After 90 days of waiting, Galesburg residents will likely find out tonight whether City Council will move forward with developing the Broad Street Armory into a recreation and community center.
A proposal to continue the $3.45 million project and its development is on the agenda.
Aldermen have been at odds over a decision and public comment at multiple meetings has been on both sides of the issue. While some feel the city promised another community center after closing the former one on Simmons St. in 2013, others think using the earmarked money would be better suited to go toward fixing city streets.
Aldermen pushed a decision down the road to seek more public input. Ward 3 Alderman Russell Fleming has advocated against the current a proposal and has said he wouldn’t be changing his mind.
“We need to do something with the Armory, but I wasn’t in favor of spending $3.5 million on it or more,” Fleming told WGIL in June.
We took a mock vote of each aldermen on their stances in June. Based on the poll, the proposal would fail, but, tonight will show if additional public feedback swayed positions.
In other business, aldermen will discuss on first read an ordinance that could make the City Treasurer’s post an appointed, unpaid position.
Ward 7 Alderman Jeremy Karlin asked city administration to create an ordinance to do that, last month.
Currently, the position is elected and is salaried. Aldermen could vote to keep it as is, make it appointed and unpaid or they could make it part time.
