By CAROL TOWNSEND
For The Prairie News
GALVA – Several alderman asked that four houses in the city be moved to the top of the list to have their yards cleaned up immediately.
Second Ward Aldermen Jim Hartman and Rick Otterstrom said at Monday’s meeting of the City Council that the resident at 509 SW 3rd St. is cutting up items in his yard, loading a trailer with the junk and burning items early in the morning creating black smoke. They said the resident has put up a homemade fence, adding this needs attention immediately as he is also using the neighbor’s driveway.
Otterstrom and Hartman also discussed 318 SW 3rd Ave. as having a garage standing on two walls with a car inside, people driving all over the terrace and generally messy conditions that need immediate attention.
First Ward Alderman Jeff Olson reported that two houses on Northeast 9th Street are also in dire need of clean-up. One on the corner of Northeast 9th Street and Northeast 2nd Avenue has an abandoned truck in the yard with five or six mattresses in it.
The aldermen instructed that letters be sent out immediately to the property owners.
The council also approved spending $160,000 for the 2025 street program. This year the program will concentrate on the northwest section of Galva with seal and seal-coat aggregate. The city maintenance yard will also be seal coated.
The city has $77,000 in the motor fuel tax account and hopes to have more by the time the work is done. The MFT fund was at $9,000 in January.
The council declined a grant for a Blue Cross Blue Shield fitness center at the Galva Park District. City Administrator David Dyer reported that the grant was for $60,000 but the city would have been required to spend another $168,500. Council members said they would rather replace the playground in Wiley Park.
“That playground is used extensively and that should be our focus,” Olson said.
The city is also going to consider a suggestion made by Dustin Williams to add another basketball court in Wiley Park.
Police Chief Kraig Townend reported that Galva has had some burgarlies in unlocked cars and garages. He said there has also been burglaries in Colona and Geneseo.
It was reported that water employees were busy Sunday with a water-main break in the 1000 block of SW 2nd St.
Supervisor Richard Plummer reported that the spring cleanup for the Galva Cemetery is April 13-17. All flowers, wreaths, etc. must be removed and he suggested that statues be removed and if any are broken, workers will throw them away.
Finally, residents were reminded there will be a consolidated election on April 1 for city council members that includes a contested election in Galva’s Ward 3.
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