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Galesburg alderman approve agreement to revise street department renovation

Galesburg City Council approved the amending of a professional services agreement for renovating the city’s street division facilities.

A newly constructed street division office building and sign shopped was originally proposed but bids were drastically over-budget.

Now that proposed space will be reduced and incorporated into the square footage of the existing storage building.

The amendment Council approved would allow the architect to revise bid documents for a cost of almost $48,000.

Director of Public Works Wayne Carl met with street department staff and this was said to be the preferred solution.

Alderman Larry Cox says it’s frustrating that it’s so difficult to get good cost estimates from hired consultants.

“It seems like many are underestimating the cost of their design. And it doesn’t really do the city or us any favor by painting a rosy picture and then they have to go back and do redesigns. So, I hope engineers and architects will take note and sharpen their pencils a little bit better.”

Carl says that the electric section will stay in the building they’re in but move to the building’s south side.

The street department will also be able to move all their equipment from the former Fire Station on Maple Avenue, allowing them to cease using that building after about 15 years.

Galesburg City Council also approved a $20,000 water infrastructure grant Monday night to a company that’s giving life to the former Shopko building on South Lake Storey Road.

The former Shopko building in Galesburg was purchased by Robbins Resource Management, a wholesale pallet company based in Monmouth in October.

They are planning on using it for product assembly, warehouse and storage for their plastic pallet business according to documents from the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

The $20,000 is to fill the gap in funding towards installing a booster pump to make the sprinkler system run properly.

The estimated cost for all building improvements is $700,000 and the overall project is financed through First-Mid Illinois Bank and owner’s equity.

The business also expects to create five full-time jobs in the next 18 months.

The awarded grant is double what the Economic Development Grant incentive policy allows for a water infrastructure grant.

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