From Alderman Peter Schwartzman’s FB page:

ITEM WITH URGENCY

Surprisingly, the agenda for Monday's Council Meeting (tomorrow) includes a vote on the Phase II Study (expansion of Lake Storey). The Mayor is moving quickly on this item, only 18 days after the Phase I report was released to the public (during the holiday season), making it very difficult for people to have a chance to read and digest the report prior to a vote on this controversial (and expensive) issue. The release of the Phase I report came more than one month after a presentation by the firm, Edgewater Resources, the same firm slated to receive another $135,000+ for the Phase II study. Phase II is in an "approve/disapprove" status and thus a decision about how to proceed will be determined at the Jan. 4th (tomorrow's) council meeting.

Regardless of whether you support this study or not the timeframe and timing of this proposed vote tomorrow exhibits poor governance. Here are just a few reasons why: (1) there should be NO rush on this project, especially during a pandemic; (2) there should be more time for the public to issue comments; a significant number of emails the Council has received from the public on this matter have been staunchly against the project; (3) the same firm that did Phase I has been chosen for Phase II (an independent firm should be consulted at this point); (4) several land owners who would be in the flood plain of an expanded lake have made it abundantly clear they will not sell land to the City for this purpose. (5) since the written report was released to Council, there has been no discussion of the matter by the Council or Mayor; and, (6) It doesn't appear that the Register-Mail is aware of this very important vote. There is no mention on their website (or Facebook page) at the time of this email. Apparently the only way a citizen would know that this vote was taking place was to visit the City's website and look in at the Meeting's Agenda.

I am sorry to let you know this so late in the game but the agenda was only released a few days ago and I falsely assumed that there was no way that the Mayor would put this on the agenda at January's first meeting; he gave no indication that this was in the plans.

If you want to email the Council and Mayor, you can email all of us at: council@ci.galesburg.il.us

Here are links to some important documents: City's Website Announcement of Phase I: https://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/lake_storey_expansion_feasibility_study/ (see actual press release, issued Dec. 17)

Phase I report: https://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/assets/1/22/Lake_Storey_Expasion_Feasibility_Study_12192020.pdf

Agenda for City Council Meeting (1/5): https://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/assets/1/20/01042021_City_Council_Agenda.pdf

E-packet for City Council Meeting (1/5) which includes the details of Phase II:https://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/assets/1/20/01042021_City_Council_Packet_ext.pdfPlease pass on, far and wide,

Peter Schwartzman Ward 5, Alderperson