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Galena council approves interim administrator, zoning text amendment, hill‑street engineering contract and warrants
Summary
At its Feb. 24 meeting the Galena City Council voted unanimously to appoint Jennifer Smith as interim city administrator, approved a zoning text amendment to permit digital message boards by special use permit, authorized design engineering for Hill Street and approved warrants to pay city bills.
The Galena City Council on Feb. 24 approved several administrative and capital items, including appointing Jennifer Smith as interim city administrator effective March 1, 2025; adopting a zoning text amendment to allow digital message board signs by special‑use permit; awarding a design engineering contract for the Hill Street utility and street improvement project; and approving warrants to pay city bills.
The council voted to appoint Jennifer Smith as interim city administrator and to compensate her at $120,000 annually while she continues to serve as finance director. The appointment was announced as Agenda item 25C‑0076 and passed by roll call; the record shows all members present voting yes.
The council also approved a zoning text amendment (zoning calendar item 02/2002) to allow digital message boards where authorized through a special‑use permit rather than allowing them by right. Councilmembers described the approach as retaining local review: the amendment modifies sections 154.804 (prohibited signs), 154.015 (definitions) and 154.81 (signs requiring a special‑use permit) of the city code and was advanced on a first reading with the second reading waived.
On infrastructure, the council authorized a contract with Origin Design for design engineering of the Hill Street utility and street improvement project for $43,330. The project will cover work on Hill Street between Prospect and High Street, including utility placement and roadway repairs.
Council members also approved the February warrants to pay city bills (Agenda item 25C‑0080). Each of the votes recorded during the meeting was taken by roll call and recorded in the meeting minutes.
Votes at a glance
- Appointment of Jennifer Smith as interim city administrator (Agenda 25C‑0076): Passed (roll‑call yes votes recorded). Salary in motion: $120,000 for combined duties; mover/second not specified in transcript. Notes: Smith will continue in the finance director role while serving as interim administrator. Provenance: motion introduced at the Feb. 24 council meeting and passed by roll call.
- Zoning text amendment to allow digital message boards by special‑use permit (Zoning calendar 02/2002; Agenda 25C‑0077 / ordinance first reading 25C‑0078): Passed on first reading with second reading waived. Affects city code sections 154.804, 154.015 and 154.81. Provenance: motion and roll call recorded in meeting transcript.
- Contract with Origin Design for Hill Street utility and street improvements (Agenda 25C‑0079): Passed. Contract amount: $43,330. Provenance: motion and roll call recorded.
- Approval of warrants (Agenda 25C‑0080): Passed. Provenance: roll call recorded.
Council members who cast recorded yes votes in roll calls during these items include Keefer; Eckmayer; Westermeyer; Wienen; Zalkin; Johnson; and Reiner (as shown in the meeting roll‑call sequences). The transcript records unanimous yes votes on each item; no formal no or abstain votes were recorded for these motions.
The meeting record shows these items were handled in sequence under new business and were completed before brief public comments and adjournment.
