Welcome, everyone. It is September 2nd. We're here for the city council meeting in Galesburg, Illinois. And I'll ask the clerk to call the roll, please. Council Member Hunnigan. Here. Miller. Here. White. Present. Achera. Here. Saul. Yes, ma'am. Cheeseman. Here. Mayor Schwartzman. Here. We have seven present, Your Honor. Thank you. We'll have the Pledge of Allegiance followed by an invocation by Semenya McCord. This land is your land. This land is my land. From California to the New York Island, from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters, this land was made for you and me. Dear Lord, direct us to share the declaration of your greatness during this global week of prayer, September 1st through 7th. In our prayer walking, observing our streets, the buildings, the people, wanting to see what you see, Lord, what you care about, and how you're already at work. This global week of prayer also directs us to ask what people need in their neighborhoods and to listen to their stories. Help us to appreciate how work in our community reaches well beyond us as we also celebrate this 54th Annual National Stearman Fly-In throughout this week. Thank you for the blessings of creative persons like Harold Timmons, noted as an aviation icon, for whom the Galesburg Local Airport has been renamed the Harold Timmons Regional Airport. Your gifts, Lord, inspire and challenge us. We praise and we thank you. Amen. We have the minutes from the August 18th, 2025 meeting to consider this evening. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller and Mr. Chair. Any questions about the minutes? Seeing none, I call for vote on those minutes, please. Hunnigan, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. Excellent. We've reached public comment. Anyone here for public comment should step forward now, and you'll have the floor for three minutes. My name is Holly McDermott, and I live in Ward 6. I'm back here today to talk about your decision with the YMCA. I know it's been voted on, the money's going there. That's terrific, that's all done. But I do feel like most of you did not hear some of the comments last time we were here. So I did my own research. I called up the Y and I said, you know, my family's interest in a membership, but we have no income right now. Can you tell me what we would do? And they're like, well, our membership is $65 a month for a family your size. And I was like, yes, but we have no income. We have no income. What can we do? We're like, well, we can half that. We can make that 32. No, we have no income. No income. They're like, well, then how are you going to pay your membership fee? It's like, that's why I'm asking you. That's why I'm talking to you. how are we gonna become a member to the Y? They're like, well, why don't you bring in your W-2s from your taxes before? I said, I had income last year, but I don't have income now. Well, then I'm sorry, ma'am, you're gonna have to come back with us when you have some income. Once again, this year, somebody that was behind the counter of the YMCA turned away my family. I know I said that two weeks ago that I was turned away. I know somebody else had said that two weeks ago that they were turned away. But I don't feel like a majority of you heard that. There's a difference between listening and hearing and I don't believe you heard that. I also asked about the summer food program through United Way. My children would get a meal Every summer around lunchtime through United Way, it was really great to help supplement the food costs that it costs to feed kids, especially teenagers. I tell you, they eat a lot. I'm sure parents know this. But my children won't be eligible to get a meal this summer at lunchtime like they have been for the last three summers because they're not in the YMCAs before and after school program. I was just looking for a lunch, a small lunch that my kids used to get for three years now, and they're not going to be eligible to get that. So what are you going to do now that you're sending about a million dollars to the YMCA? What are you going to do about the kids that are going hungry and the families that are not allowed to go there and contribute and have fun on the playground but have to pay the taxes to help build the project? Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else here for public comment this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on. We have a consent agenda 2025-17. All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There are four items on the consent agenda this evening. One is 25-2024. This is a resolution release of executive session minutes. We have 25-5006. This is the MFT compliance report. We have 25-4052. This is the replacement of bus shelter at McKnight Street and McClure Street intersection. And lastly, we have 25-8016, approval and warrants drawn in payment of same. Do we have a motion for this consent agenda? So moved. Thank you, Mr. White. Mr. Chair, any questions about any items on this? Seeing none, yes, Mr. I have one question. This is completely legal, the first one, the release of executive session