folks. Welcome to City Council. Six o'clock, March 3rd, 2025. You are in the Galesburg City Council chambers. Some of you and some of you are watching on television. We're glad to have you. Ms. Benowitz, can you call the roll, please? Council Member Hicks. I'm here. Dennis. Here. Miller. Here. White. Here. Achera. Here. Carrington. Cheeseman. Here. Mayor Schwartzman. Here. Seven are present, Your Honor. Thank you. We will have the Pledge of Allegiance. These are standing. Pastor Franklin will be reading the invocation this evening. Good evening. just always like to just recognize all the women in the audience and all the great women leaders in this community. I'd like to acknowledge them right now. I want to share with you a prayer from Dr. David Jeremiah that I thought was very pertinent. Let us all bow our heads. Heavenly Father, living in uncertain times, we know that you are certainly our God. Seeing turmoil all around us, you are the peace within us. And though the future may seem dim, you are the light that illuminates our path forward. Make us one nation under God. May we remember the high cost that was paid to live in one nation, a nation under God. May we be fractured. We might not be fractured by politics or pettiness, but stand together as an indivisible people ready to face the challenges of our future. May we graciously live with the freedom and liberty endowed to us by our creator. And may we seek justice for all, no matter the race, color, creed. Make us one nation under God. Though imperfect, let us become a more perfect union. Sometimes divided, let us learn to be indivisibly, to live indivisibly, and at times ungrateful. Let we, the people, be grateful for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In you, God, we trust to heal the wounds of our past, give us strength to endure the trials of today, and provide guidance to live together in a more peaceful tomorrow. Make us one nation under God. May your word direct us, your promises keep us, and your power protect us, and your purpose restore us. May your courage propel us and your love define us. Humility constrain us and faith unite us. Make us one nation under God. Father, we are blessed beyond measure, thinking beyond words, thankful and hopeful beyond imagination. Make us one nation under God. Lord, I pray for our elected officials to do your will. I pray for them to seek godly wisdom. and display love, respect, and compassion for all people. We ask this tonight in the name of your precious son, Jesus. Amen. The first vote are for the minutes from the February 17th, 2025 meeting. I need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. White. Thanks, Mr. Chair. Any questions about the minutes? Seeing none, I call for a vote on the minutes from the February 17th, 2025 meeting. Hicks, yes. Dennis abstains. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Five yes, one abstention. Your Honor. Thank you. We have reached public comment. If anyone's here for public comment, you have three minutes to step forward. I ask you, especially in light of the fact that the election is less than a month away, that you refrain from mentioning names of people running for office in our local community, if you can do that. Thank you. Step forward, please. Good evening. My name is Reverend Andrew Jowers. I live in Ward 6, and I want to echo that same prayer that Pastor Franklin read from Pastor David Jeremiah. To the Mayor Swartzman, to the City Council, to staff, and to those listening online, I just got three things that I'd like to speak on tonight. The first being, I would like to offer my appreciation to all those who had a part in the resurfacing of Losey Street. And it is very much improved. But there are still some issues concerning standing water. So I would encourage you to look at those. Second, I would like to also commend NAACP local branch and their partners for hosting the candidate forum at the new library. It was very well attended by the public and it was very well intended by most of those seeking office in our upcoming election. The third thing I would like to encourage all the candidates running for office to venture outside their comfort zone and be more transparent and more truthful. Let's have a good spirited debate on the issues before the city. In light of that, I would like to say that yard signs are awesome. The flyers are awesome. But I don't think necessarily that bigger is better to inform our citizens. And I would just ask that we really consider whether or not those you know, the size of the sign really adds to the betterment of city services. So I would encourage all of us, those that have not voted yet, to vote for those who seek to create genuine community. Vote for those that have a proven record of economic growth, affordable housing, shelter for the homeless, and then those for that are standing for common decency. Let's vote for those who are willing to put the residents of Galesburg first on their agenda of priorities. Vote for the candidate that will put self-interest and private interests aside for the good of the public community, public interest. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else here for public comment? Please step forward and state your name. Bruce Cook from Ward 1. I had not planned on standing here again so soon, or ever actually, but here I am, especially since I believe that some of my words tonight are going to offend some. It has been proposed to this council that Galesburg name a street after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But to what end? To express solidarity with other cities who have done so? Some want to invoke his name and raise him up as an example for their cause, but how many have actually heard or read his speeches and taken his words to heart? Too few, I'd say. I have no objection to naming something after Dr. King, but in a desire to honor a great man, we cannot lose sight of the fact that he did not want to be remembered with streets or buildings. Dr. King was not concerned with recognition or titles or awards or even the Nobel Peace Prize. He called such things shallow. We often minimize the fact that Dr. King was also a reverend and he lived his life based on biblical principles. He also believed in the words that all men are created equal. In his own words, if I can do my duty as a Christian ought, then my living will not be in vain. