The regular monthly meeting of the Village Board of Colfax was called to order on Monday evening, February 6, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Ricardo Onken.

Trustees present were:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Aye;

Also present were:  Village Treasurer Linda Hanson; Village Attorney Tom Shields; Police Chief Michael Scott; Superintendent Damon Getty.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the regular monthly meeting and of the closed session meeting and approve as presented.  Trustee Jason Pierce seconded the motion.  Vote:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner- Aye; Motion carried.

Village Treasurer Linda Hanson gave the Treasurer's Report for the month of January, 2012.  Beginning Balance as of 01/01/12  -  $88,867.46; Ending Balance as of 01/31/12  -  $97,628.72;  Increase for month of January, 2012  -  $8,941.26.

Trustee Rick Vance made a motion to pay the bills as presented.  Trustee David Rathke seconded the motion.  Vote:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Aye; Motion carried.

Trustee Lonnie Meiner, Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee, reported that we are still running ahead on the electric bill at the sewer plant.  Village Clerk Nancy Kiper reported that we have saved over $2,000.00 so far with the new sewer system.

The amount of money received from Sales Tax from State of Illinois is still up around $3,300.00.

Our payment at Peoples State Bank of Colfax is $611.62 per month and is due on the 6th of each month.  Nancy reported the Bank sent payment coupons to use for the payments.

Chairman of the Police and Liquor Committee, Trustee David Rathke reported that the activity report for the month of January for the Police Department is in the folders.

Police Chief Mike Scott reported to the Board that the school got the results of the survey for the Safe Routes to School Grant.  They were a little disappointed in the fact the survey was sent home with every child in school but only nineteen (19) peoples returned the survey and three of them didn't have kids in school so don't know how they got the survey.n  Mike will put it together and get the travel plan approved by IDOT.

Mike also reported on a couple of fraud/scam things that have taken place in the Village that tictimized a couple of our elderly citizens.

Mike reported that one was an elderly lady - guy comes by and convinces her she needs to have her driveway blacktopped.  Long story short, puts $50.00 worth of sealant on - comes back in a week and if you let me do it again it will be good longer - comes back again and convinces her if you let me do it again will last for six (6) years.  The guy comes back and says someone else in town wants to have theirs done but they don't have the money and convinces her to pay for that one too.  Before it was all said and done they got $18,000.00.  They went to our bank and luckily our bank is on top of things, they did a nice job, they photocopied his ID every time they cashed a check.  Mike stated have identified the guy and I've got the guy but can't seem to get our State's Attorney interested.  Mike stated there is a law written for these purposes.  Mike stated he contacted the Attorney General's Office - they have a hotline for elderly abuse.  They were very interested and I put a packet together and sent if off to them.  Mike stated they will call with any ideas they have and they will find out why the State's Attorney is not prosecuting.

Mike stated that another of our elderly citizens got  a telephone call that he won the grand prize.  He is going to get 7.5 million dollars and a new Mercedes Benz.  It will be delivered right o his house and in order to claim it he needs to send a certified check for $10,000.00 to this name and address out in California.  He went to our bank and like I said our bank is on top of things, they are paying attention to our local elderly people.  He apparently was convinced by the caller and he went to Bloomington and they were quick to give him a loan.  He sent it to this place in California.  Luckily his daughter found out about it relatively quickly, called Mike and we got a hold of the Monterey County Sheriff's Department in California.  Mike stated my first thought is we are going to get nowhere here.  Mike stated I traced the FedX delivery and found out it was delivered at 3:00 p.m. the previous day.  I figured it was cashed by 4:00 p.m.  I got a hold of their dispatch they sent a deputy and I expected the address to be an empty lot - but it turned out to be a real person with a real address and they found the guy and low and behold they not only found the guy but he still had the check.  We recovered the check, got it put in evidence and they are sending all of their report information to me.  They bring the guy in - he's a flunky - he gets a call from this guy in Jamaica - the guy in Jamaica says you will have a check on its way to you , you cash it - keep out your ten percent (10%) and mail the rest to this address in Jamaica.  So we now have the address in Jamaica.  So I sent everything to the FBI and the State's Attorney says well you know they are all the way out there in California.  So a copy of this is going to the Attorney General also.