minutes. There is no... I want to say it. We are basically... How do I want to put this? Well, destroying minutes from... these previous sessions and there's no legal ramifications. We're actually releasing them to the public. We're releasing them from the public. To the public. Okay. So the public will be able to access them now. Oh, okay. I understand. Yes, that's fair. Okay. Good question. Anyone else? Okay. I'll ask for a vote on the consent agenda 2025-17. Hunnigan, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. To Mr. Hunnigan's point, there also are executive minutes are recorded, but those are only kept on file for a certain amount of time. Correct. The resolution that was just approved authorizes only keep the last 18 months, anything before that's destroyed. Recordings. Thank you for that clarification. Passages of ordinances and resolutions. We have two items. The first is on first reading, 25-1015. This is a Class A liquor license. Mr. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff is recommending approval of an ordinance to amend the liquor license for Judy's Kitchen, LLC, located at 51 North Prairie Street from a Class D restaurant license to a Class A1 bar tavern license. The change would allow the business to sell packaged liquor at retail in addition to on-site consumption. Judy's Kitchen plans to collaborate with Reserve Artisan Ales to offer a signature Judy's Berry Medley Pancake Sour Ale. The ability to sell this product for takeaway is intended to appeal to out-of-town visitors and boost sales. The license change will result in an annual revenue of $2,850. Staff is obviously recommending approval, and if someone on council would like to advance this to second reading, they're here to answer any questions, but certainly that probably is an order if the council so chose. Thank you, Mr. Hanson. Any thoughts, comments from the council? Ms. Jarrett? I would feel much more comfortable about this if I could taste it first. Any motions from the council? Mr. Chair? Sure. I move to move it to a second reading. Okay. We have a motion to second reading. Do we have a second? I second. Thank you. We heard from two councilmen. Mr. Saul, we'll give you credit this time. Thank you. Okay, this has no discussion, so if you want to move this second reading, please vote yes. If you want to maintain the first reading, vote no. Hunnigan, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote yes, Your Honor. So we have moved it to second reading, but we need a motion to discuss. Is that correct? So we need a motion to discuss at second reading. So moved. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Saul seconds. We need to vote on that. So yes, any questions at this time? Seeing none, any questions to these wonderful people in the front row? Who are on television, by the way, that's the side that's on television. So be prepared. People are going to know who you are. Okay, I'll ask for a vote on 25-1015. Hunnigan, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Fantastic. Are there samples afterwards? I'm not supposed to ask that. I don't think we can take it anymore. No, that would be a bribe. We are joking, completely joking for the record. Yes. Okay. The next item does require a vote. 25-2025, purchase of 18 parcels from the Knox County Trustee for demolition and or abatement of nuisances. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Cheeseman seconds. Mr. Hanson. Thank your honor. Staff is recommending approval of a resolution to acquire 18 vacant or dilapidated properties from the Knox County trustee for $823 each through the county's tax liquidation program. The total cost will cover acquisition and conveyance with funding available in the property redevelopment fund or fund 23. Acquiring these properties will allow the city to move forward with demolition, reducing ongoing maintenance costs and prepare the sites for future reuse or resale through annual surplus property sales. Several of the parcels are already in the demolition process. have been previously cleared why others remain uninhabitable or long-term vacant these efforts supports ongoing blight reduction and neighborhood revitalization initiative staff is recommending approval thank you any questions about this item mr hennigan uh um how many of these properties are in ward two is there do you have any i just around I didn't break it up by word, but we can certainly get that for you easily. Thank you. My second question is that how many properties are altogether, including these properties, are going to be demolished? Well, I can't give that specifically because they're varying. Some of them require different court action. potentially, I can tell you there's roughly 70 properties on the active list that we're working towards cleaning up or demolishing. