The Galesburg City Council on Monday night tabled the purchase of two buildings from the Galesburg Rescue Mission until they can further investigate. The vote to table was 6-1 with only Dwight White opposing. Ward 3 Council member Evan Miller says that the Rescue Mission has done a good job of managing its clients but is worried that a facility under new management that might change. Mayor Peter Schwartzman said he also walked the area as well and didn't hear those concerns although he didn't ask directly about the issue. City Manager Gerald Smith said the city had not surveyed residents around the building because they had assumed that because a homeless shelter had been present the change would have minimal concern. Ward 7 Council Member Steve Cheesman says helping the homeless is an important cause but wasn't ready to vote yes with limited information. Cheesman, Heather Acerra, and Bradley Hix all compared the purchase to buying Churchill as a Community Center or purc
The Galesburg City Council on Monday denied a one-month contract extension to the interim Public Works Director on Monday night. It was originally on the consent agenda before the contract extension was removed and then tabled, effectively leaving the city without a Public Works Director. The vote was 5-2. Voting to table was Bradley Hix, Wayne Dennis, Evan Miller, Heather Acerra and Steve Cheesman. Ward 1 Council member Bradley Hix says he doesn't think the council has enough information to extend given that interim Mark Rothert's contract pay is equivalent to $183,000 a year. City Manager Gerald Smith says Rothert has operated under this contract for the past two months and the cost includes salary, insurance, and benefit costs. Ward 5 Council member Heather Acerra moved to table the item which was seconded by Ward 3's Evan Miller. Acerra says that $183,000 is still higher than many other similar city administrative positions when you factor in things like benefits. Wa