 years as part of the Rebuild Illinois Bond fund. Mayor Larry Dodds also received noticed from the Risk Management Association that they would be freezing or lowering the renewal rates for the upcoming renewal year.

Trustee David Rathke, Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee, has nothing to report at this time. There will be a Finance & Audit Committee Meeting held on June 10, 2020.

Trustee Carol Stephenson, Chair of the Police & Liquor Committee, has nothing to report at this time.

Trustee Vincent Beck, Chair of the Water & Sewer Committee, has nothing to report at this time. Trustee Vincent Beck stated he would like to see Charles Morefield become the Chair for the Water & Sewer Committee since he will be Chair of the Maintenance Equipment & Vehicle Committee.

Trustee Jason Wagoner, Chair of the Streets & Lights Committee, has nothing to report at this time.

Next on the agenda was the renewal of Ordinance 2020-05 “An Ordinance Regarding the Emergency Powers of the Mayor.”

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to approve the renewal of Ordinance 2020-05. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield-Nay, David Rathke-Aye, Benjamin Thackeray-Nay, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Jason Wagoner-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the review and approval of the proposed revision of Ordinance 2005-1, Chapter 13 entitled “Dogs and Other Animals” and more specifically Section 13.4 Strays and Section 13.7 Housing.

Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2020-08 “An Ordinance amending Chapter 13, Sections 13.4 Strays and 13.7 Housing. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Benjamin Thackeray-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Jason Wagoner-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the review and amendment of Ordinance No. 2006-3, “An Ordinance Banning the burning of Landscape Waste within the Village of Colfax.

Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2006-3 with the amendments presented with an adjustment to the times permitted. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Benjamin Thackeray-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Jason Wagoner-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the discussion regarding a donation to the Colfax Restoration Project. Trustee Jason Wagoner asked if there was a timeline for the work that they will be completing on the Main Street lots. Mayor Larry Dodds reported they should be starting that soon.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to approve the donation to the Colfax Restoration Project in the amount of $500.00. There was no second. Motion fails.

Next on the agenda was the discussion regarding the reinstitution of the late penalties and associated charges for the water and sewer bills with the statements payable by July 23, 2020. Mayor Larry Dodds reported that Village Clerk, Portia Vandegraft, mailed letters to 9 residents who are 3 or more months behind on their water/sewer bills. So far, Portia has received contact from 2 of those residents.

Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to reinstate the late penalties and associated charges for the delinquent water and sewer bills with the statements payable by July 23, 2020. Trustee Jason Wagoner seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Benjamin Thackeray-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Jason Wagoner-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the appointment of the Maintenance Equipment & Vehicle Committee.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to appoint Vincent Beck as Maintenance Equipment & Vehicle Committee Chair with Charles Morefield and Jason Wagoner as members of the Committee. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Benjamin Thackeray-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Jason Wagoner-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.

Trustee Jason Wagoner made a motion to appoint Charles Morefield as Chair for the Water and Sewer Committee. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Benjamin Thackeray-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Jason Wagoner-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the discussion regarding the closure of Center Street between the alley and Main Street on Sunday, June 21, 2020 at the request of the American Legion.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve the closure of Center Street on June 21, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for the Fish & Chicken Dinner if approved by the American Legion Council. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Benjamin Thackeray-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Jason Wagoner-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the discussion about the request from residents Darrin and Tonya Pleines to connect to the Village of Colfax sewer lines. Mayor Larry Dodds stated the Pleines residents are located at the very east end of Cooper Street just outside the Village limits. It was mentioned that the residents would need to pay for the sewer lines to reach the man hole and the Village would connect the lines.

Public Comments- Items not on the agenda.

There were no public comments.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray has some concerns on residents not mowing and taking care of their property. He asked what the Village was doing to enforce the ordinance regarding mowing. Mayor Larry Dodds stated he has made contact with property owners and realtors regarding several properties in the Village. Most of them have responded and cleaned up their yards. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray stated there are two yards that have not been taken care of and the Village needs to enforce the Ordinance.

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Portia Vandegraft
Village Clerk