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? This is on second reading, so I'll call for a vote on 25-2025. Hunnigan, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. We have no bids, petitions, or communications to deal with this meeting, so we move to the city manager's report. Mr. Hanson, anything to add? Just quickly, a reminder, I think this is the final Friday for the MDA. Fill the boot. I think the first couple weeks, obviously the weather's been good, have gone well. Also, it's the annual Stearman-Flyman fly-in week. The planes are up and about and listen to them over the weekend. I know there's more coming along with the dedication at the airport scheduled for Friday afternoon. Hopefully, folks will be able to join us in that recognition. I haven't answered any other questions. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Hanson? Seeing none, we'll move on. We have miscellaneous business. We have two items this evening. The first is 254053. This is a service agreement between Carl Sandburg College and Galesburg Public Transportation. Need a motion and a second? So moved. Thank you, Mr. Cheeseman. Mr. Miller. Okay, move to Mr. Hanson. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff is recommending approval of a renewed service agreement between the City of Galesburg and Carl Sandburg College to provide unlimited fixed route bus service for Carl Sandburg students, faculty, and staff from September 2025 through June of 2027. The Public Transportation Advisory Commission unanimously recommended approval on August 14, 2025. Under the agreement, Carl Sandburg will pay the city $7,400 with no changes to routes or frequency. This payment will be recorded as a local match, enabling the city to leverage additional downstate operating assistance program funds and reduce the city's contribution to transit operations out of the general fund. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. Hanson. Any questions on this item? Seeing none, I will call for a vote. 25-4053. Hunnigan, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes. Schroeder? Okay, last item in this miscellaneous business. 25-4054. Service agreement between Graham Hospital Association and Galesburg Public Transportation. I need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Hanson. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff is recommending approval of a one-year service agreement between Galesburg Public Transportation and Graham Health Systems to provide origin-to-destination transportation for patients facing barriers to care. The Public Transportation Advisory Commission unanimously recommended approval on August 14, 2025. Under the agreement, Graham will compensate the city for transportation services with the payment recorded as a local match. This designation enables the city to draw additional downstate operating assistance program funds, reducing the city's contribution to transit operations in the general fund. The agreement will be reviewed annually with ridership data used to inform future contract considerations. The partnership is expected to improve healthcare access while enhancing the city's ability to leverage state and federal funding for transit. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. Hanson. Any questions? Mr. White. Okay, and compensation, I think it's 4-1. It's professional fees. Are these professional fees, is this what they're going to be paying us to be able to transport people around? For instance, on D, the standard fare of $40 for a one-way trip, and it's specified in Knox County, Illinois. Peoria, Moline, Rock Island. So we'll be supplying that transportation and they will be paying us that cost. Reimbursements that cost. Yeah, and I think that's the fee if they have to go to Canton or yes. But essentially how it works is there's... It's a, I need a ride to the clinic, and I live at such and such address, and I need to be at this clinic at this time. And so it is a true on-demand service, and there's a fee for that. And the arrangement calls for Graham to reimburse the city for that cost so that the individual in need doesn't pay anything. And then the schedule kind of outlines depending on if they're just going to one of the local clinics close by or if they have to access medical care outside of the community as part of the health system that we get reimbursed accordingly. Am I missing anything, Mr. Guglielmo? So the schedule is just trying to incorporate all the various places that Graham may need to get local patients to within their health network. I think this is a great for Graham, Gelsberg, and the citizens. I think it's a great deal. Thank you. Ms. Cheeseman. And that's what I wanted to say. And it's the same thing with Sandburg College and that whole setup and Knox College. I mean, when we can offer services that allow students, individual citizens, the opportunity to go where they need to go, and those are all important places to go, and they can do that easily and with more opportunities, it's a win-win. So I agree with Mr. White. This is a terrific, terrific program. Yes. So this is a new idea? It's a new agreement with them. I mean, other transit systems obviously use these. I don't know if we've had these in the past. I've not been here that long. But, I mean, this is not uncommon within the transit, but it's certainly new with Graham. Have there been any discussions with OSF to match this or provide some type of agreement with them? Yes, there's still ongoing discussions with OSF as well. Yeah, I agree completely. I think this is awesome. Anybody else? I'll ask for a vote. 25-4054. Hunnigan, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Vote twice for Fantastic. I need a motion to sit as a town board. So moved. Thank you, Ms. Saul. And? Second. Ms. Cicera. