Galesburg Reporter

City of Galesburg City Council met April 15

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Called to order by Mayor Peter Schwartzman at 6:00 p.m. 

Roll Call #1: Present: Mayor Peter Schwartzman, Council Members Wayne Dennis, Dwight White, Heather Acerra, and Steve Cheesman, 5. Absent: Council Members Bradley Hix, Evan Miller, and Sarah Davis, 3. Also Present: City Manager Eric Hanson, City Attorney Jason Jording, and City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz. 

Mayor Schwartzman declared a quorum present. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

A moment of silence was observed in lieu of an invocation. 

Proclamation: Arbor Day 

Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to approve the minutes of the City Council’s regular meeting from April 1, 2024. 

Roll Call #2: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, and Cheesman, 4. 

Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix, Miller, and Davis, 3. 

Chairman declared the motion carried. 

Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to approve the minutes of the City Council’s Executive Session meeting from February 19, 2024. 

Roll Call #3: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, and Cheesman, 4. 

Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix, Miller, and Davis, 3. 

Chairman declared the motion carried. 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Kim Skaggs addressed the Council and thanked Council Member Dennis for visiting with her and looking at the neighborhood where the community garden will be located. She also stated that she met with Ms. Kupa and believes that she doesn’t quite understand the whole process of the community garden and what will be available to her and encouraged someone to reach out to her from the City. She also asked that the City look at the signals at Henderson Street and Monmouth Boulevard since there is no audible alert. 

Tom Simkins addressed the Council and stated that a week ago, his friends, the Muelders, found a lost dog in their neighborhood. After contacting the Public Safety Building and Sheriff’s Department without any luck, he contacted City Clerk Bennewitz, who was able to go to her office after hours and use the dog’s tags to find its owner’s contact information. He thanked her for her assistance. 

Reverend Andrew Jowers addressed the Council and stated that he has heard that Wordsmith Bookshoppe is facing financial difficulties and hoped that the City could lead the charge to help this business and encourage others to do the same. He would also like the City to look at an ordinance before the upcoming Fourth of July holiday that would allow fireworks to be set off at specific times in our community. Lastly, he would be willing to pay a fee to bring back the neighborhood clean-up days. He understands that he can make a call with the City’s new service, but he would like the Council to have a conversation about this in the future. 

Timothy Godsil addressed the Council regarding Bridlecreek Apartments and significant issues he had while living there, specifically with mold. He did receive a copy of the Rental Inspection through a Freedom of Information Request and feels that the City sided with the landlord and not him as the tenant. He feels that the 21 days that is given to the landlord to fix any violations is too long, which gives them plenty of time to cover up, or paint, over any mold issues. He noted that he talked to Steve Gugliotta about this issue, and reached out to the Mayor and Council Member White about following up on the issue. 

CONSENT AGENDA #2024-07 

All matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. 

24-2009 

Approve Resolution 24-09 reserving the City’s 2024 private activity bonding authority. 

24-8006 

Approve bills in the amount of $1,148,132.82 and advance checks in the amount of $224,706.69. 

Council Member Cheesman moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to approve Consent Agenda 2024-07. 

Roll Call #4: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, and Cheesman, 4. 

Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix, Miller, and Davis, 3. 

Chairman declared the motion carried by omnibus vote. 

Council Member White asked for an explanation of activity bonding authority. City Manager Hanson explained that private developers can utilize the city’s volume cap to issue the tax-exempt debt if all other criteria are met. There is not typically a large demand and at this point there is not a specific project for the use of the private activity bonds. However, in order to allow the ability to continue to work on possible options, the Council needs to reserve the bond authority for future use. If a project does not surface, the City has the ability to cede its unused authority to Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority later in the year, as has been done in previous years. 

PASSAGE OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 

24-1004 

Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to approve Ordinance 24-3726 on final reading directing the sale of ten vacant City-owned properties. Roll Call #5: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, and Cheesman, 4. 

Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix, Miller, and Davis, 3. 

Chairman declared the motion carried. 

24-1005 

Ordinance on first reading amending Chapter 111 of the Galesburg Municipal Code requiring photos for Peddler and Hawker License applications. 

BIDS, PETITIONS, AND COMMUNICATIONS 

24-3017 

Council Member Cheesman moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to approve the bid from Gunther Construction in the amount of $226,723.60 for the resurfacing of the parking lot at the West Main Street water plant. 

Roll Call #6: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, and Cheesman, 4. 

Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix, Miller, and Davis, 3. 

Chairman declared the motion carried. 

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT 

A. Traffic Advisory Committee April 2024 Report 

B. The City Manager congratulated the Library on the phenomenal space they have built, having recently taken a tour of the building. They invested their funding well and the community should be proud of this endeavor. 

