The regular monthly meeting was called to order on Monday evening, June 2, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Larry Dodds.
Trustees present were:
• Rick Norton - Aye
• David Rathke - Absent
• Janice Edwards - Aye
• Dustin McCartty - Aye
• Charles Morefield - Aye; arrived at 7:09 p.m.
• Vincent Beck - Aye
•
Also present were Superintendent of Maintenance Josh Hereford, Police Chief Ritchie Cooper, School Resource Officer Benjamin Thorndyke and Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer.
Trustee Rick Norton 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-Absent, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Village Treasurer Connie Gossmeyer gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May 2025.
• Beginning Balance $ 81,492.29
• Ending Balance $ 88,417.91
• Increase for the month of May 2025 $ 6,925.62

Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May 2025. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Absent, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Absent, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to pay the bills as presented. Trustee Charles Morefield seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Absent, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Public Comments-Items on the agenda.
Bruce Carroll resident at. Bruce Carroll brings to the attention to the Board of Trustees that there is several “people” speeding through the alley between Harrison Street and Brook Street to the south of the Methodist Church. He states there was signage posted that the alley was not a through street, and it has since been removed. Bruce states there was an individual driving 40 mph down the alley, he asked them to slow down. A person sitting on the neighboring porch chimed in. Bruce reports there are families in the neighborhood and kids playing outside and this has become a safety hazard.
Monica Crowley, Village of Colfax, resident at 107 E. Wood Street, addressed the Board of Trustees regarding her experience with the Carroll family since moving into the neighborhood in 2020. Monica lists several complaints made to the police department by her neighbors regarding various items: trash cans, dumpster, vehicles, music, dogs, driving down alley, and their yard. Monica reports on Mother’s Day weekend she was doing yard work when she witnessed the Carroll’s digging up dirt and rock and placing it in the alley as a speed bump. On May 19, 2025, Monica reported that she and her husband were driving home from their son’s baseball game and were met by Tina Carroll in the alley when an altercation occurred and police were called. Monica Crowley states all she wants is peace and to be left alone.
Special Reports
Police Department- Police Chief Ritchie Cooper states he did not receive his report from the county, so he does not have his full report available tonight. He reports he will have a double report in July 2025. Ritchie Cooper gives update on pending cases with the McLean County State’s Attorney. Investigation began for possession of child pornography.
Maintenance- Josh gives the Maintenance Report for May 2025. Josh reports he and Nick installed new posts and signs on Riverview Drive. WTR Solutions ran sonar and we will review the full report later on in the meeting. Josh and Nick dug up the water shut off at the Martin Township Library by hand and installed a new rod and curb box. Three streetlights on Main Street near the bank were not working. Farmer Electric came out and repaired them. It turned out to be a broken wire. New ERT’s for water meters arrived but the ETRU unit on the meters are bad as well. 10 have been ordered. Tim Milton made 2 baskets for tools and attached them to the service box on the truck. The mower was finally repaired. The starter in the New Holand tractor went bad; a new one has been ordered from NAPA. All general daily/monthly 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 reports there is a list of the monthly revenue for your review. There will be a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on July 14, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. to review specific concerns of properties and begin a thorough review of the Village of Colfax Building Codes. Mayor Dodds asked for discussion or guidance regarding the 2026-2027 Tax Levy and discussion regarding receiving sealed bids for 305 E. Cooper Street. Mayor Dodds also reports he spoke with Vertical Bridge and reports we would not renew the lease past 2042 at this time.
Committee Reports
Finance & Audit Committee Chairman, Rick Norton, has nothing to report at this time.
Police & Liquor Committee Chairman, Dave Rathke, was absent.
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:
The first item of old business was the presentation by Nadia Klekamp related to placement of naloxone vending machine in the Colfax Village Hall through April 2027 with the right to renew as needed; possible motion to follow.
No motion made.
Next item on the agenda was the continued discussion regarding parking in downtown area (i.e., Center Street with three businesses and in residential areas.
Mayor Dodds reports he observed a truck with attached trailer parking in the parallel parking in front of Hug A Mug taking up two parking spaces creating difficulty for patrons to cross the street. Mayor Dodds wanted to see if the parking situation on Center Street should be addressed again. At this time the Board of Trustees does not want to make any changes to the parking situation.
Mayor Dodds also states he got a request for the speed limit on Sunset Drive to be discussed. The speed limit is currently 30 mph and it has been requested the speed limit be lowered to 20 mph. No changes made at this time.
The final item of old business was the details regarding expanding the Business Development District.
In your folders in an email from Gwen Crawford regarding adding the remainder of the Village of Colfax to the Colfax Business Development District. Gwen Crawford, Economic Development Group, states it would be approximately $25,000 to add the remainder of the village. This will not be pursued at this time.
New Business:
The first item on the agenda was the consideration and appointment of Charles Mueller to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to appoint Charles Mueller to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Absent, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was the consideration and approval of the closure of Main Street from Brook to Center Street for set-up and concert from 2:00 p.m. – midnight on Saturday, August 9, 2025.
Trustee Vincent Beck made a motion to approve the closure on Main Street from Brook to Center Street from 2:00 p.m.- midnight on Saturday, August 9, 2025. Trustee Janice Edwards seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Absent, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Next item on the agenda was the review of the Sludge Sonar Report for the Village of Colfax sewage lagoon. Superintendent of Maintenance Josh Hereford reviews the report from WTR regarding the sludge. WTR reports the lagoon’s sludge/solids accumulation has increased over the years. A contributing factor is the pumper truck dumping into Cell-1 at different locations. WTR reports this is a heavy load beyond the engineering design for the location. The treatment protocol has been initiated since the volatiles are 48% which is almost half of the solids/sludge in Cell-1 that can be digested.
Next item on the agenda was the discussion regarding the alleys in the Village of Colfax.
Police Chief Ritchie Cooper states the current speed limit of the alley is 15 mph. Mayor Dodds asked the board if they would like to add speed bumps to the alley to address the speeding.
Next item on the agenda was the review of the procedure and rules related to garbage, large items, Technology, landscape waste and leaves due to abuse or inappropriate use of the service.
Mayor Dodds states there has been a significant inappropriate use of the service regarding bulk garbage pick-up or landscape pick-up. A letter regarding the new regulations will be delivered to each customer by the local Boy Scouts.
Final item on the agenda was the discussion regarding the sale of Village owned real estate at 305 E. Cooper Street Colfax, Illinois. No motion was made.
Public Items not on the agenda.
Greg Neuhaus states there is still an issue of engine breaking at 5:00 a.m. on Illinois Highway 165. Greg asked the police department if anything could be done. Police Chief Ritchie Cooper states he will see what he can do about it.
Trustee Rick Norton made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Dustin McCarty seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Norton-Aye, David Rathke-Absent, Janice Edwards-Aye, Dustin McCarty-Aye, Charles Morefield-Aye, Vincent Beck-Aye. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:52p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Portia Vandegraft
Village Clerk