GALESBURG — The Galesburg City Council opened its Monday meeting with the swearing-in of Angelica Mangieri, who succeeds former First Ward Alderman Bradley Hix. Hix resigned last month after moving outside city limits. City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz administered the oath before the council began a relatively brief session.
South Street property purchase
All measures before the council passed unanimously, 6-0, with Third Ward Alderman Evan Miller absent.
The most notable action was the council’s approval to purchase property at 345-364 E. South St. for $150,000. The current owner is expected to remove a steel-framed building on the site within 45 days, after which the city plans to demolish the remaining brick structure.
While no formal redevelopment plans have been announced, the property adjoins other city-owned parcels and could play a role in future improvements to the South Street underpass and nearby Amtrak depot area.
Consent agenda items
The council also approved a consent agenda that included:
— A resolution to close East Main Street for the Downtown Treat Street event from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
— Ceding the city’s 2025 private activity bond volume cap of $3,803,150 to the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority, keeping the funds available for local use. QCREDA issues private activity bonds that help manufacturers and affordable or senior housing developers secure lower interest rates.
— Appropriating $94,406 in city matching funds from the Illinois Department of Transportation for sidewalk replacement along East Main Street between Grand and Walnut avenues.
— Extending a five-year banking services contract with CBI Bank & Trust.
Bids and additional approvals
The council approved two bids during the meeting:
— A $55,000 contract with LuAva Inc. for cart path improvements at Bunker Links Golf Course.
— An $88,954 purchase from Truck Centers Inc. of Morton for a dump truck cab and chassis to replace a snowplow and salt spreader.
Additional unanimous approvals included:
— A three-year, $15,960 annual maintenance agreement with Altorfer Power Systems for routine service of the city’s four water system emergency generators.
— A joint-funding agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the East Main Street sidewalk project.
— A grant agreement with IDOT for improvements to the Galesburg Municipal Airport entrance and parking lot. The state will cover 90 percent of the costs, with the city contributing $43,500.
— An extension of the maturity date on a revolving loan to Jupiter Machine Tool Inc. to Feb. 23, 2026.
— A $21,860 worker compensation settlement.