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. I just want to leave a committed life behind. That was how he wanted to be remembered. In my early 20s, I was the complete opposite of Reverend King. One day I stood on top of a mountain ridge, isolated from the world by a cloud that had descended around me, filled with more hate and rage than most people can even imagine. I hated the humanity that Reverend King loved and wanted to see it destroyed. I tell you this as a word of caution to those who would give in to bitterness and hate. Bitterness leads to anger. Anger leads to rage. And rage, when combined with hate, leads to destruction. The light of our nation has gone dark. When dictators and anarchists are hailed as heroes, something is definitely wrong. And our national leaders seem intent on fanning the flames of divisiveness and pushing us over a precipice into an abyss. Reverend King warned repeatedly this would be the result if our actions are unjust. We don't need to agree on everything. but we must step back from the brink. Naming a street after him will not accomplish that. We need to remember the message as well as the man, because if we fail to learn from what he taught, then his living will be in vain, and that would be a tragedy. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else here for public comment this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on. We have the consent agenda 2025-05. There are four items. All matters listed under the consent agenda will be considered routine by the City Council, or are considered routine, and will be enacted by one motion. There are four items again. We need a motion. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Second. And Mr. White. Any questions about anything on the consent agenda? Seeing none, I call for vote on consent agenda 2025-05. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. We've reached the passages of ordinances and resolutions. We have one of those this evening, 25-2007. This is a resolution naming the park located at 652 West Second Street as Cook Park. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller and Mr. White and Mr. Hanson. your honor staff is recommending approval of naming the new park development at 652 west second street cook park the city purchased the property in 2022 and is developing a new park at that property the site was previously part of the cook school campus and citizens and neighbors have recommended naming the park cook park to link the new park with its history Cook School was originally named in honor of Milo D. Cook, a prominent leader in the community. He served as a teacher, school board member, and police magistrate. He was a supporter of music in schools and played a key role in the establishment of the public library. Staff is recommending approval and obviously excited about this project. This is just the first piece of several that will be coming your way as we're closing in on bids for the construction to occur this summer. and ultimately construction, hopefully starting later this summer, continuing till the end of the year. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. Hanson. Anybody have questions about this? Mr. White? I don't have a question. I have a statement. It's been months ago I read this article, and it's called The Story Behind Public Parks and Playgrounds in Galesburg. All you have to do is Google that, and you'll understand the vision of some of the men before. And my favorite one is my kindred spirit, because he's got a tongue twister name like I have. His name is Max Mack. And look it up and see what he thought about growing and making parks in Galesburg. Not only him, but the Custer family and Mr. Brown. But look this up, please. the story behind public parks and playgrounds in Galesburg. Google it and read about it. And so Cook School just is another feather in that cap of Galesburg and what we think about our youth, our children, and growing parks and places for young boys to walk around and get grass cuts in their feet. Thank you. Great work, Gayla. Doesn't look like there's any questions. I'll call for a vote on 25-2007. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. And thanks for all that people are doing to make that park a reality. Under bids, petitions, communications, we have one item as well. 253004. This is 2025 spring brush cleanup. We 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 the bid of $27,500 from Legacy Corporation of Illinois to remove the existing wood waste from the oversized brush drop-off site located on Pickard Road. The city last had the pile cleared in the spring of 2024, and the current bid is for all... Wood waste accumulated from storms, tree work throughout the city, and wood waste dropped off by residents since that time. Two bids were received, with Legacy Corporation of Illinois providing the low and best bids. Sufficient funds are budgeted to cover this annual expense. Have I answered any questions? Mr. Miller. These wood chips that we get out of this, are we using them around city in the parks and stuff like that? Well, you know, I think we're... using our product for good use. Yeah, for the record, yes. And this bid, there were two bids. One, is that normal? And secondly, how does this bid compare to last year's bid? It's $800 less than last year's bid. That sounds good news to me. So, all right. I think Mr. White. Are the wood chips available to citizens? Yes. Okay, thank you. And the pickup, people can start going there in April, is that correct, or is it March? Friday, March 14th. Set the date, March 14th. Excellent. Anything else? Okay. Item 253004, I ask for a vote. