Page 2 - Manager Gerald Smith News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

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. ...

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 s...

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 memb...

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 Publ...

The Galesburg City Council got a presentation on Monday from a prospective contractor that would aid the city with a community branding plan. City Manager Gerald Smith says cities have increasingly focused on branding themselves, particularly since COVID-19. Steve Chandler with Chandlerthinks out of Franklin, Tennessee has a client list that is almost exclusively municipalities and tourism bureaus. Chandler says Galesburg won't be branded successfully just because it has a logo and tagline, but says it's more about a town's reputation. Mayor Peter Schwartzman asked about how wor...