The Galesburg City Council on Monday night tabled the purchase of the Galesburg Rescue Mission buildings on E. Third St. Mayor Peter Schwartzman told WGIL that the city hoped to buy the two buildings to turn them into a warming shelter and a possible homeless shelter. City Manager Gerald Smith says there are no agencies that are immediately committed to partnerships but the city would pursue those partnerships as opportunities arose. 7th Ward Alderman Larry Cox says it might be "putting the cart before the horse" to purchase the properties without having those partnerships in place. Cox made the motion to table the purchase until the next meeting in which three new Council members will be sworn in; Heather Acerra, Evan Miller and Steve Cheesman. Schwartzman told WGIL before the meeting that he didn't suspect the purchase would be controversial with the new council members.
Galesburg Council approves $115,000 in External Agency Funding
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Galesburg City Council in a work session Monday discussed potential partnerships involved in a community center. City Manager Gerald Smith says that the city has been reaching out to non-profits and community groups to meet in the last few months. Parks and Recreation Director Elizabeth Varner says 34 groups were invited and 21 scheduled meetings. Some of those groups include Bridgeway, Discovery Depot, Galesburg Art Centers, Community Hygiene Pantry, the YMCA and Salvation Army, Varner says talking points in the meeting included using space, partnership ideas, and identifying duplication of services. Almost all organizations they met with would like to at least participate in information sharing in the center. Examples of this would be having brochures about their organization in the center. Only four of 21 expressed concern about programming conflicts or duplication. Classrooms, meeting spaces, community room, auditorium and gym were among the most desired kinds of spaces for groups
The Galesburg City Council on Monday reconsidered and approved a classification, compensation, and organizational study for exempt and non-represented employees. Ward 3 Council member Kevin Wallace was previously opposed but changed his mind, joining Dwight White, Jaclyn Smith-Esters, and Sarah Davis in approving. Wallace apologized for his no vote previously, saying he takes his role as a union representative seriously. City Manager Gerald Smith previously said typically these kinds of studies are done every 6-7 years, but 35 years ago was the last time Galesburg did such a study. Ward 6 member Sarah Davis says it's not employees' jobs to tell the city what compensation they're worthy of. Ward 7 member Larry Cox says the 1988 study was shelved when he worked for the city. While Cox didn't vote for the study, he said that he hoped this new study wouldn't meet a similar fate.
The search for a Galesburg Director of Public Works/Assistant City Manager is ongoing. City Manager Gerald Smith says that 7 applicants have been received but interviews are not being conducted at this time. Smith as City Manager has the sole power to hire for the position. As WGIL previously reported the position would have been filled by current Public Works Director Wayne Carl but he is set to retire this Spring. Smith said that the city feared it would be difficult to attract a candidate with the same level of experience as Carl. They hoped the packaging of Assistant City Manager with Public Works Director duties would "encourage and incentivize highly qualified candidates." The salary for the position is about $125,000 depending on qualifications and experience. The city also has a contingency plan should they fail to recruit a candidate with strong qualifications in all the "areas needed." That would be hiring an Assistant Public Works Director, a position the
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