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. A cherry, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. Now we move to miscellaneous business. Two items to vote on tonight. First is 254019. I'll get back to you, Mr. Hanson. This is the planning agreement for the airport master plan update. Need a motion and a second. So moved. Second. Thank you, Mr. Hicks. And Mr. Chair, Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff is recommending approval of an engineering agreement for the airport master plan. The Galesburg City Council previously approved a multi-phase airport master plan update with IDOT, but IDOT has since recommended a single-phase approach, and the City concurs with this recommendation. The next step required is improving an agreement with Hansen Engineering, full disclosure, and no relation to the City Manager. I'M ALREADY ON RETAINER AS THE CITY'S AIRPORT CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT THE PLANNING WORK FOR THIS UPDATE. THE TOTAL COST IS CAPPED AT $407,762 WITH THE CITY'S SHARE BEING $13,794 AND THE REMAINDER FUNDED BY A MIX OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL SOURCES. UPDATING THE PLAN LAST UPDATED IN 2004 IS NECESSARY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT PROJECT FUNDING. This is essentially the plan that we used as part of our process when we request multi-year funding. It allows us to access the various state and federal funds that we use to support the airport infrastructure. The update was certainly needed and I encourage council support. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. Hanson. Anyone? Mr. Cheeseman. just i think this is another and before i say this i was slow to the draw gala and all those folks out at cook school this is just a tremendous cook park this is a tremendous opportunity i'm so proud of the work you've done and and the name is just totally appropriate to this and thank you for all of that so again sorry late to the draw on this this again to me is just another one of these um another feather in in the cap of of of our opportunities in terms of of adding more economic potential and promise to our city. And I think that when we see what all of this will entail when it's all finished and the things that can come out of it, I think that doing all the things we're doing with the airport is going to be really serve us well down the line. So thank you for all that work. Okay. I'll ask for a vote on 254019. Kind of suspect what the results will be. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. We'll look at 254020, Initiation of Demolition Proceedings for Eight Properties. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Miller. Mr. Hanson. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff is recommending demolition of eight severely dilapidated and damaged structures which are in an unsafe condition and repairs are not economically feasible. Notices were sent to all property owners and there was no change in the status of the property or attempt to repair. Estimated demolition costs per property range from $6,000 to $23,000, and the property addresses and cost breakdown are provided in the packet. Upon approval, staff will seek demolition orders through legal counsel for the eight properties. Happy to answer any additional questions on this item. Anyone? Let's go to a vote. 25-4020. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Cherry, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Six-foot, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. So let's go back to the city manager's report. Anything you want to add, Mr. Hanson? Just briefly, I, too, was going to thank Gayla and Stephanie and all the people that have contributed. As I said before, I love this project for a number of reasons, in part because the person who is most important to me, my wife, taught at Cook School. uh for for a few years and got to see firsthand just how important uh that particular facility was to the neighborhood and to see this come to fruition uh is is just amazingly gratifying and and all the grant money that's been received and really looking forward to seeing this get constructed so very excited for them I'm very happy to be helping move this project forward, and we certainly are looking forward to cutting a ribbon somewhere down the road so people can enjoy. Other than that, I don't have anything particular unless council has any questions they have of the city manager's office. Anyone have questions? Okay, so I need a motion to sit as a town board. Mr. Miller? Okay. Mr. White, all those in favor say aye. All those opposed. We are sitting as a town board. We have one item, the bills 259005, the bills. Need a motion for the bills. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Thanks, Mr. Chair. Anyone have questions about the bills? Okay, let's vote on the bills. 259005. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Echera, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. We now need a motion to sit as a City Council. