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City Council Concerned About Economic Development
The Galesburg City Council remains concerned about local economic development efforts -- specifically, whether or not there are prospective businesses that are simply told "no, thanks" and are forced to move on.

That was one of the first topics discussed Saturday during the final part of a two-day goal-setting session aldermen held at Knox College.

Seventh Ward Alderman Jeremy Karlin wondered if, for one, aldermen could find out about every prospect that comes to town looking to set up shop, but wondered more if the city should ever tell a business "no" in terms of planning or zoning.

"A person in the city says to the guy in the computer store, 'hey, we're open for business, and we're willing to work for you, but what I'm going to need to do is talk to some council members and other people to see that happen,'" Karlin said. "Then you're developing and environment in which...we can work with reasonable proposals."

While some aldermen agreed that the city needs to be more, in their words, "user-friendly" to developers, Mayor Sal Garza suggested that some developers will instead bully their way into getting what they want.

Garza suggested holding possibly a focus group or conducting surveys to see what can be done to help developers and businesses alike.


(The Galesburg City Council and City Manager Todd Thompson met Saturday in the Ferris Lounge at Knox College, the second day of a two-day goal-setting session. WGIL News Story and Photo by Will Stevenson.)
06 18 11 by Newsroom
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