City of Galesburg City Council met Sept. 8.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Called to order by Mayor John Pritchard at 5:30 p.m.
Roll Call #1: Physically Present: Mayor John T. Pritchard, Council Members Bradley Hix, Lindsay Hillery, Corine Andersen, Wayne Allen, and Larry Cox, 6. Present via Telephone: Council Members Wayne Dennis and Peter Schwartzman, 2. Also Present: City Manager Todd Thompson, City Attorney Bradley Nolden, and City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz. Mayor Pritchard declared a quorum present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Rajan Zed, President, Universal Society of Hinduism, gave the invocation via telephone.
Council Member Hix moved, seconded by Council Member Hillery, to approve the minutes of the City Council meeting from August 17, 2020.
Roll Call #2:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Hillery, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 7. Nays: None
Absent: None
Chairman declared motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA #2020-17
All matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion.
20-2019
Approve Resolution 20-17 for the City’s share on construction costs for the Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds.
20-3029
Approve the bid from Laverdiere Construction in the amount of $62,390 for concrete pavement patching on Linwood Road and Carl Sandburg Drive.
20-4063
Approve quote from H2I Group in the amount of $14,988 to replace the existing batting cage at the Lakeside Recreation Facility with a new motorized batting cage.
20-4064
Approve an agreement between the City of Galesburg and Galesburg Transit I Corporation for joint legal representation by the James Kelly Law Firm for strategic and cost reasons as part of the corporation’s dissolution.
20-5009
Received June 30, 2020, Investment Schedule.
20-6004
Approve the following appointments:
Carrie McKillip, Community Relations Commission, term expires February 2023 Christina King, Community Relations Commission, term expires February 2023 Brittany Grimes, Community Relations Commission, term expires February 2023 Demarkius Medley, Community Relations Commission, term expires February 2023 Kyle Kelley, Community Relations Commission, term expires February 2023 Kimberly Thierry, Community Relations Commission, term expires February 2021
20-8016
Approve bills in the amount of $1,264,484.07 and advance checks in the amount of $734,351.85.
Council Member Allen moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, to approve Consent Agenda 2020-17.
Roll Call #3:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Hillery, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 7. Nays: None
Absent: None
Chairman declared motion carried by omnibus vote.
PASSAGE OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
BIDS, PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
20-3030
Council Member Hillery moved, seconded by Council Member Allen, to approve the bid from CXT in the amount of $35,262 for the purchase and installation of a vault-style restroom at the west boat ramp of Lake Storey.
Roll Call #4:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Hillery, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 7. Nays: None
Absent: None
Chairman declared motion carried.
20-3031
Council Member Hillery moved, seconded by Council Member Andersen, to approve the bid from Lockwood Excavating & Construction Inc. in the amount of $32,974.72 for replacement of driveway pavement at the Central Fire Station.
Roll Call #5:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Hillery, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 7. Nays: None
Absent: None
Chairman declared motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
David Amor addressed the Council urging the City Council to bring a resolution proposed by the NAACP condemning the murder of George Floyd and join other cities and counties (including Knox County) in recognizing and committing to work to eliminate systemic racisim. He noted that the resolution does not ask the Council to assume that law enforcement agencies or officers are racist. Amor gave an example of two black friends being stopped by the police, questioned, and sent away, yet he has never been stopped for any reason.
Brittany Grimes read a statement from Dr. Nancy Eberhardt, Knox College professor. Dr. Eberhardt applauded the Council for trying to understand the concept of structural racism as it relates to the NAACP’s resolution request. She stated that structural racism is a term that arose to help explain the persistence of racial inequalities over many decades in spite of widespread efforts to combat racism.
Pastor Carolyn Carnes, Trinity Lutheran Church, also addressed the Council in support of the resolution presented by the NAACP. She stated that systemic racism, one group over another, should be discussed by the City Council and is dismayed to not see a single non-white person on the Council. She encouraged the Council to continue to work on the issue and to pass the resolution.
Randy Newcomb, new Tourism & Visitors Bureau executive director, introduced himself to the Council and staff and expressed his interest in meeting everyone.
Laura Porter addressed the Council and stated that she is homeless but is unable to receive any resources in the community. She read a statement expressing her hardship and how she hopes the community can come together to rebuild.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS (Agreements, Approvals, Etc.)
20-4065
Council Member Allen moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, to approve a change order in the amount of $10,900 for the upgrade to the Public Safety Building elevator.
Roll Call #6:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Hillery, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 7. Nays: None
Absent: None
Chairman declared motion carried.
