Galesburg aldermen on Monday approved the hire of a new City manager as a part of a work session but the council was divided. Gerald Smith was not present at the meeting but is expected to start work in the next 30 to 45 days. Larry Cox, Bradley Hix, Wayne Dennis voted against the contract. Cox says Smith's starting salary is too "costly for the city". Cox says Smith would be starting near the top of the salary schedule and with a comparable benefit package to where Todd Thompson was at after 11 years. The total salary and benefit package offered to Smith was about $171,000 compared with Thompson at $179,000 when he left. Alderman Dwight White says he has no issue with salary. He says Smith is highly qualified and finds appropriate in light of cost of living increases. There are some decisions that have been put on hold until a permanent city manager could be chosen. For example, when City Attorney Brad Nolden departed a law firm was contracted to handle the duties, but
Brad Nolden, formerly city attorney and administrative services director for the City of Galesburg, joined the Knox community effective Tuesday, Sept 6, in a new role as vice president for administration and general counsel. "Upon meeting Brad and learning more about his areas of expertise, I saw a wonderful opportunity for Knox to hire a leader who can provide strong, focused leadership for several administrative functions, including legal affairs, human resources, campus safety, facilities planning and management, sustainability, community and government relations, and auxiliary services," said President C. Andrew McGadney. "Brad's many years of experience in the Galesburg community will drive even stronger ties with the city, local businesses, and civic organizations, an opportunity that many members of our community identified for the College." A native of Illinois, Nolden earned his B.B.A. in finance from the Tippie College of Business at the University of