High lead levels found in some Knox County children and in a number of water service lines in Galesburg have not been linked as a cause from A to B, and some aldermen argue that deteriorating homes with lead paint, dust and chips need to be targeted as the bigger issue at hand.
City Council members met last night in a work session along with representatives from the Knox County Health Department to work toward solutions to combat risks.
Knox County Public Health Administrator Michele Gabriel re-affirmed the health department’s stance last night that 80% to even 90% of lead found in kids is believed to come from paint and dust.
City Manager Todd Thompson proposed a number of primarily water based solutions which could total more than $90,500 if EPA requirements are heightened.
7th Ward Alderman Jeremy Karlin was one of a number of aldermen concerned with looking at more than just water service lines.
“I think the first step of course was we need to test the water of those homes in which children are testing with higher levels of lead in their blood stream,” Karlin says. “The second thing we can do, is we can use UDAG (Urban Development Action Grant) money to start addressing deteriorating homes. Even if we spent the UDAG money and spent $10,000 on lead , that’s approximately 40 to 50 homes in the community.”
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos’ Chief of Staff Jon Pyatt also spoke last night on her behalf. The Congresswoman was initially unhappy with the city’s response to reports on high lead levels.
Though there was some back and forth with council, both parties agreed for the need to work together moving forward.