20-4066
Council Member Hix moved, seconded by Council Member Hillery, to approve moving forward with the demolition process on properties located at:
1022 South Academy Street
631 Peck Street
215 North Academy Street
289 South Chambers Street
372 Day Street
Roll Call #7:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Hillery, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 7. Nays: None
Absent: None
Chairman declared motion carried.
20-4067
Council Member Hillery moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, to approve change orders 1 through 7 for Phase III replacement of lead water service lines financed through a forgivable loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Public Water Supply Loan Program.
Roll Call #8:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Hillery, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 7. Nays: None
Absent: None
Chairman declared motion carried.
20-4068
Council Member Allen moved, seconded by Council Member Hix, to approve a land lease for the National Stearman Foundation Inc. hangar project to allow the construction of a 10,000 square foot building on the Galesburg Municipal Airport property.
Several Council Members expressed their support and pleasure in finally having a permanent place for the Stearman, which has been long overdue. Council Member Cox encouraged staff to talk to the Division of Aeronautics to verify compliance.
Council Member Schwartzman asked if this project has been included in the CIP and when a development agreement would be presented to the Council. He indicated that this is an unusual project and would be hesitant to move too quickly without public input.
City Manager Thompsons stated that funding for the project would come from the Economic Development Fund after Council approval and that it would need a budget amendment.
Mayor Pritchard added that the Stearman have had a permanent facility as a goal for the past 25 years. He stated that this facility would anchor the association to our community and provide a place for visitors all year long. It would also provide property tax revenue. As for the quick timeframe, he noted that the group would like to have the building completed by the time the 50th anniversary festival takes place next year.
Roll Call #9:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Hillery, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 7. Nays: None
Absent: None
Chairman declared motion carried.
Council Member Allen moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, that the City Council sit as the Town Board. The motion carried by voice vote.
TOWN BUSINESS
20-9018
Trustee Cox moved, seconded by Trustee Hillery, to approve Town bills and warrants be drawn in payment of same.
| Fund Title | Amount |
| Town Fund | $3,690.01 |
| General Assistance Fund | $5,473.50 |
| IMRF Fund | |
| Social Security/Medicare Fund | |
| Liability Fund | |
| Audit Fund | |
| Total | $9,163.51 |
Ayes: Trustees Hix, Dennis, Hillery, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 7. Nays: None
Absent: None
Chairman declared motion carried.
Trustee Allen moved, seconded by Trustee Cox, to resume sitting as the City Council. The motion carried by voice vote.
CLOSING COMMENTS
Council Member Hix welcomed Randy Newcomb to Galesburg and believes he will be a great asset to our community. He also reminded the public about the Galesburg Public Schools
Foundation golf outing on September 17th at Bunker Links. All money goes to students and teachers to help provide programs for opportunities and enrichment.
Council Member Andersen thanked all the presenters for their comments at the meeting regarding racism. She encouraged them to submit written comments for the record and would like the Council to look at the draft resolution from the NAACP. She stated that she does not want to ignore the subject and hopes that the Council will have a discussion about the matter in the near future.
Council Member Schwartzman stated that hundreds of Knox College students will be returning to campus and encouraged the public to embrace them as an important investment in our community. He thanked the leaders in the community on race and economics for their comments tonight and stated that the City needs to act and be responsive and hopes that the Council will have a work session to discuss it further.
Council Member Schwartzman added that when a draft of the resolution was given to the Council in July, he and Reverend Andrew Jowers put together a survey on these community concerns and that he hoped the Administration and Council would read the results.
Council Member Allen thanked Ken Springer for the article on Galesburg and its reuse and utilization of vacant buildings. He is also excited about the Stearman building project and believes it has been a long time coming. Pilots from all over the United States visit our community, spend money here, and take back information on Galesburg.
Council Member Allen also stated that he is happy to see more and more people wearing face coverings and many businesses insisting on them.
Council Member Cox also thanked Ken Springer for the article on the reuse of facilities in our community. He also congratulated Bunker Links of having two great months of use.
Mayor Pritchard stated that several months ago he had never heard of the term systemic racism and read a definition he found: systemic racism, also called structural racism or institutional racism, are systems and structures that have the procedures or processes that disadvantage African Americans. He stated that he is more than interested in learning about systems and structures that we have here that disadvantage African Americans. As this topic has progressed, they have received a lot of input from people in support of the resolution and initiative due to police brutality. The Mayor stated that he does not believe we have police brutality in Galesburg. Mayor Pritchard asked that as the Council and City move forward with this discussion that examples are given for systemic or structural racism.
He also welcomed Randy Newcomb to the community and thanked Ken Springer for the great news story.
There being no further business, Council Member Cox moved, seconded by Council Member Hix, to adjourn the regular meeting at 6:21 p.m.
https://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/assets/1/20/09082020_City_Council_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
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