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS (AGREEMENTS, APPROVALS, ETC.) 

24-4025 

Council Member Cheesman moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to approve Budget Adjustment #2 for the year ended December 31, 2023. City Manager Hanson reported that revenues came in well and some expenses did not come to fruition which led to a mostly good year. Excess funds were distributed to the Fire and Police Pensions Funds, Vehicle and Computer Replacement Funds, and the Planning Fund. He reminded the Council that there are a number of unfunded capital needs that will likely come out of the Planning Fund that will be discussed substantially during budget time. 

Roll Call #7: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, and Cheesman, 4. 

Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix, Miller, and Davis, 3. 

Chairman declared the motion carried. 

24-4026 

Council Member White moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to approve the agreement with Knox County Crush Girls Fast Pitch Softball Association to use City facilities for its softball program. 

Roll Call #8: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, and Cheesman, 4. 

Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix, Miller, and Davis, 3. 

Chairman declared the motion carried. 

Council Member Acerra moved, seconded by Council Member White, to sit as the Town Board. The motion carried. 

TOWN BUSINESS 

24-9007 

Trustee Acerra moved, seconded by Trustee White, to approve Town bills and warrants to be drawn in payment of same. 

Fund Title Amount 

Town Fund $8,621.61 

General Assistance Fund $7,269.49 

IMRF Fund 

Social Security/Medicare Fund 

Liability Fund $4,134.95 

Audit Fund 

Total $20,026.05 

Roll Call #9: 

Ayes: Trustees Dennis, White, Acerra, and Cheesman, 4. 

Nays: None 

Absent: Trustees Hix, Miller, and Davis, 3. 

Chairman declared the motion carried. 

April 15, 2024 Page 4 of 6

Trustee Dennis moved, seconded by Trustee Miller, to resume as the City Council. The motion carried. 

CLOSING COMMENTS 

Council Member Dennis is grateful for the good weather but isn’t looking forward to the coming rain. 

Council Member White gave kudos to the police officer who stopped to move tree limbs in the street when he was at Judy’s Café and added that people usually drive around obstacles in the street. He also thanked both police and fire for the escort for the band and choir returning from their Disney trip back into town last weekend. 

Council Member Acerra stated that she loves baseball and softball and noted that today was the 77th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the sport's color barrier. She also welcomed her daughter-in-law from Portugal, who is attending the meeting. 

Council Member Cheesman stated that if people took the time to look at Jackie Robinson’s story, they would see the courage that he displayed and the grace he showed overcoming adversity. These are things that all of us would like people to demonstrate in their life, and he certainly epitomized that. He added that on another note, Galesburg has so much to do all year long, but that we're moving into a time again with great weather with many outdoor offerings. There are many opportunities to meet the needs and likes of everyone, with so much variety, and he hopes everyone has a chance to enjoy all of these things in our town. 

Mayor Schwartzman stated that one of the Council Members was under the weather and he wished him well and a speedy recovery. He also added that the library should open any day and that he was there last week for a very large event for many of the donors who support the public library, which is a phenomenal task. He thanked his colleague at Knox College, Stewart Allison, for heading up that fundraising campaign, which was hugely successful. They had planned to raise $3 million and ended up raising over $4 million from the community. The Mayor also announced that Earth Day is coming up in a few days and he hopes everyone enjoys it and announced that Cornucopia will be having an Earth Day event on April 20th. He is also aware that Libby’s Corner, one of the City’s recipients of an Urban Ag Grant, will be having an event this Saturday as well. 

Council Member Cheesman moved, seconded by Council Member White, to adjourn into executive session at 6:37 p.m. for the purposes of discussing the executive session minutes from the April 1, 2025, meeting 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) and the Sale of Property 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6). Roll Call #10: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, and Cheesman, 4. 

Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix, Miller, and Davis, 3. 

Chairman declared the motion carried.

During the Executive Session, Council Member Cheesman moved, seconded by Council Member Dennis, to adjourn the Executive Session at 7:18 p.m. 

Roll Call #11: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, Davis, and Cheesman, 5. Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix and Miller, 2. 

Chairman declared the motion carried. 

There being no further business, Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Davis, to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:18 p.m. 

Roll Call #12: 

Ayes: Council Members Dennis, White, Acerra, Davis and Cheesman, 5. Nays: None 

Absent: Council Members Hix and Miller, 2. 

Chairman declared the motion carried.

https://cms7files.revize.com/galesburg/Document_Center/Agendas%20and%20Minutes/City%20Council/2024/041524%20City%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf