Galva swears in aldermen, bids farewell to cops
By CAROL TOWNSEND
For The Prairie News
GALVA – Three aldermen were sworn in at Monday night’s city council meeting, while several police officers were bid farewell.
Council members sworn in were incumbents Jim Hartman and Jamie Hopping and newly elected Dougie Anderson. Third ward alderwomen Jackie Clucas was absent.
Police Chief Kraig Townsend said three part-time officers have resigned and one full-time officer has submitted a notice of resignation.
“We are having a tough time to cover,” he said. “With the police reform bills being passed, officers are afraid of being sued.”
The council opened the only bid for a city owned lot behind the State Bank of Toulon. Mid Century Fiber’s bid of $3,000 was accepted.
In other business, Alderman Hartman questioned why the city paid $1,500 to take down a trailer on Southeast 2nd Ave. Mayor Rich Volkert said that the owner was not doing anything with it, adding it was cheaper for the city to clean it up, rather than pay an attorney to proceed with litigation.
Hartman asked if the city now owned the lot and the garage on the property. Volkert said that the owner kept the property and the garage to store a motor vehicle. Hartman said he believed the garage should have been torn down and the city should own the lot.
Alderman Dougie Anderson asked Volkert what tools are given to City Administrator David Dyer to generate economic developmenta. Anderson said one Galva TIF district expires Dec. 31 and he feels another TIF should be considered. He asked that Mike Webber, who is well versed on TIF districts, be invited to Galva’s next council meeting.
Danielle Williams and Dr. Jeff Hawes spoke about a Black Hawk College scholarship program in which dollars raised would be invested and the accrued interest would fund eligible Galva students to attend Black Hawk at no charge. The scholarship would be available for students who attended K-12 in Galva, or prorated according to the number of years a student attended Galva schools. For more information or to make a donation to the scholarship, call Williams at (309) 854-1715.
In his absence, it was reported that Superintendent Greg Thompson is working on water issues near the Galva Park District, as 12 areas have broken tiles or other issues. The water department is currently flushing hydrants and clean up days will be the week of June 21-26.
The July 4th parade route will be shortened, and will not go through downtown or across the railroad.
A snowplow truck that did not get ordered by the dealer has been re-ordered and went from a 2020 Chevrolet to a 2021 Ford.
Finally, Volkert declared May 28 as poppy day.