Mike stated I called the Bank where he got the loan and said I've got the check.  It is not going to be cashed - it is in evidence in California - I will give you a photocopy and the police report saying it is there.  The Bank stated he will have to make payments until this is in our hands.  Mike stated I told him so you are going to continue to make this person a victim until you get your check back because you don't want to believe any of us that it's not going to get cashed.  Well that's our policy.  So bottom line is I would really like to put together a presentation for our citizens to start showing what all these scams are and what to look out for and what to do if you get one of these calls.  Mike can probably do a one hour presentation and handouts.  Need to let people know what is going on.

Trustee Rick Vance stated you know everybody bitches about potholes and if you get caught going 10 mph over the speed limit they aren't happy with you.  Rick stated this is a very, very good opportunity that we could put in a little money and have donuts, cooks, or something and let the city sponsor this.  This is something that as the economy gets worse these people will come crawling out of the woodwork.  The whole board thought it was an excellent idea.  Trustee Rick Wagoner asked Village Attorney Tom Shields if there would be a problem if we did this.  Tom stated he doesn't see a problem with this.  Tom stated I will donate for the donuts.  Tom stted he would be happy to help him out - he has dealt with situations like this.  He stated he had a client that they fleeced him out of over $100,000.00.

Mike stated Tom if you could help that would be great and Dave at the Bank stated he would help too.  Trustee Carol Stephenson stated could probably use the Legion for this or someone suggested the Fellowship Hall at the Catholic Church since it is handicap accessible and there is plenty of parking and seating space.

Chairman of the Streets and Lights, Trustee Carol Stephenson reported that there are a number of potholes that need filled.  Damon stated started filling today - just went and got two (2) tons to fill the bad ones.  Damon also reported using only eight to nine tons of salt this year when it snowed.

Trustee Rick Wagoner, Chairman of the Water and Sewer Committee, reported on the reports from Superintendent Damon Getty.  Rick stated need to set up a Water Committee meeting for this week.

Water/Sewer Committee meeting for Thursday evening, February 9, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Trustee Lonnie Meiner asked about the water standing at the corner of the new cellular tower.  Damon reported it needs a culvert in there.  Stated they did the Julie once but then it snowed.  Lonnie asked if Damon was confident there was no leak there.  Damon stated they built the lot up and now water is draining into the street.

Trustee David Rathke asked Damon if it was just his house - he smells a lot more chlorine in the water and it burns his eyes when he takes a shower.  Damon stated we are running the max in chlorine but if he turns down will have a fishy smell to it.

Trustee Rick Wagoner stated maybe get a break in the weather so that can get hydrants flushed.  Damon stated if the temperature is 28 or 29 out not going to flush and crack hydrants.

Mayor Ricardo Onken reported on the report from Illinois Department of Public Health recognizing the Village for the Fluoridation of the water.

First on the agenda under old business was the Mark and Veronica Sticklen property.  Mayor Ric Onken asked the Board if the Placard on the property should stay in place until we can see some improvement at the property.  It was the concensus of the Board to leave it in place.

Mayor Ric Onken stated he wants to meet with the Committee Chairmen before the next meeting.  Asked what a good time for each person would be.

Mayor Ric Onken asked the Board if they want to give a donation to Show Bus.  Our donation last year was $250.00.

Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to approve a $250.00 donation to Show Bus.  Trustee Rick Wagoner seconded the motion.  Vote:
Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Aye; Motion carried.

The first item under new business was approval of the 2012-13 Motor Fuel Tax Resolution.

Trustee Rick Vance made a motion to approve the 2012-13 Motor Fuel Tax Resolution in the amount of $43,392.92.  Trustee Jason Pierce seconded the motion.  Vote:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Aye; Motion carried.

Colfax Businessman Mark Miller had asked to be on the agenda but was unable to attend tonight's meeting.  Trustee Lonnie Meiner addressed the Board regarding what Mark was wanting to address the Board regarding grants from state agencies with technology in small towns.  He is wanting to explore that and see if there is anything we can do.  Mayor Ric Onken stted that we have talked about this before with McLean County Economic Development will explore some of these things for a fee.  Ric stated he thinks it was because of the fee before that we didn't continue with it.  Put on next month's agenda.

Mayor Ricardo Onken asked Superintendent of Public Works Damon Getty to review what he has been doing so far.  Damon reported that he isn't sure what the Board wants.  There is a packet in the folders of what I have done for this month.  Ric asked if Dave filled out one of these also.

Trustee Rick Vance made a motion to adjourn.  Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion.  Vote:  Rick Vance - Aye; David Rathke - Aye; Jason Pierce - Aye; Carol Stpehenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Aye; Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Nancy Kiper, Village Clerk