7am News, Sports and Obits
Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
Galesburg Proposes Beach Closure As Part of Budget Cuts
What usually is a popular Galesburg attraction might not be the same in coming years if Galesburg City Manager Dane Bragg gets his way in the upcoming city budget.

Bragg proposed almost $1.5 million in cuts that, he says, would balance the city's 23-million dollar general fund budget in Fiscal Year 2010, which starts with the calendar year -- cuts that include a proposed voluntary employee separation program, and increases in many city fees and tickets.

But Bragg also proposed closing Lake Storey Beach, saying it's costing the city too much money to keep open.

"The beach, currently, is not attracting patrons at a rate that is sufficient to cover what we're paying for it," Bragg said. "We currently are subsidizing each patron of the beach, to the tune of $17. So, each person that goes to the beach costs us $17 for them to be there. This year, we're estimating 3,600 total patrons, which actually is up from last year slightly."

Bragg says that will cost the city 60-thousand dollars. He says he wants to convert the beach into a marina, with rental boats, dock space for rent for those with boats, and a convenience store.

Bragg says he also wants to increase fees at Allison Lake Storey Campground, and possible couple that with access to Lakeside Splashzone as an incentive.

Mayor Sal Garza says "there is some pain" in the budget, but that he's, "encouraged" by the remedies.

Budget approval comes in a few months.
09 09 09 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.