Darrell Lovell has served the City of Galesburg for over four decades, for the last 30 years as Township Assessor.
This August the man responsible for assigning value to Galesburg property will step down from his post telling WGIL all of his work for the city has been a “wonderful experience.”
“I’m a Galesburg boy and my dad was born here so I’ve always been proud to serve in the city of Galesburg,” Lovell says.
Lovell has a “bucket list” for retirement, at the top of which is traveling to the Northeast to see the fall leaves but also will be spending time in Washington D.C. helping his granddaughter and daughter as she goes through health problems.
Not only has Lovell been Galesburg’s assessor since the 80’s but was also 3rd ward alderman from 1975-79.
When the acting mayor suddenly passed away Lovell was even Galesburg’s acting mayor for three months in 1979.
He says that city government isn’t that different than it was years ago, mostly just faces and names change.
However, Lovell says signs of decline in town like shrinking high school class sizes and difficulties young people have finding work in town have him concerned.
“That’s the big difference I see,” Lovell says. “I wish Galesburg wasn’t on the losing side. I wish we were growing.”
Lovell has recommended Steve Daly, owner of Midwest Appraisal Associates to fill his vacancy, something Galesburg City Council will have to approve as the official decision.
