Public Works

Jim Rigdon Public Works Director 815-777-1050

The City of Galena Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance the following:

• Public streets, alleys, and parking lots
• Public sidewalks, footbridges, buildings, and grounds
• Municipal swimming pool operation and maintenance
• Street lights and traffic signals
• Parks, public trees
• Maintenance and repair or public vehicles and equipment
• Installation and repairs of City owned signs and properties
• Snow removal and street sweeping
• Purchase of equipment and materials

STREET DEPARTMENT FACTS

• Eight full-time employees and several seasonal part-time employees
• Approximately 40 miles of streets and alleys
• Approximately 2,400 tons of asphalt roadway installed annually
• Approximately 300 tons of cold asphalt mix poured annually for street repairs

FLOOD CONTROL INFORMATION

Areas of Galena, including the downtown business district, are protected from flooding by an earthen flood levee and flood gate system. The Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining the system under the guidelines of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An inspection of the flood control system is conducted annually be the Army Corps. The flood control responsibilities of the Public Works Department include:

• Maintenance of river banks, the levees, catch basins and storm sewers
• Mowing approximately 40 acres of the flood protection system adjacent to the Galena River.
• Maintenance of the steel flood gates on South Main Street that are closed during high water.
• Maintenance of two powerful pumps that remove groundwater and floodwater from inside the flood control system.

RESIDENT INFORMATION

Call "JULIE" before you dig.  JULIE, Inc.  (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) is a not-for-profit corporation that provides contractors,  excavators, homeowners, and others who may be disturbing the earth, with a free service through a single toll-free phone number (1-800-892-0123) to call for the locating and marking of underground utility facilities.

Mulch is available for loading by residents by appointment and subject to availability.  Inquire by contacting City Hall at 777-1050.  

Trees, braches and brush downed by storms is accepted by the City. Inquire by contacting City Hall at 777-1050.  

The Public Works Department clears snow from streets, alleys and publicly owned sidewalks. Property owners are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks adjacent to their property by noon of each day. City ordinance prohibits depositing snow on public streets and alleys.

Streets are swept weather permitting according to the following schedule:

Monday-Friday: Downtown Area (Main Street and Commerce Street)
Tuesday: Park Avenue, Bouthillier Street, Highway 20 Bridge
Wednesday: Franklin Street
Thursday: Broadway and Dewey Avenue
Friday: Maintenance day--No sweeping