The regular monthly meeting of the Village Board of Colfax was called to order on Monday evening, February 2, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Ricardo Onken.

 

          Trustees present were:

                    Donna Poppe                           -          Aye

                    Dennis Farney                          -          Aye

                    Bruce Green                              -          Aye

                    Carol Stephenson                      -          Aye

                    Lonnie Meiner                          -          Aye

                    Rick Wagoner                          -          Aye

 

          Also present were Police Chief Mike Scott; Village Attorney Tom Shields; Village Treasurer Linda Hanson; Village Engineer Ed Duran.

 

          Trustee Donna Poppe made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the regular monthly meeting and approve as presented.  Trustee Dennis Farney seconded the motion.  Vote:  Donna Poppe - Aye; Dennis Farney - Aye; Bruce Green - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Aye; Motion carried.

 

          Village Treasurer Linda Hanson gave the Treasurer's Report for the month of January, 2009.

                    Beginning Balance as of January 1, 2009  $ 80,272.19

                    Ending Balance as of January 31, 2009                 $ 71,678.54

                  

                             Decrease as of January 31, 2009  $   8,593.65

         

          There was $ 6,000.00 paid back on the loan from Peoples State Bank of Colfax.

 

          Trustee Lonnie Meiner made a motion to pay the bills as presented.  Trustee Bruce Green seconded the motion.  Vote:  Donna Poppe - Aye; Dennis Farney - Aye; Bruce Green - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Aye; Motion carried.

 

 

 

          Village Engineer Ed Duran was present and explained to the Board what he had put together for the stimulus package.  Ed explained all of the steps and projects which he put into this package.  This is a ready to go project and a letter to be faxed to Representative Shane Cultra's office.  Village Clerk Nancy Kiper explained they didn't want any letters just the figures and bottom line numbers.  Ed explained that the costs have increased twenty-five percent (25%) which has been put into these figures. 

 

          The total amount of all three projects is $525,000.00.  

 

          Trustee Lonnie Meiner, Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee, reported that the increased water rates helped our bottom line tremendously.  Village Clerk Nancy Kiper reported that we received $11,787.00 from the state and our franchise fee from Nicor came in today which was $8,320.00.  Trustee Rick Wagoner asked how far the state was behind now.  Nancy reported that the state finally paid money in every category this month.  We finally got the Local Use Tax which we had not received for two or three months and the Income Tax.  Don't know what they were doing with the income tax whether they were holding it or not.  Haven't received anything yet for February.  Nancy reported that she paid back the Police Squad Account and Storm Water Fee Account from where we had borrow from those two accounts.

 

          Chairman of the Police and Liquor Committee, Trustee Carol Stephenson reported on the Police Department activities for the month of January.  Mike reported that the hours weren't reduced by as much as we thought they would be because about half of the time Damon got called out to snow plow so we had to replace him.

 

          Chairman of the Water and Sewer Committee, Trustee Rick Wagoner had nothing new to report. 

         

          Village Clerk Nancy Kiper reported that Damon typed up a report for some of the activities of the Public Works Department.  Nancy reported that we got the permanent permit for the Re-Ox this morning.

 

         

           

 

          Trustee Carol Stephenson asked about the cellular tower.  This has not even been discussed.  Nancy reported that she just received the packet from U.S. Cellular about 5:00 Thursday night.  Damon was not here Friday so Nancy didn't get to talk to him about it.  Carol stated that the Village won't get anything out of it.  Carol stated that it's on private property so they get the benefit.  The Village wills till get the telecommunication tax and property tax from this.  Ric asked if we know how they chose the sight?  Carol feels that Damon shouldn't take it upon himself to do this stuff.  Damon was doing his Zoning Officer job. 

 

          Trustee Donna Poppe stated she has concerns about having this in town.  She acknowledges that we need a cellular tower here in town.  Carol stated that no one had better not sign anything.  Nancy assured the Board that nothing has been signed by anyone.  The application for the Building Permit has been sent to U.S. Cellular but until they fill it out and send it and the money back nothing is signed. 

 

          Carol feels that the Board needs to be informed a little more.  Village Attorney Tom Shields asked how the property was zoned.  It is zoned commercial. 

