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Home My WebLink About090324 City Council Meeting Minutes September 3, 2024 Page 1 of 5 Galesburg City Council Regular Meeting City Council Chambers 55 West Tompkins Street, Galesburg, Illinois September 3, 2024 6:00 p.m. Called to order by Mayor Peter Schwartzman at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call #1: Present: Mayor Peter Schwartzman, Council Members Bradley Hix, Wayne Dennis, Dwight White, Heather Acerra, Sarah Davis, and Steve Cheesman, 7. Absent: Council Member Evan Miller, 1. Also Present: City Manager Eric Hanson, City Attorney Dan Alcorn, and Deputy City Clerk Ericka Gugliotta. Mayor Schwartzman declared a quorum present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A moment of silence was observed in lieu of an invocation. Proclamations: Workforce Development Month United Way Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to approve the minutes of the City Council’s regular meeting from August 19, 2024. Roll Call #2: Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, White, Acerra, Davis, and Cheesman, 6. Nays: None Absent: Council Member Miller, 1 Chairman declared the motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT Jeanette Churnin invited everyone to attend the NAACP Freeedom Fund Gala this Saturday at Cedar Creek Hall. This year’s speaker is internationally known as a teacher, lecturer and diversity trainer, Jane Elliott. Elliott is best known for her blue eyes brown eyes exercise she conducted with her students after the assasination of Martin Luthar King, Jr. This was made into a documentary titled "The Eye of The Storm”. Jane Elliott is considered the forerunner of diversity training and has done training for major corporations, the IRS, US Navy, and US Postal Service. She has spoken to hundreds of universities and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show many times. Anyone wanting tickets can contact her or anyone on the NAACP executive board. September 3, 2024 Page 2 of 5 Ms. Chernin also thanked her Alderman, Heather Acerra. She and Acerra visited neighborhoods in the area with vacated and dilapitated homes. Both agree that these homes need to be brought up to code or demolished. She thanked Alderman Acerra for following up on these issues. CONSENT AGENDA #2024-15 All matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. 24-3039 Approve a lease agreement with M & M Golf Cars, LLC for golf carts and utility vehicle for Bunker Links Golf Course. 24-3040 Approve the bid from McScot Golf Inc. in the amount of $180,339 for the design, con struction, and installation of a new backstop and baseline netting system for the ball diamond located at H.T. Custer Park. 24-6003 Approve the appointment of David Marshall, Overall Code Review Commission, term expiring June 2026. 24-8014 Approve bills in the amount of $1,435,447.79 and advance checks in the amount of $1,036,579.55. Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Davis, to approve Consent Agenda 2024-15. Roll Call #3: Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, White, Acerra, Davis, and Cheesman, 6. Nays: None Absent: Council Member Miller, 1. Chairman declared the motion carried by omnibus vote. PASSAGE OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BIDS, PETITIONS, AND COMMUNICATIONS 24-3041 Council Member White moved, seconded by Council Member Davis, to approve the bid from W.F. Scott Decorating, Inc. in the amount of $32,100.00 to paint various areas in City Hall. Roll Call #4: September 3, 2024 Page 3 of 5 Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, White, Acerra, Davis, and Cheesman, 6. Nays: None Absent: Council Member Miller, 1. Chairman declared the motion carried. 24-3042 Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Davis, to approve a base bid and four alternative bids for the Simmons Street Parking Lot and Streetscape project in the amount of $2,502,284.94 from Gunther Contruction, a division of UCM, Inc. Roll Call #5: Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, White, Acerra, Davis, and Cheesman, 6. Nays: None Absent: Council Member Miller, 1. Chairman declared the motion carried. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS (AGREEMENTS, APPROVALS, ETC.) Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to sit as the Town Board. The motion carried. TOWN BUSINESS 24-9017 Trustee Acerra moved, seconded by Trustee Davis, to approve Town bills and warrants to be drawn in payment of same. Fund Title Amount Town Fund $14,435.44 General Assistance Fund $7,589.35 IMRF Fund Social Security/Medicare Fund Liability Fund Audit Fund Total $22,024.79 Roll Call #6: Ayes: Trustees Hix, Dennis, White, Acerra, Davis, and Cheesman, 6. Nays: None Absent: Trustee Miller, 1. Chairman declared the motion carried. September 3, 2024 Page 4 of 5 24-9018 Trustee Davis moved, seconded by Trustee White, to receive the Town Audit for the year ended December 31, 2023. Roll Call #7: Ayes: Trustees Hix, Dennis, Miller, White, Acerra, Davis, and Cheesman, 6. Nays: None Absent: Trustee Miller, 1. Chairman declared the motion carried. Trustee Dennis moved, seconded by Trustee Acerra, to resume as the City Council. The motion carried. CLOSING COMMENTS Council Member White stated he was glad to see Gunther Contruction was awarded the bid for the parking lot and streetscape project. White also commended the improvements at HT Custer Park and Bunker Links Golf Course. Alderman White added that he attended the Labor Day parade, which is one of the longest running parades in the Country. White expressed his hope for the city to continue to grow and move forward and that Galesburg is a great place to live. Alderman Acerra stated that she and friends, who recently immigrated from Ukraine had a great weekend in Galesburg. They attended the Labor Day parade and the Stearman Fly-In where they had the opportunity to fly in a biplane. They also went to local restaurants and visited many of our historic homes. These experiences make her very proud of her town and Acerra’s friends stated that it was the best American weekend they have had . Council Member Davis thanked the accounting firm that conducted the township audit. She also expressed her appreciation for the township employees who maintain the records that were audited which did not note any necessary changes. Council Member Cheesman commended the great job that the council and community have done to enhance recreational facilities such as HT Custer Park and Bunker Links Golf Course. Cheesman also agreed with Jeanette Churnin’s sentiments, and we need to continue to prioritze improving the aesthetics of the town. Property repairs and upkeep need to continue to be a priority. Council Member Hix noted he too attended the Labor Day parade which had a great turnout . Hix thanked Director of Parks and Recreation Don Miles and his staff for the great job they do at the golf course and other recreational facilities. Hix also thanked Community Development Director Gugliotta for working with him on some possible development ideas. Hix greatly appreciates that both Directors are always available to answer any questions and help when needed. Council Member Dennis added that the City lost a local icon over the weekend. Frank Rogers who was the president of R&B distributors in Galesburg. He will be truly missed. September 3, 2024 Page 5 of 5 Mayor Schwartzman stated that he was in the Labor Day parade and appreicated all the positive energy from all of those in attendance. The mayor announced that the Stearman Fly-In is being held this week and has a record number of biplanes at this year’s event. This coming Saturday is community day at the Fly-In and he encouraged everyone to attend. The Mayor acknowledged the many volunteers in the community such as the volunteers at the Stearman, as well as the Knox College Football team who assisted with the Blessings in a Backpack project. The mayor also announced this weekend was the opening game for the Knox College Football team and attendance is free. Mayor Schwartzman also thanked the volunteers who water the flower boxes on the fencing for the railroad crossings in town. It’s people like this that make the city beautiful. Mayor Schwartzman also mentioned that this was the last week to donate to Fill the Boot for MDA. He believes that the Galesburg Fire Department is on track to break records and to again raise the second highest amount of donations in the State. Mayor Schwartzman announced that the first ever scrabble tournament will be held in Galesburg. There will be two tournaments on September 14th and 15th. Mayor hopes that this will be the first of many annual tournaments in Galesburg. Council members reminded everyone that the Lion’s Club will be hosting the Stearman pancake breakfast at the Galesburg Airport. There being no further business, Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Acerra, to adjourn the regular meeting at 6:36 p.m. Roll Call #8: Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, White, Acerra, Davis, and Cheesman, 6. Nays: None Absent: Council Member Miller, 1. Chairman declared the motion carried. Peter D. Mayor Schwartzman, Mayor Ericka Gugliotta, Deputy City Clerk