Galesburg Aldermen voted 4-3 to direct city staff to meet with District 205 representatives to further discuss the city’s acquisition of Churchill Junior High.
The district has offered the building for $1 but preliminary estimates say about $5 million will have to be spent just to bring the property up to code.
Larry Cox was making a point in how many other financial needs the city has, asked City Manager Todd Thompson about other uses for funds.
Thompson admits the city has lots of backlogged projects and maintenance efforts, which include sidewalks and roads.
Cox said that he thinks the city should invest more in these kinds of infrastructure projects before heavily investing in a property the city doesn’t have.
Thompson is soon to become City Manager of Rock Island, and he says their community center is owned by the city and employs people but most operations are funded by a variety of grants.
He also said funds to pay for renovations could come from ARPA dollars, or the city could re-issue bonds.