Street Department - City of Galva Illinois

The Galva Street Department is responsible for a wide variety of related issues throughout the city. These include brush and yard waste pickup, street and alley maintenance, tree and shrub maintenance, park and cemetery maintenance, and snow removal.

Brush & Yard Waste Pick-up

The City of Galva provides a free brush and yard waste pick up service to its residential customers. This pick-up service is done by the Street Department on a bi-monthly basis as time permits To learn more about this service visit the Brush, Yard Waste & Burning page.

Brush, Yard Waste & Burning

Street, Alley & Sidewalk Maintenance

All public streets, alleys, sidewalks, and other public ways are overseen by the Superintendent of Streets, who is responsible for their maintenance, cleaning, and the enforcement of related ordinances (excluding traffic regulations).

No pavement may be constructed or repaired on any public street, alley, sidewalk, or other public way without first obtaining a permit. Permit applications must be submitted to the City Clerk.

The City offers a Sidewalk Replacement Program for public sidewalks. This program provides reimbursement of up to $87.50 per square, but inspections are required both before and after the work is completed.

Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds are the primary source for maintaining Galva’s streets and sidewalks. Before MFT, residents had to fund road and sidewalk work near their properties. Today, the City works with a state-approved consultant to prioritize use of these limited funds.

The Street Department is responsible for the maintenance of trees and shrubs that are in public right of way. If you are unsure if a tree or shrub is in the public right of way, you may call City Hall to have the tree looked at. In addition, the City maintains a Forestry Board to provide advice and direction regarding the planting, transplanting, removal, maintenance and protection of public trees and shrubs. To learn more about the Forestry Board and the maintenance of trees and shrubs in Galva visit the Forestry Board page.

Forestry Board

Though the street department will pick up brush and tree trimmings, they WILL NOT PICK UP WHOLE TREES. If you are cutting a tree down or have a contractor taking trees down on your property it is the responsibility of you or the contractor to dispose of the trees. You may call City Hall to ask where trees may be disposed of.

Parks & Cemetery Maintenance

The Superintendent of Streets oversees maintaining the municipal parks and cemetery, ensuring they are clean, safe, and well-kept. This includes landscaping, facility upkeep, and general grounds maintenance throughout these public spaces.

Galva is home to three municipal parks. They are Washington Park, Wiley Park, and Veteran’s Park. To learn more about these parks, visit the Parks Page.

Parks

The Galva Cemetery is a public burial place comprising about forty-three (43) acres and containing well over 7,000 graves. To learn more about the Galva Cemetery, visit the Cemetery Page.

Cemetery

Snow Removal

The Street Department manages snow and ice removal on public streets, including plowing, sanding, and salting as needed. The Superintendent prepares equipment and materials in advance and ensures operators are available for after-hours or continuous operations during storms.

Parking on public streets is prohibited at any time within eight (8) hours after a snowfall of one inch (1”) or more has occurred unless the snow has been plowed off the side of the street. This may take a couple of passes. Once the snow is cleared, the vehicles may be parked on the street.

Any vehicle parked or occupying any portion of a street will be in violation of these terms and subject to a fine. Such vehicle will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Parks

Snowmobiles are allowed on certain streets that are designed as part of a Snowmobile Route. They must remain on the designated Snowmobile Route as required by ordinance. See Snowmobile Route Map at the link below.

Snowmobile Route

Cemetery Sexton/Superintendent of Streets

Richard Plummer

Address: 311 N.W. 4th Avenue
Galva, IL 61434

Phone: (309) 932-2555

Employment

To apply for a position with the Street Department, visit City Hall to get an application. The department hires for full-time roles when positions become available.