Galesburg Mayor John Pritchard said he would put the naming the Farnham Street Bridge after longtime resident Aleine Shotts, if three council members requested he does so.
This was his response to Jim Jacobs, a retired educator and community activist who has spearheaded efforts to have the bridge named after Shotts.
Jacobs in August presented the council with a list of names on a petition in support of the naming.
Pritchard said he would put the measure on a council agenda for a first, second and up or down vote if he heard council support.
But in stating his opinion he said the street and bridge are already named after a worthy Galesburg figure, Eli Farnham. “I wanted to find out some information in the course,” said Pritchard, “so from my perspective, it’s not naming a new structure facility, it’s renaming an existing one that’s named after an individual.”
Farnham was a farmer, a member of Central Congregational Church, Knox College trustee and the first public school teacher in Galesburg.
Jacobs said he’ll work to lobby members of the council to see a vote on naming the bridge after Shotts.
Aldermen last night approved an additional Class A liquor license for Craft Deli and Butcher.
Alderman Peters Schwartzman asked city administration why there are only a certain number of Class A licenses, even though the council will fairly routinely increase the amount to accommodate a new business.
City Manager Todd Thompson says it gives the city greater latitude in considering applications when there’s the option of adding an additional license.
City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz explained that before last night’s vote, Craft was holding a Class D license.
“At the time when Craft was getting ready to open they thought they would be a restaurant license which is a D License, and there are no limitations on D [licenses],” said Bennewitz. “However, they do want to start selling packaged [liquor].”
Also, Council approved a contract amendment with Royal Cleaning.
Some aldermen were critical that there were no bids here, but Parks and Rec Director Tony Oligney-Estill explained that when the contract was first agreed to there was a bidding process.
The contract was amended so that Royal Cleaning will clean the entire Public Safety Building in additional to the PSB Lobby and City Hall they were already servicing.
Alderman Russell Fleming was opposed partly because the cost is an increase over the old way of having two part-time custodians under city employment.
