The regular monthly meeting was called to order on Monday evening, May 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Larry Dodds.
Trustees present were:
• Rick Norton - Aye
• David Rathke - Aye
• Janice Edwards - Aye
• Charles Morefield - Aye
• Vincent Beck - Aye

Also present were Superintendent of Maintenance Josh Hereford, Assistant Superintendent Nick Sandage, Police Chief Ritchie Cooper and Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer.
Immediately following roll call, Mayor Dodds asked for a motion to appoint Charles Morefield and Dustin McCarty for a 2-year term of the Board of Trustees.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to appoint Charles Morefield and Dustin McCarty to the Board of Trustees for a 2-year term expiring in 2027. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Charles Morefield-Abstain, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Village Clerk Portia Vandegraft gave the Oath of Office to Charles Morefield and Dustin McCarty.
Roll call: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye.
Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to close Fiscal Year 2024-2025. Trustee Rick Norton seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to open Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Dustin McCarty made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as presented. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of April 2025.
• Beginning Balance $ 73,271.96
• Ending Balance $ 81,492.29
• Increase for the month of April 2025 $ 6,220.33

Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of April 2025. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to pay the bills as presented with the removal of Invoice #260337 from Farnsworth Group. Trustee Rick Norton seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to close Motor Fuel Tax expenditures for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Janice Edwards made a motion to open MFT Funds Account for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve the Position Appointment for 2025-2026. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to approve the 2025-2026 Standing Committees of the Village of Colfax. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-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 gave his report for April 2025. He states reports were completed for the following: reckless driver, Molotov cocktail, unlawful recording, disorderly conduct, violation bail bond and aggravated battery to a child. Ritchie Cooper states 9 traffic tickets issued.
Maintenance Department- Josh and Nick dug out the gravel along the west side of South Grove Street and replaced it with 1-inch clean rock to help drain the water sitting on the road. Several stop signs and posts were replaced that were damaged from wind and snowplow. The water meter at the park pavilion bathrooms was leaking, the meter was removed, replaced the broken piece and reinstalled meter. During the second week of mowing, the right hydrostat drive motor went out on Ex-Mark. It is still under warranty, so the parts will be covered by the warranty. Josh and Nick located a service line at 107 W. North Street for the homeowner to replace the shut off inside the home. A meter pit was located on South Harrison Street who had a leaking toilet. The post that anchors the floating aerators on the lagoons at the sewer plant hand pulled over from the wind. Each post was pulled; new holes were dug and post reset. Ten new meters were ordered from United Systems to start replacing the meters have malfunctioned.
All daily/monthly general maintenance completed.
Mayor Dodds reports there is an Animal Control/Zoning Report in your folders for review.
Mayor Dodds reports there is an EMA Report in your folders for review.
Mayor’s Report- Mayor Dodds states there is a list on monthly revenue for your review. The IML Statehouse Briefing indicated there are nearly 300 pieces of legislation that would alter or reduce municipal revenue generated through income taxes and property taxes. The Village of Colfax received its first disbursement for the BDD Sales Tax in April 2025 in the amount of $3,197.69. Chestnut Health Systems prevention department was awarded opioid settlement dollars through the McLean County Board. They have identified the Village of Colfax as a strategic location to place a Naloxone/Narcan Vending Machine.
Committee Reports
Finance & Audit Committee Chairman, Rick Norton, has nothing to report at this time.
Police & Liquor Committee Chairman, Dave Rathke, has nothing to report at this time.
Water & Sewer Committee Chairman, Vincent Beck, has nothing to report at this time.
Streets & Lights Committee Chairman, Janice Edwards, has nothing to report at this time.
Maintenance Equipment & Vehicle Committee Chairman, Charles Morefield, has nothing to report at this time.
Old Business:
First item of Old Business was the review and consideration of authorization for Mayor Dodds to sign “First Amendment to Ground Lease with VB-S1 Assets, LLC.
Item is tabled for further clarification.
Next item was the review and approval for Mayor Dodds to sign the Joint Funding Agreement and Resolution for Federally Funded Construction.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to authorize Mayor Dodds to sign the Joint Funding Agreement and Resolution for Federally Funded Construction, Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
New Business:
First item of New Business was the review and approval of the submission of the Resolution for Maintenance Under the Illinois Highway Code for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve the submission of the Resolution for Maintenance Under the Illinois Highway Code for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was the approval of the contract with Russell Leigh & Associates, LLC to complete the annual audit for the Village of Colfax Fiscal Year 2024-2025 at a cost not to exceed $6,000.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve the contract with Russell Leigh & Associates, LLC to complete the annual audit for the Village of Colfax Fiscal Year 2024-2025 at a cost not to exceed $6,000. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda was consideration and approval to hire Noah Young as part-time patrol officer for the Colfax Police Department. Training date to be determined.
Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to hire Noah Young as a part-time patrol officer for the Colfax Police Department. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was the review and approval of Ordinance No. 2025-08, An Ordinance of the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois Establishing A Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and A Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax.
Trustee Janice Edwards made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-08, An Ordinance of the Village of Colfax, McLean County, Illinois Establishing A Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and A Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-No. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda was the review and approval of Ordinance No. 2025-09, An Ordinance Approving the Redevelopment Plan and Projects for the Colfax Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-09, An Ordinance Approving the Redevelopment Plan and Projects for the Colfax Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. Trustee Vincent Beck seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Larry Dodds-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda was the review and approval of Ordinance No. 2025-10, An Ordinance Designating the Redevelopment Project Area for the Colfax Tax Increment (TIF) Financing District.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-10, An Ordinance Designating the Redevelopment Project Area for the Colfax Tax Increment (TIF) Financing District. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Larry Dodds-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda was the review and approval of Ordinance No. 2025-11, An Ordinance Adopting Tax Increment Financing for the Colfax Tax Increment Financing District.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-11, An Ordinance Adopting Tax Increment Financing for the Colfax Tax Increment Financing District. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Larry Dodds-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda was the approval of the Memorandum of Agreement with Chestnut Health Systems for placement of naloxone vending machine in the Village of Colfax office through April 2027, with the right to renew as needed.
Item falls due to lack of motion.
The final new business item on the agenda was the review and approval of the License Agreement between the Village of Colfax and MCC Network, LLC.
Item tabled. Mayor Dodds will touch base with Attorney Kathleen Carter to discuss some revising of the agreement at the request of the Board of Trustees.
Public Items not on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
Trustee Chuck Morefield made a motion to go into executive session to consider appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, dismissal of Village employees and pending litigation. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Time: 8:27 p.m.
Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to go back into open session. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Time: 8:43 p.m.
Results of Executive Session:
Trustee Charles Morefield made a motion to approve salary increases for the employees of the Village of Colfax as presented. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to appoint Jonah Beck to the Zoning Board of Appeals effective immediately. Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Abstain, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee David Rathke made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Aye, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Portia Vandegraft, Village Clerk