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? We are now sitting as a town board. We have one item under town business, 259021, the bills. Need a motion? Move. Thank you, Mr. Miller and Mr. White. Any questions about the bills? Please vote for the bills 259021 so they can get paid. Hunnigan, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. We need to resume as the City Council. We need a motion. Mr. Miller and Mr. Saul, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? We are sitting as the City Council. We have moved to closing comments. Mr. Hicks. Oh, he's not here today. We'll go to Mr. Hunnigan. Well, I have basically three comments. One is, again, to congratulate Harold Timmons on the naming of the municipal airport here in town. I don't know if you have any idea of the effect that this man has had on our small town and if it wasn't for Harold and his family, I think we would be right next in the same category as Monmouth, Illinois. It's really a important facility in this community. Also want to congratulate the people who worked on the skate park again at Kiwanis Park, about 30 to 40 individuals got together and they totally revamped that park. And as I was coming to city council meeting, that park has just had a rebirth. And had it not been for people like my neighbor, Aaron Olin and Tom Simpkins, They have really made the park a very special place. And I guess my understanding is the only skate park we have here in Galesburg. And I also want to remind our city manager that some individuals from Ward 2 would be coming by your office this Thursday. I don't know how many people have made a commitment. But they want to just ask some questions about the properties that are in Ward 2. And they're planning to come by on Thursday after 4 o'clock when several of them are getting off from work. And they just want to hear that the city cares about what's going on in Ward 2. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Dunnegan. Mr. Miller? I too, I've been at the airport many times and I'm looking forward to Friday night being able to go out when the airport is renamed after Harold Tunes. Looks like we had a very good turnout for our Labor Day parade. Longest parade in Illinois right now, isn't it? U.S. So, congratulate everybody that had floats. participated in it. That's about all I have for tonight. Thank you. Mr. White. Well, you two guys stole everything I wanted to say. But I was out to cook school and they're moving along with it very, very well. I watched them and I posted on my Facebook page moving what they call the structure in. We call it playground equipment. It's structure now. I just want to thank the city for helping this happen. But Mr. Miles and his crew, they're really doing a bang up job out there. They've got the structures out there. They're going to start putting it together. And I just can't say but thank you, thank you, thank you. I think it's 1.33 is our Labor Day parade. and I'll be looking forward to 134. Galesburg leads in a lot of things, but that's nationwide. I flew in and out of the airport as a young man in the military. And so I just, I'm just glad that the airport is what it is and the men that worked on it and stuff. So just keep on doing what you're doing, Galesburg. And for my city manager, Lamb chops are delicious. I'm hooked. That's some kind of inside story we'll have to hear later. Mrs. Chera? I just want to say that it's really fun to be able to see, you know, more restaurants and businesses coming to town. Excited for Judy's Cafe being just down the street from me. Especially excited about that new beer. Always enjoy the beer. I also wanted to express my thanks to our city manager and our staff for really placing a focus on addressing the abandoned and deteriorating properties because it's definitely something I know many... It doesn't matter what ward you represent. This is a problem throughout town. We all hear from our constituents about this. So the focus that you guys are placing on this is... Not only something that I appreciate, but all the townspeople do as well. So thank you so much for that. I also had a great time at the Labor Day Parade. I cannot believe how much candy was given out. I mean, the hugest bag my friends' grandkids were able to capture there. And I'm looking forward to the steer wind flying again. So that'll do it for me. Thank you. Thanks, Mr. Chair. Mr. Saul. Well, I had the privilege of taking Harold Timmons up in my hot air balloon and his wife. It was quite the adventure because Harold's quite the card. And he said, this is totally different than flying in a plane. He said, it's really weird because you can go, here's Route 150. Here's Route 150. Here's Route 150. Whereas in a plane, you're going, here's Route 150, here's 61, here's 97. You know, I mean, it's just totally different. I said, yeah, it is. It's peaceful and just a nice, smooth ride. And he absolutely loved it. His kids gave it to him, I think. It was for an anniversary gift or a birthday gift, either one of the two. But he really enjoyed being in the hot air balloon. And I just... I just really like that family a lot. They've done a lot for the community of Galesburg. So I want to thank them. I wish I could be out at the dedication Friday night. Unfortunately, I had to be in Macomb for the hot air balloon race down there. So I won't be able to attend the ceremony. But I wish I could. