The regular monthly meeting was called to order on Wednesday evening, June 12, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Larry Dodds.
Trustees present were:
• Rick Norton - Aye
• David Rathke - Aye
• Janice Edwards - Aye
• Carol Stephenson - Aye
• Charles Morefield - Aye
• Vincent Beck - Aye
Also present were Superintendent Joshua Hereford; Assistant Superintendent Nick Sandage; Police Chief Ritchie Cooper; School Resource Officer Ben Thorndyke and Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as presented. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May 2024.
• Beginning Balance $141,504.00
• Ending Balance $166,299.54
• Increase for month of May 2024 $ 24,795.54
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May 2024. Trustee Rick Norton seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to pay the bills as presented. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Public comments. Items on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Special Reports:
Police Department- Police Chief Ritchie Cooper states that reports were made for disorderly conduct, Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault, Endangering Life of a Child, Missing Person and Ordinance Violations.
Maintenance Department- Superintendent Josh Hereford reports during May water and sewer lines were marked for the fiber optic project. GHB Enterprises began their directional boring, two water lines were hit and were repaired. Josh and Nick changed all the bulbs in the Main Street lights. Josh took the mosquito sprayer for Forsyth for its annual testing and sprayed for mosquitos on May 25, 2024. Trees were trimmed around signs and intersections to increase visibility. The gutters on Main, Center, W. North, Cooper, High and Olive Streets were sprayed for weeds. Josh and Nick also sprayed around the Village Hall, Maintenance Shed and Water Plant. Alleys and the drainage ditch was sprayed for weeds as well. All monthly/daily general maintenance was completed.
Animal Control/Zoning- Report in your folders for review.
EMA- Report in your folders for review.
Mayor’s Report- A list of monthly revenue is included in the Mayor’s Report. Mayor Dodds contacted an engineering and environmental firm out of Champaign who sent information outlining possible funding options for our water, sewer and sewer plant projects we are facing. Mayor Dodds will be meeting with a representative and will keep everyone posted. The Village of Colfax received its first two property tax distributions totaling $50,818.50. Mayor Dodds states the progress on the Safe Routes to School Grant is slow due to receipt of the Project Development Report received from federal services requires more response. Mayor Dodds stressed the importance of having this project completed before school resumes in August 2025. The owner of 205 E. Fifer Street has demolished the property on his own after the Village of Colfax initiated demolition proceedings in the courts. After many discussions regarding various options with the parking concerns in the downtown area, it was determined that there would be no changes to the existing parking.
Committee Reports:
Finance and Audit Committee Chairman, David Rathke, has nothing to report at this time.
Police and Liquor Committee Chairman, Carol Stephenson, reports there was a committee meeting held prior to tonight’s Board of Trustees meeting to discuss the camera coverage in the downtown area and review of proposal by Police Chief Ritchie Cooper. Carol Stephenson states she is stepping down as Chairman for the Police & Liquor Committee.
Water and Sewer Committee Chairman, Charles Morefield, has nothing to report at this time.
Streets and Lights Committee Chairman, Rick Norton, has nothing to report at this time.
Maintenance Equipment and Vehicle Committee Chairman, has nothing to report at this time.
Old Business:
There was no old business.
New Business:
First item of New Business was the report from School Resource Officer Benjamin Thorndyke on his experience during his first year.
Next item on the agenda was the approval to change the date of the July Board of Trustees meeting from July 1, 2024, to Monday, July 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to approve the date change of the July Board of Trustees meeting to Monday, July 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Charles Morefield-No, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was the approval of the closure of Main Street from Brook to Center for set-up, concert and street dancing from 2:00 p.m. – midnight on Saturday, August 2, 2024.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve the closure of Main Street from Brook to Center for set-up, concert and street dancing from 2:00 p.m. – midnight on Saturday, August 2, 2024. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was the approval to complete the crawl space work on the Old Village Hall for a total cost of $8,839.06.
Trustee Vincent Beck states the A/C drains into the crawlspace and that would need to be rerouted to the back alley prior to completing the work. Agenda item tabled until the July Board of Trustees Meeting.
The final item on the agenda was the presentation and proposal for expanding camera coverage in the downtown Colfax area from Harrison to Grove Streets on Main Street and adjoining area. After much discussion it was decided to table it until the July meeting to review additional financial resources.
Public comments-Items not on the agenda.
Trustee Rick Norton discussed the potential of the Village to increase the Sales Tax to bring in additional revenue as done in other rural Central Illinois towns.
Rob Brown with GHB was in attendance. Fiber installation began in early May and will continue. He reports Anchor is up and running and will begin customer hookups by the end of the month.
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Rick Norton seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Carol Stephenson-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Portia Vandegraft
Village Clerk