 

          Nancy stated she didn't get a chance to talk to Damon before he left on vacation.  Tom stated need to see what kind of description there is in the Zoning Ordinance. Carol stated it is underhanded on Damon's part to do this.  Nancy stated that Damon just did it as Zoning Officer. 

 

          Village Attorney Tom Shields told Carol she needs to entertain a motion to have this held off until the Counsel reviews it.  Carol asked if the Zoning Officer has the authority to do this. 

 

          Ric asked if anything would be done before Damon gets back.  Nancy stated nothing would be done before that. 

 

          Village Attorney Tom Shields stated might want to move the new Building/Zoning Codes along a little faster.  Tom also stated that need to verify what Bloomington and Normal are doing in regard to fees getting charged.  Rick Wagoner asked if the Board could meet with U.S. Cellular Representative Erick Jenkins.    

 

          Trustee Carol Stephenson made a motion to have Zoning Officer submit a report to the Board regarding the Cellular Tower and to take no action on the Building Permit until it is reviewed by the full Board.  Trustee Donna Poppe seconded the motion.  Vote:  Donna Poppe - Aye; Dennis Farney - Aye; Bruce Green - Abstain; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Aye; Motion carried.

 

          Trustee Dennis Farney, Chairman of the Streets and Lights Committee, reported low on salt.  He reported that Damon was going to mix some rock chips with it to stretch it and Dennis stated it didn't do to bad. 

 

          There was no old business tonight.

 

          The first thing under new business was the annexation of the property at 329 North Harrison Street.  Village Attorney Tom Shields stated that what we have is property that is continuous to the Village of Colfax.  Tom stated that he spoke with Village Engineer Ed Duran and he said his firm could do the plat and the cost would be $500.00.  This is a voluntary annexation as far as the Village and would probably be a good step as far as taxes and such.  Tom knows nothing that would prevent it from.  Tom is not sure as far as Harrison Street.  They are already hooked up to water but the village would have to run the sewer.  The Village would have to get easements along Bethal Weber's house and then run it under Harrison Street.  Trustee Rick Wagoner stated it would cost approximately $70,000 to $80,000 to do this.  Trustee Donna Poppe asked if the Village will get enough from the taxes to spend $80,000 for running this sewer line.  Trustee Carol Stephenson asked why they didn't hook up years ago - the plat was recorded in 1988.    

 

          Mayor Ric Onken asked Trustee Rick Wagoner if his committee could try to get figures for the costs of running the sewer line for this.  Rick will get a hold of Ed Duran and find out.

 

          Mayor Ric Onken received a letter from Show Bus asking for a donation from the Village.  Trustee Rick Wagoner asked how much usage there is in the Village of Colfax.  Nancy will call and see if she can get this information.   

 

 

          Ric gave the Board a copy of the CIDP information that he would like  them to take a look at before next month's meeting.  Will put on the agenda for next month. 

 

          Ric asked if there were any public comments.  There were none this month.

 

          Trustee Lonnie Meiner had a question for Tom.  Lonnie asked if the Village of Colfax is incorporated with Martin Township.  Lonnie asked if that would be like a buffer to the Village if we were incorporated.  Tom stated that he thinks the limit is about three (3) miles.  Rick Wagoner stated he thinks the Village looked at this about ten (10) years ago.

 

          Mayor Ric Onken stated that he met with a representative from AmerenIP about the situation regarding the power system out here.  The Village of Colfax has no backup line.  There is a line that comes down the Colfax Blacktop but it stops about a mile from Route 9.  Rick Wagoner asked if we were to get in contact with the Commerce Commission - would they back us.  Ric stated that he has a record of all of the outages in the last three years. Trustee Dennis Farney stated that if we just keep complaining. 

 

          Trustee Lonnie Meiner asked if Lexington is out quite a bit.  Village Attorney Tom Shields stated every time there's an ice storm or the wind blows Lexington is out.  

 

          Trustee Rick Wagoner made a motion to adjourn.  Trustee Bruce Green seconded the motion.  Vote:  Donna Poppe - Aye; Dennis Farney - Aye; Bruce Green - Aye; Carol Stephenson - Aye; Lonnie Meiner - Aye; Rick Wagoner - Aye; Motion carried.

 

          Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

 

                                                          Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                          Nancy Kiper

                                                          Village Clerk