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Thank you, Mr. Chair. All those in favor say aye. Anyone opposed? We are now sitting as a City Council. We have reached closing comments. Who wants to lead off with closing comments this evening? Thank you, Mr. Dennis. I just wanted to put out a, I don't know how many people remember Tommy Ronk. He was a musician. He owned a flower place in Abingdon, moved to Galesburg. He played Jerry Lee Lewis as good as Jerry Lee Lewis did. I was at his house the other day and talked to his wife and Tommy was, of course, he couldn't talk. His wife called me two hours later and said that he passed away. I just wanted to let people know that he was a great human being. One of the nicest guys ever. And he will surely be missed. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Dennis. Mr. Miller. I also want to say to Gayla, thank you. I've talked to you a couple times on different things. You've done a fantastic job with this. I had very little to do with it, but I'm very excited to see this happen. I love to go by HT Custer Park, which is close to my home, and I see a lot of children out there playing, enjoying the pool. I've sat there for an hour in my vehicle watching the children play because it's nice to see them out in the open air and enjoying instead of having a computer in their face. I just, we've got so many good things happening in Galesburg folks. Let's just look forward to the, all the improvements that we're going to accomplish. Good things that bringing businesses and jobs We need to work on getting some homes built because we lack our housing in our town. But there's so many things that I'm excited about and being involved in. I've had quite a few people in my ward called with different concerns. I want to thank the chief of police being involved in it with me, with city manager. It's nice to see things being done in Gillsburg. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Mr. White. I too am a product of Cook School. I've got some scars on my knees from sliding in the grass, but I love it. And I too thank you for the work that you're doing. Cook School happens to be in my ward and I have great fond memories of it. And hopefully I'll have more memories. flying kites and all kinds of things over there. I always want to say something pretty profound, but I don't think I can say anything more profound than what Mr. Cook spoke about earlier. I take my hat off to you, sir. I definitely take my hat off to you. I think that everybody should read his words that he said. When it comes out next week, read and ponder on what the man said. Again, I want to say thank you. Last but not least, citizens, everybody that's out here, get involved in your city. I want you to go, everybody that hears me, go to the city's website. Go to the bottom of the page, and there's a little sign that says get notified. Get notified. Click on it. It'll open up another box and it'll give you instructions that you just follow. You get notified on everything that happens in the city, whether it's the city council, the packets that we get, you can get those. All you gotta do is check it and get notified so you know what's going on in your city. When there's grants going on, anything you got, the fire department has stuff on there, the police department has stuff on there, and you can get information. bottom of the city council page, click on get notified, follow the instructions, be part of your city. Thank you. Thanks again to Gayla and Stephanie for staying with the project of the Cook Park. I love enhancements to the city because that's not only going to be a wonderful resource for the community now, but I hope it attracts more people maybe to come and buy a home, fix it up. I think we need more of that all over the city, but parks can be a focal point for that, and I think that has a lot of potential. Also very excited about the airport. Even before I ran for office, I was very interested in the potential that a robust airport could offer to the community it's one of the things that is very important for economic growth in terms of having that transportation available and it can also be as as is being discussed a place for recreation as well and investment Tommy Ronk was a friend of mine and I did not know he had passed so thank you I just asked about him recently he taught my grandma organ and I think piano for sure organ he was amazing and he actually toured with Jerry Lee Lewis. I don't know if folks know that, but he had some very interesting stories to tell, and he was amazing. I did want to mention, as I've become a bit of a history buff, something that occurred on March 3rd in 1913 was the first major U.S. women's suffrage march in Washington, D.C. This was right before Woodrow Wilson's 5,000 women marched in Washington, D.C. for their right to vote. and they were actually physically attacked. Many were injured, and the police stood down. Notable among the women there was a woman named Ida B. Wells. She was a Chicagoan, black woman, and civil rights activist. She was actually directed to march in a segregated portion, but she wanted to march with her Illinois sisters. So she, her bold step defied racial lines, and this cemented her legacy as a unifier and fighter for justice. a little bit about what happened on March 3rd. