The placard for Galesburg's new mayor, Gary C. Smith, is placed on the tally board in the city council's chambers Monday night.
Council bids farewell to outgoing officials
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Tuesday, May 3, 2005
GALESBURG - The Galesburg City Council spent about 50 minutes Monday presenting state House resolutions and other mementos to outgoing Mayor Bob Sheehan, Alderman Tony Gerk, Ward 4, and Treasurer Tom Wilson, as well as swearing in new Mayor Gary Smith, Alderman Lomac Payton, Ward 4, Treasurer Becky Mason and township officials re-elected April 5.The new officials took their oaths of office from Judge Harry Bulkeley.
Asked before the meeting what was going through his mind, Smith said, "The thing that's going through my mind right now is getting through my first meeting."
Smith said he will set 30-, 60-, and 90-day goals. Outgoing Mayor Bob Sheehan said he will help Smith set up visits between the mayor's Economic Regeneration Committee and various groups in the city. Sheehan said he anticipates a series of four meetings.
Payton said he was excited "sort of like a kid with a new toy," while new Treasurer Becky Mason said, "I'm a little nervous. I don't like to have to talk in front of people. The job doesn't make me nervous."
Wilson said he will be coming in on a volunteer basis for a while to give Mason time to train her new deputy treasurer.
Gerk said he will miss being on the council. "We've had ups and downs between all of us, but they're all good people. Would I do anything different? No."
Alderman Monte Gifford, Ward 3, perhaps seen as most closely aligned with Gerk, said he did not even know Gerk before they served together on the council. He said the two had some "knock-down, drag-out" arguments over some issues. "I'm really going to miss discussing some of the issues," Gifford said.
Referring to Gerk's plans to retire to Florida, Gifford said, "If it doesn't work out in Florida, come on back."
Sheehan showed perhaps the most emotion, his voice cracking numerous times. He called Wilson his "mentor," and said, "We have the finest staff in the state of Illinois."
He especially praised Carlton and concluded by saying, "We hope that Galesburg is well situated to make a good recovery. This city is well served by the people" on its staff.
