Galesburg's police chief says what is a blessing now, might almost become a curse in the future.

Chief David Christensen told the Galesburg City Council Monday night that while the city currently employs 53 officers for the first time in a long time, equaling a full staff, there is the possibility of that will change soon, with the potential of one officer potentially resigning, and two more being deployed to serve in the war on terror.

Christensen says the solution could very well be to solve the problem before it becomes a problem with what he calls "over hires."  He says the idea is to anticipate vacancies before they actually occur and get a head start on hiring officers.

Christensen says he'd also like to see the police officer exam administered more frequently than every other year, and would like to be able to hire officers who already have experience, without making them go through the testing process.

Action has not been taken on the proposal.

The Galesburg City Council last night did vote to hire engineering firm Bruner, Cooper, and Zuck to provide supervisory services at the construction site of the new water treatment plant near Oquawka, and to design a water main loop to serve Logistics Park Galesburg.

Aldermen also turned down the creation of a two-lot subdivision in the city because of a requested waiver of sidewalks, but approved it assuming the sidewalks would be added after all.