Another lengthy discussion over naming the Boys & Girls Club of Knox County as a city community center took place last night at the Galesburg City Council meeting.
For the third straight meeting, aldermen tabled the item, however, it is expected that a vote will now take place in two weeks when the council reconvene.
New voices were heard last night. Newly elected First Ward Alderman Angela Bastian says she has concerns over replicating the old community center.
“I’m hesitant to lend my vote for an interim community center, because I don’t think we need to replicate what we already had,” said Bastian. “I’d like to see the city help the Boys & Girls Club in some capacity, but I am not in agreement with how everything is laid out. I would like discussions to go on and move forward in seeing what we can do to help the club, because I think they offer a great service to the community, and the kids in the community.”
Bastian’s vote could be a deciding factor in two weeks. Meanwhile, Aldermen Russell Fleming and Wayne Dennis both re-affirmed their concerns last night as well. Both have asked to see a financial report from club, before any decision is made.
If a motion passes June 1st, the Boys & Girls Club and the city will enter into a five-year contract. The city would finance the cost with the $115,000 from the sale of the cities previous center.
