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| Galesburg Aldermen To Take Final Vote on Building Purchase -- PICTURES AVAILABLE HERE |
A special meeting of the Galesburg City Council will be called next week now that aldermen have given a green-light to administrators to make final preparations to purchase a building.
Aldermen Monday night heard about then toured 200 South Henderson Street. The city would like to rehab the facility and add on to it so that it can move its Public Works operations there -- at least, those that aren't already at the city's other property right next door.
City Manager Dane Bragg says after aldermen tabled the purchase a couple weeks ago, there's a reason for moving ahead on the purchase now.
"The purchase contract we have expires at the end of April," Bragg said. "So we need to schedule (a meeting) next week if (aldermen) want to go forward with it."
City Engineer Wayne Carl says he's studied extensively various sites that the city can move public works operations and equipment into, including former Maytag and Butler buildings, and says 200 South Henderson Street makes far more sense.
"In addition to the cost, we've evaluated sites based on where they're located, and where they're located in relation to the City garage," Carl said. "A centralized location is very important in order to provide the most cost-effective service to the taxpayers. It saves a great deal of manpower and fuel if we're located close to the central garage."
Carl says for instance, city vehicles take a beating, in his words, after every snow plowing event, so having everything in one area will save time and money.
First Ward Alderman Ken Goad says he should have gotten most of the information about that purchase well before Tuesday night. The city wants to phase in the over million dollars in costs to do all the proposed improvements over the next several years, and Goad tells WGIL that has him concerned.
"The thing that I'm concerned about is, what is the total going to be down the road....when this is all developed," Goad said. "I think we need to be very prudent with the money that we are provided."
Another alderman, the Third Ward's Russell Fleming, says he feels better about the property now that he's seen it, than before.
City officials say they can save money in the long run by consolidating public works operations in one area.
(Galesburg aldermen discuss the proposed purchase of the 200 S. Henderson St. building Monday night.)
(Aldermen and city officials enter 200 S. Henderson St.)
(City Manager Dane Bragg and Fourth Ward Alderman Corrine Andersen, left, talk inside the building, while Mayor Sal Garza, in yellow, walks.)
(A look at an office inside the building.)
(Galesburg's water plant and public works operations can be seen from the driveway area of 200 S. Henderson St. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 04 20 10 by Newsroom |
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