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Chair. Ms. Cheeseman? Mr. Mayor, I'll take credit for Mrs. Echera's tremendous interest in history. Stephanie and Gayla, again, congratulations to you. You learn in life who people are that are go-getters and get things done, and you two certainly meet that criteria. Also, I see Mr. Spinks here tonight, and our Gale Scholars Program has been doing a lot of mentoring and networking. We're going to take the big leap to come out to his place and have a little skating party. I will not skate, but I will enjoy watching them skate. And also, thank you, Mr. Franklin, Reverend Franklin, for bringing that up about women. I think all of us have been around strong women in our life and know they make our world work, plain and simple. A couple of things. I've spent the last couple of days working to help our residents in a number of different things, and I think that's what I get the most. I feel like that's a real big calling for me. I talked to the leader of and the CEO of the VNA, and they do a tremendous amount for our residents. for our seniors in all kinds of ways, from providing meals to services to assistance and all kinds of other things, camaraderie. And they're running out of money due to no fault of their own. The state is not getting the payments to them in a timely fashion. Our representative, Dan Swanson, who I can't say enough good things about, has tried to help. And I know also Mike Halpin, who I think does really good things too, has tried to help. But the Department of Aging, from what I can understand, needs to step up a little bit and help there. This is a critical service to our seniors, and our seniors are a really important part of our world and certainly to our city. Secondly, our golf course, and I found this out. I did not know this when I went to pay my yearly dues. The state is now... charging a surcharge up on golf carts, practice range balls, and lockers. And that's a 9% surcharge. So it could be up to 27% in terms, I believe if my math is right, additional charges to all of our folks that use the golf course. uh... in a time when many of them are strapped for money and we've tried to make this is as portable as possible it's not something that i agree with but it's certainly not something that uh... it is something that all of us in our city can't do anything about except say that we disagree with it and are sorry that this has happened and again i i i believe our our state is just taxing us to death and somewhere the other it's got to stop uh... and that's i certainly think that's one of the reasons that we lead the nation or close to leaving the nation and the number of residents that are leaving so I'm sorry to all of those golfers, and there were 33,000 rounds played last year. And finally, I mentioned this last week, the citizens of Canterbury Lake Story residential area are dealing with potentially a new solar farm being built near their neighborhood. Again, I said last week, and I mean this sincerely, I think solar energy is a tremendous energy source and one for our future. But these folks are going to have it built in an area where it's going to affect their neighborhood. Their neighborhood was set to expand. It is something that has already been passed in our city, so we had nothing to do with it. our city council, but I want to do everything I can, and I know our city administration does as well, of giving them options that they can do things to try to fight this. And they've been very impressive and shows that when people get together with a like cause and are working hard in the right way, that potentially good things are happening and we're going to have a meeting to try to help them in directions to go. Again, helping our citizens, and I know our folks do that here. That's really an important thing for us, all of our citizens, in trying to get people together that have differences of opinions. We work so much better and get such a better outcome when we all work together and try to come together. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chief. Mr. Hicks? Thanks, Mayor. I'll be short, as usual. Just wanted to thank Aaron and Eric. for their work on the airport commission. That was an idea that I came up with not in this last strategic plane session, but the one prior to that. And since then, we've been able to be designated as a regional airport and we've got some really good things going on there. And the leadership of two of the folks to my right are part of that. Actually, Don shows up too as part of it. So thank you, Don, for your help on that. And then just wanted to do a shout out to my brothers who were here last meeting. They're in Colorado now. watching online so hope you guys have a safe trip home. We got everybody. I'll close and I'll just say a couple quick things. One, we had some really remarkable, you know, we have a lot of remarkable athletes in our community and most recently our high school swimmers and divers did exceptionally well at state. And the girls high school basketball team made it to sectionals. and played a very tough team and had just a really fantastic season. We had a first team all-conference and a second team all-conference player on our squad, and that's quite an accomplishment. I would also talk about strong women, and this is Women's History Month. You've been mentioned, called out a few times already today, but Ms. Pacheco and Ms. Grimes, You have both done remarkable work in this area. And I'm very proud of that. And this is testament to your heritage and your family's continued pursuit of wonderful things for Galesburg. And I thank you bottom of my heart. And the most important woman in the world is my mother. And she's watching, I hope. I don't know. Sometimes she forgets, but not... because we move the meeting sometimes to Tuesday, but I think she's watching and she's watching and she knows I'm her only child and I'm so fortunate to be her only child. She lives in Virginia and she reached a milestone birthday a couple months ago. I'm the person I am because of her. She raised me obviously from birth, but I live with her primarily for most of my upbringing. And I talk to her almost daily to this day. She's a wonderful woman. And I want to give her a call out tonight. And I thank all of those as well who called out other women. And hopefully we'll continue to do that throughout the month. With that, I'll call for adjournment. We have Mr. Miller and Ms. Scherer. All those in favor say aye. We are adjourned.