The regular monthly meeting was called to order on Monday evening, August 2, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Larry Dodds.

Trustees present were:

• Charles Morefield - Aye
• David Rathke - Absent
• Benjamin Thackeray -Aye
• Carol Stephenson - Aye
• Janice Edwards -Aye
• Vincent Beck - Aye

Also present were Superintendent Josh Hereford; Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer; Police Chief Ritchie Cooper.

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

Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of July 2021.

Beginning Balance $439,258.49
Ending Balance $441,598.11
Increase for the month of July 2021 $ 2,339.62

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of July 2021. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

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

Public Comments- Items on the agenda.

There were no public comments.

The first special report was given by Police Chief Ritchie Cooper. Due to the lack of the of a report from Metcom, Ritchie states he does not have written report available. Ritchie states he has been talking to residents about cleaning up their yards.

Next special report is given by Superintendent of Maintenance Josh Hereford. Josh reports he has been replacing damaged street signs throughout the village. Windle Concrete repaired the trench in the road on Sunset Drive. Josh reports the lift station flooded on June 16th. The diesel pump ran for 24 hours. Josh reports Martin services the backhoe and fixed a broken hydraulic line. Josh removed broken sidewalks on Euclid Street at the request of the residents. Josh had to replace a broken solenoid valve on the chlorine line at the water plant.

Mayor Larry Dodds reports there is an Animal Control/Zoning Report in your folders for review.

Mayor Larry Dodds reports there is an EMA Report in your folders for review.

Last special report was given by Mayor Larry Dodds. Mayor Dodds states he had a meeting with Representative Dan Brady and Region 3 Engineer for District 4 & 5 of IDOT to discuss the resurfacing of Route 165. They also discussed a potential sidewalk from Grove Street to Dollar General along Route 165. Mayor Dodds states letters will be sent to residents who own property that need some attention with cleaning up overgrown weeds and additional items. Mayor Dodds stated Portia Vandegraft, Village Clerk, completed all necessary paperwork for the American Rescue Plan Act. The Village is estimated to receive $137,711.48. We should receive our first allotment within 30 days.

Finance and Audit Committee Chairman, David Rathke was absent therefore there was no report given.

Police and Liquor Committee Chairman, Carol Stephenson, has nothing to report at this time.

Water and Sewer Committee Chairman, Charles Morefield, has nothing to report at this time.

Streets and Lights Committee Chairman, Benjamin Thackeray, has nothing to report at this time.

Maintenance Equipment and Vehicle Chairman, Vincent Beck, has nothing to report at this time.

First item of old business was the consideration and approval of Ordinance No. 2021-08, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 12.07 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois Regarding Garbage and Refuse.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve Ordinance NO. 2021-08, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 12.07 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois Regarding Garbage and Refuse. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

Next item on the agenda was the consideration and approval of Ordinance No. 2021-09, An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance of the Municipal Code of the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois Regarding Parking and Storage of Recreational Vehicles and Farm Equipment.
Mayor Larry Dodds reports the Zoning Board of Appeals met prior to tonight’s meeting and recommended approval unanimously.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2021-09, An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance of the Municipal Code of the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois Regarding Parking and Storage of Recreational Vehicles and Farm Equipment. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the approval to award the contract to McLean County Asphalt for the street resurfacing in the southwest portion of the Village for the Summer of 2021 at a cost of $39,700.33.

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to award the contract to McLean County Asphalt for the street resurfacing in the southwest portion of the Village for the Summer of 2021 at a cost of $39.700.33. Trustee Benjamin Thackeray seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

Next item on the agenda was the approval to award the contract to H.J. Eppel & Co., Inc for the widening of Winget Drive in the Summer of 2021 at a cost of $32,998.35.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made a motion to award the contract to H.J. Eppel & Co., Inc for the widening of Winget Drive in the Summer of 2021 at a cost of $32,998.35. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

First item of new business was the proposal from the Colfax Restoration Project for subletting the Old Village Hall to Pop-Up Shop businesses. CRP committee members Rodney Keller and Rick Norton were in attendance to discuss their plans. Rick Norton is hoping for approval to sublease the Old Village Hall to Aster & Indigo Candle Company. Rick states they are a local family-owned business with a great plan. They came to the CRP several months ago seeking their help with finding a Main Street location to open a candle store.

Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to approve Colfax Restoration Project Committee to sublease the Old Village Hall to Aster & Indigo Candle Company. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

Mayor Larry Dodds reports the Colfax End of Summer Celebration will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2021. Activities include Pancake and Sausage Breakfast, 5K run/walk, open swim at Octavia Pool, wiffle ball tournament, home run derby, bingo and fireworks. There will be food vendors located at Octavia Park. CRP Committee member Rodney Keller stated there will be another town-wide cleanup day in September 2021.

Next item on the agenda was the approval of the employment of Justin Givens as part time police officer for the Colfax Police Department at a hourly rate of $16.00 per hour. Police Chief Ritchie Cooper said Justin is obtaining a criminal justice degree and is very interested in being a police officer for the Village of Colfax. Ritchie states we would have to send Justin to the part time police academy for training. Ritchie’s goal is that he would start the academy on August 28, 2021. The academy takes 9 months to complete. This would be approximately a $2,000 cost for the village. Chief Cooper states we need to advertise for Police Officers as he has exhausted all of his resources.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made a motion to approve the employment of Justin Givens as part time police officer for the Colfax Police Department at a rate of $16.00 per hour with a 3-year commitment. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the authorization of the emergency tile work on the storm tile between West North Street and West Main Street due to heavy infestation of tree roots to be paid out of the Storm Water Fund.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made a motion to authorize the emergency told work on the storm tile between West North Street and West Main Street due to heavy infestation of tree roots to be paid out of the Storm Water Fund. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the authorization to sign the Animal Control Shelter Agreement between McLean County and the Village of Colfax for the county to provide shelter to all stray dogs and cats at a cost of $50 per animal.

Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to authorize the signature of the Animal Control Shelter agreement between McLean County and the Village of Colfax for the county to provide shelter to all stray dogs and cats at a cost of $50 per animal. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

Next on the agenda was the resignation of Niko Lullo as part time police officer and to remove him from approved roster.

Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to accept the resignation of Niko Lullo as part time police officer and removal from the approved roster. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made a motion to go into executive session to consider appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, dismissal of Village employees or pending litigation. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.
The Board of Trustees entered executive session at 8:40 p.m.

Trustee Janice Edwards made a motion to go back into open session. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.
The Board of Trustees returned to open session at 8:56 p.m.

Trustee Benjamin Thackeray made a motion to hire Nick Sandage as Assistant Superintendent of Maintenance at an hourly rate of $18.00 per hour. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Charles Morefield - Aye, David Rathke -Absent, Benjamin Thackeray- Aye, Carol Stephenson- Aye, Janice Edwards- Aye, Vincent Beck- Aye. Motion carried.

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Portia Vandegraft
Village Clerk