GALESBURG — The Galesburg City Council voted unanimously, 6-0, Monday night on all agenda items during a 53-minute meeting.

Third Ward Council Member Evan Miller was absent.

Public safety upgrades approved

The council approved two Motorola Solutions bids related to police and fire department equipment.

The first, for $435,342.85, will replace body, in-vehicle and interview room cameras for the Galesburg Police Department. The current equipment is five years old and considered outdated.

Chief of Police Kevin Legate said the new cameras will have removable batteries to prevent issues with current body cameras running out of power mid-shift. The five-year agreement includes 55 officer-worn cameras, 13 in-car cameras and two interview room cameras.

A large portion of the cost covers unlimited cloud storage for the footage, and the city expects to receive a $100,000 grant toward the project.

The second bid, for $1,240,420.49, will fund the purchase and installation of 27 mobile and 84 portable radios for the police and fire departments. The project is part of a statewide transition to the StarCom21 interoperable radio system.

Under the current system, Galesburg police cannot communicate directly with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and must go through dispatchers. The new system will allow direct communication among local, county and state law enforcement.

“It’s very good to stay updated with technology,” Legate told Galesburg Community News after the meeting. “Our cameras are old and outdated. When you stay up to date with not only the hardware but the software and cloud storage, it helps everything be efficient.”

Regarding the new radio system, Legate said, “Communication is very important among all law enforcement and first responders. It’s very important that we are all able to communicate on one radio system, rather than going through our dispatch, to their dispatch, back and forth.”

Other council actions

The council also approved:
— The purchase of materials for 2026 road repairs, including hot-mix asphalt, concrete and patching mixture.
— Renewal of the Employee Assistance Program contract, which provides counseling for city employees.
— A contract with Terracon Consultants Inc. to administer two federal EPA Brownfield grants totaling $1,213,600 to clean up the former Knox Laundry site at Kellogg and Ferris streets and assess other potentially contaminated properties.
— Repairs to a city bus for $36,980.66, covered by federal CARES Act funds.
— A resolution limiting the 2025 property tax levy to no more than 105 percent of the previous year’s levy. City Manager Eric Hanson said the tax rate is expected to decline slightly to its lowest level since 2008.
— Purchase of 1,600 tons of rock salt for the upcoming winter at $84.88 per ton, totaling about $135,808. Hanson said the city is “buying the minimum this year” due to surplus supply.
— Renewal of insurance coverage for 2026 through the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association.
— Initial approval for demolition proceedings on nine properties. Hanson cautioned that the process could take months or years to complete. The properties include 599 E. South St.; 116 Duffield Ave.; 1319 N. Broad St.; 1094 Garden Lane; 846 Avenue A; 257 E. Waters St.; 440 S. Henderson St.; 566 Hawthorne Court; and a shed at 72 Duffield Ave.
— A service contract with the Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging to provide free city bus rides for residents 60 and older.

Council member comments

— Angelica Mangeri, First Ward, said she plans to ride the city bus with her family Friday to learn more about public transit. She also praised the local NAACP chapter after attending its recent gala.
— Wendel Hunigan, Second Ward, commended the peaceful “No Kings” protest held in Galesburg and emphasized the importance of the right to protest. He also recognized the 90th anniversary of Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, 719 W. Knox St.
— Dwight White, Fourth Ward, expressed concern about national issues, saying he is “afraid of what’s happening” and urged everyone of all political beliefs to pay attention and not “stick your head in the sand.” He also encouraged council members to ride the bus routes to identify weaknesses in the system.
— Heather Accera, Fifth Ward, shared the story of Inez West, a Galesburg woman who helped operate the Harrington Home, aided children during the Armenian Genocide and later ran an orphanage in Russia.
— Greg Saul, Sixth Ward, recognized balloonist Aaron Gebhart’s local ties and addressed public commenter Michael Spinks, owner of All-Star Sports Academy. “I hope you get the help you need,” Saul told him, commending the academy’s work with local youth.
— Steve Cheesman, Seventh Ward, said the city should continue improving public transit and noted that residential demolitions, while difficult, are sometimes necessary to encourage property upkeep. He added that “we don’t enjoy it” when the city must take such action but hopes it motivates residents to maintain their properties. He also praised the NAACP chapter.
— Mayor Peter Schwartzman encouraged residents to share ideas and hopes for Galesburg’s future, saying “now is the time” to engage with city leadership. He announced a community celebration will be held Nov. 15, with the location to be determined, “to celebrate the successes and coming successes of Galesburg.”