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Saul. Ms. Cheeseman. To piggyback on a couple of comments made, we truly are, I think I speak for our council and mayor here, committed to making our city as appealing and clean and attractive as possible. And certainly one component of that is trying to do everything we can. We want people to stay in their homes and to be able to have their homes. But those that are in the situation where they have to be demolished, we have to do things about that. And our city has done a great job of that. Also, in terms of the Labor Day parade, I just want to thank all those in organized labor, all of those people that go to work every day to keep our country moving in the right direction and getting things done. There were so many of those there yesterday. We also talked a little bit about our health care facilities, our health care options tonight. Both Graham Medical Center on Seminary and OSF St. Mary are adding on and allowing us to have more options and more services. And in a rural health area where we know those are challenges, these are good things and we want them to continue to happen and we want to do everything we can to foster those opportunities. And finally, as Mrs. Achera said, it's nice to see new businesses and new construction. And again, all of these mean jobs, opportunities, more choices. And I'm proud on behalf of all of us and all the folks here in our city that we're seeing a positive trend in these things as we continue to stack up things here. And I see that our KCAP folks are here tonight and Kenneth's here. They're doing a great job with all of this. And then finally, again, congratulations to Mr. Timmons. What a super, super human being and an aviation icon is the appropriate term for him. And I look forward to that dedication ceremony on Friday and that national steering and flying that's meant so much to our community and area. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Cheeseman. Yeah, I mean, you guys stole lots of my thunder, but it's great. It's great to acknowledge, even repeat many of the things that are going on. Yeah, Mr. Simpkins, Mr. Miles, and then many of the volunteers that worked on the skate park did an amazing job there. Mr. Huntington called this a small town. I'd like to call this a small city, just to challenge that a little bit. But I think there's a lot of great things going on, as noted. I met with the Knox County CEO, new batch of students this morning. They were at the Rotary at 7 a.m. And really good 10 students were there. And they're a really good new set of students who are just beginning their years, year-long career. class and the creation, the entrepreneurial work that they're doing. And Jeremy Klein, I think he's in his third year as directing that program. Fantastic energy and great work for the community. They mentioned that they're probably going to meet something like 60 local businesses over the next several months. And that's phenomenal. And Mr. Klein said, whenever he reaches out to a business, they all say yes. to the CEOs. So look for in the spring, there'll be a showcase of their work, but they're just beginning now. And speaking of which, of course, many, many students in our community are back in school. So watch out for them, right? Watch out for them on their way to school, on their way home. They're going to be, you know, riding their bikes and walking and so on and maybe not paying attention as much as they might otherwise. And look, Kudos to all the amazing teachers we have in our community. It's phenomenal. I mean, hundreds and hundreds of people in our community help our children every day with everything they need to be productive citizens later in life. And so I think that needs to be acknowledged as well. On that note, I'm happy to adjourn. Yes, please, Mr. Miller. We had an awful occurrence this last week with a shooting in Galesburg. I wanna tell our police department thank you for the quick response, the investigations and the rest of the people that have done this. We've had too many shootings in Galesburg, uncalled for. And so I, for one, will back our police 100% in solving these issues and taking care of them. But thank you. Thank you, Mr. Miller. So with that, we can call for an adjournment. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Mr. Chair, all those in favor say aye. We are adjourned. Everyone be safe tonight.