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Galesburg Projects Funded with New Revenues

T.J. Carson
City Engineer Wayne Carl said work on Fremont Street will not start until demolition of Old Silas Elementary is complete.

Infrastructure projects planned for this year in Galesburg share a common thread: they’re being funded with a new revenue source for the city.

The money is coming from a $10 million dollar bond approved in January that City Engineer Wayne Carl said would not be possible without the new capital utility tax.

“It’s something that we’ve wanted to do for several years now but not had the sufficient funds out the motor fuel tax or city gas tax funds to do it,” Carl said.

The capital utility tax was created last year to help the city fund road and bridge projects. The bond covers projects for the next three years. Carl said work on the city’s storm sewer system will be covered by the bond money as well.

One of the projects scheduled for this year is the resurfacing of Fremont Street, between Seminary and Farnham Streets. The cost of the project is estimated to be around $691,000. Other projects include reconstruction of the brick road Pleasant Avenue, and work on Seminary Street from Fremont Street to the Bickerdyke Bridge.

The Pleasant Avenue project is expected to start in the spring, the Fremont Street project in July, and the Seminary Street project sometime in the fall.

Carl said the bond money is not limited to just infrastructure work.

“The only other project that is that we’re doing the Armory Study right now, and that’d be going to the city council for a work session later this month,” Carl said.

The study will determine  potential uses the former Armory building.