Galesburg Aldermen voted against a non-binding referendum Monday night, likely signaling a majority of the council fully intends on converting the soon to be shuttered school into a community center.
Acquiring the property was also on first reading Monday night, although administration says the city could move forward with acquisition without committing to a substantial investment.
City Manager Todd Thompson says the city would accept the property “as is”, and the closing date hasn’t been set yet but would be sometime after the school year.
Aldermen White, Smith-Esters, Davis and Wallace, the same combination that supports Churchill as a community center voted against the referendum.
Dwight White called it a stall tactic and “hit and run” from the three aldermen opposed and says he’s doesn’t understand why they are opposed to do something for youth.
Bradley Hix says that he believes every letter he’s gotten on Churchill has been opposed on investing substantially in it.
“Nobody’s saying they don’t want to create something. We’re just asking for the citizens to have the right to voice their opinion on $5 to $10 million dollars,” Hix says.
Jaclyn Smith-Esters says that she doesn’t believe the bulk of the population that votes crosses over with who would use a community center.
Hix pointed out that Aldermen Smith-Esters and Wallace were appointed rather than elected, while at the same time are denying voters the chance to weigh in on this investment.
Galesburg’s annual budget is $66 million and the community center is thought of in these stages to be at least a $5 to $10 million project.
Alderman Larry Cox says many fine city facilities are already underused like the Lake Storey Pavilion and Hawthorne Gym.
