Galesburg City Manager Eric Hanson joined WGIL’s Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm on Galesburg’s Morning News to preview the Monday, May 19, 2025, City Council meeting. The City Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the City Council Chambers.
Key topics from this morning's discussion include:
Falconry for Crow Deterrence: Downtown Galesburg experiences significant issues with crow roosting, leading to complaints about mess, damage, and other problems, particularly in late fall and winter. This has been an ongoing issue for years. The council will consider a $54,000 proposal from Aviaway Bird Control Services to use falcons to deter crow roosting in the downtown area. This approach involves utilizing seven different falcons over a four to five-week period.
Galesburg eyes falcons to chase downtown crows. Here’s how it works
Purchase of Public Transit Vehicle Cameras: The council will be asked to waive purchasing policies to buy cameras from Gatekeeper for public transit vehicles. This includes new paratransit vehicles and future fixed-route buses. The cameras are deemed "mostly for safety."
Demolition of Blighted Properties: The consent agenda includes a bid to demolish six properties identified as dangerous or unrestorable. The city has a comprehensive strategy for addressing blighted properties and neighborhoods.
Addressing Homelessness: Public comments at the previous council meeting raised concerns about homelessness in Galesburg. The city is taking several steps in collaboration with other organizations.