Galesburg City Council made the hiring of Eric Hanson as the next city manager official on Monday night.
All seven Council members voted yes on the employment agreement that will bring the West-Central Illinois native to City Hall starting in December.
Council members and the public alike burst into applause after the approval.
The vote seemingly has brought to an end a carousel of individuals serving as city manager since Todd Thompson left in May 2022.
Wayne Carl served as interim twice, Gerald Smith was hired and then paid out $75,000 in a separation agreement after 9 months, Community Development Director Steve Gugliotta acted in the office for a month, and currently, former police Chief John Schlaf is interim.
Hanson most recently has worked as Assistant City Manager in Normal, Illinois but also has been city manager in Ballwin, Missouri; Indianola, Iowa; and Monmouth.
He will be paid $185,000 annually to start.
