Resolution opposing Lake Storey Expansion approved by County Board

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The Knox County Board approved a resolution last night siding with area farmers and landowners opposed to the City of Galesburg’s Lake Storey Expansion project.

The resolution expresses an overall concern for what is described as insufficient protection given to the rights of residents, homeowners, and farmers whose properties would be affected by the project.

While board chair Jared Hawkinson says he supports economic development, he criticized the city’s handling of the project.

“I just have major problems with the way it was handled from the get-go. And if it’s something that can be tried again then it needs to be addressed in a different fashion. As of the way this was handled thus far, I think I stand unified, I think, with most of the County Board that we oppose this issue.”

Unified they were in approving the resolution drafted by State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin, taking a stand against the project introduced late last year by the Galesburg City Council.

Board member David Amor said he was glad to see the board listening to the constituents, specifically the landowners whose properties would be affected by the project.

“I’ll point out that the citizens of the City of Galesburg are also within the county and also our constituents. And they, maybe not as vociferously as the landowners but certainly many, many of them, have come forward to the city council over the last months to make it clear. By any unofficial sampling, a majority of the members of the county are firmly opposed to this expansion.”

Board member and former chair Pam Davidson said it was “disrespectful” the city didn’t come to the county board to discuss the project.

Reporting by the Register-Mail indicates that a decision on the Lake Storey expansion will be made at the June 7 City Council meeting.

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