The village of Colfax Board of Trustees met Sept. 6 to review the new state cannabis law.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:
SEPTEMBER 2016 BOARD MEETING MINUTES
The regular monthly meeting of the Village Board of Colfax was called to order on Tuesday evening, September 6, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Ricardo Onken.
Trustees present were:
David Rathke - Aye
Jason Pierce - Aye
Carol Stephenson - Aye
Lonnie Meiner - Aye
Kelly Gradert - Aye
Trustee Rick Vance was absent.
Also present were Village Treasurer Linda Hanson; Public Works Brian Hereford; Police Chief Michael Scott; Village Attorney Tom Shields.
Trustee Jason Pierce made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as presented. Trustee Kelly Gradert seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Absent; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Lonnie Meiner – Aye; Kelly Gradert – Aye; Motion carried.
Village Treasurer Linda Hanson gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of August, 2016.
Beginning balance as of 08/01/2016 $286,898.94
Ending Balance as of 08/31/2016 $262,451.02
Decrease for month of August, 2016 ($ 24,447.92)
Trustee Jason Pierce made a motion to pay the bills as presented. Trustee Lonnie Meiner seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Absent; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Lonnie Meiner – Aye; Kelly Gradert – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Jason Pierce, Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee, had nothing to report at this time.
Trustee David Rathke, Chairman of the Police and Liquor Committee, reported that the Activity Report for the month of August, 2016 for the Colfax Police Department is in your folders.
Police Chief Michael Scott reported on the drug Narcan that the police departments. Last month I reported that the Board felt that since the ambulance was so close and would be on scene almost as fast as the police that it was okay that the Police Department did not carry Narcan with them. Mike reported this month that in the actual law it requires all police departments to carry Narcan in the squad cars. Mike reported that Jim Kern will be training everyone on the use of Narcan and will order the drug for the Village.
Mike also reported on the new Cannabis Law that went into effect. Mike stated that it is no longer a criminal offense if there are ten (10) grams or less. Mike stated that there are two ways that you can fine these people:
Can write a traffic ticket fine of up to $100.00 – of which the Village would receive $65.00 of that.
The Village can write a new ordinance and can do this as an Ordinance Violation and could make the fine up to $700.00 – of which the Village would receive one hundred percent (100%) of – if the OV is paid.
The Board opted to go with Option #1 to just write a traffic ticket for this offense. Mike stated that if the Village were to make an Ordinance there is more of a chance that the individual would opt not to pay it and it would end up in court which would mean lawyer fees on top of this.
Trustee Carol Stephenson reported that she heard in Lexington that there had been some burglaries in Colfax. Mike reported that there had been but that the people had been caught.
Trustee Lonnie Meiner, Chairman of the Water and Sewer Committee, had nothing to report at this time.
Lonnie asked Public Works Brian Hereford about the manholes. Brian reported that there are few manholes that need to be sealed up. He has been looking at three or four different options for doing this and will get it ordered.
Trustee Rick Vance, Chairman of the Streets and Lights Committee, was absent. Brian Hereford had nothing to report at this time.
The Board opted to table going into Closed Session until next month.
Trustee Lonnie Meiner made a motion to approve Ordinance #2016-02 as drafted. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Absent; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Lonnie Meiner – Aye; Kelly Gradert – Aye; Motion carried.
Public Works Brian Hereford reported Old Business Item #3 reported East Main Street from Harrison Street going east. MFT Engineer Paul Brown submitted a Supplemental Resolution for East Main Street for the 2016-17 MFT. AMZ Road Repair submitted an estimate for $11,400 for doing the work on the street. Andy Tull, Manager at the Colfax Potash, reported there are lots of trucks in and out of the Potash plant every day and there hasn’t been anything done to this street in at least five years.
Trustee Lonnie Meiner made a motion to approve the Supplemental Resolution for East Main Street in the amount of $13,000.00 for the 2016-17 Motor Fuel Tax year. Trustee Jason Pierce seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Absent; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stehenson – Aye; Lonnie Meiner – Aye; Kelly Gradert – Aye; Motion carried.
Trustee Lonnie Meiner made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Carol Stephenson seconded the motion. Vote: Rick Vance – Absent; David Rathke – Aye; Jason Pierce – Aye; Carol Stephenson – Aye; Lonnie Meiner – Aye; Kelly Gradert – Aye; Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Kiper
Village Clerk
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