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Utility Billing Update – Postal Delay
Galena Utility Bills were sent to the post office on January 31, 2025. According to our tracking system a delay at the sorting station has occured with a large sum of the utility bills. We have not received an update to as when these bills will be delivered to our customers. Once again this month we will not be accessing late fees. Please accept our apology as we work through the inconvenient delays.
Update from the Mayor
January 30, 2025
Good Afternoon!
I wanted to give an update on the odor in Galena that has been occurring for the past months. To provide a short summary of events to this point, back in the fall we started noticing a terrible odor that coming from the north side of town. To be describe the smell, it was like an awful rotten egg odor. You could not smell it all over town, but definitely could if you were within certain regions of that area. One of the things we also noticed was that it got worse with the colder temperatures and would obviously change course depending on the wind direction. The City, fairly immediately, began communicating with Jordan Disposal (the landfill operators) to try to locate the issue and rectify the problem. Since that time, the City and Jordan Disposal have had several meetings with KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) to gain some guidance and resolution as to what the next steps should be. I personally had a call with an EPA representative last week to get them up to date and seek some further guidance. As of now, KDHE will remain the lead agency on this effort, but EPA will support when there is need. A team from KDHE came to town yesterday to do some further examination and monitoring. Although no determination was made and no set date of results were discussed, we hope to receive some guidance from them in a reasonable amount of time. Once we can pinpoint the exact issue and location of the odor and what it is, EPA and KDHE said there are some options that should minimize the anaerobic metabolism by bacteria, reducing production of hydrogen sulfide and allowing that gas smell to dissipate. But the source must first be fully identified before a plan can be set and put in place. As City leaders, we are taking this issue seriously and daily working on how to solve the problem. We thank Jordan Disposal, as well as KDHE, for being valuable partners and working alongside us to figure this out. At this point, we are not certain where the smell is exactly coming from, but we are making all efforts to correct the issue.
I personally apologize for the utter frustration and inconvenience it has placed on our residents (especially close by), businesses and all of those that drive through town. We are hopeful that working with these professionals we will find a solution. Thank you for being understanding during this time and feel free to reach out to myself or any council member regarding your concerns.
Thank you for your time,
Ashley Qualls Groves, Mayor
Chief of Police – Galena Police Department
The Galena Kansas Police Department is seeking a highly motivated individual with a desire to serve our community as the next Chief of Police. Galena is in Cherokee County in the southeast corner of Kansas bordering Missouri. The City of Galena offers a strong benefit package that includes 100% coverage for individual health and dental care. Retirement is currently through KPERS.
The Chief of Police position is a salary position based on qualifications. All uniforms and equipment, including take home vehicle are provided, with a mild call volume of 1,000 per year. Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five (5) years experience as a sworn police officer is preferred. Candidates must satisfy all state requirements as set forth in K.S.A. 74-5605 or certification by reciprocity. Applicants must have a valid drivers license.
Further information or to pick up an applications please visit City Hall located at 211 W 7th Street, Galena, Ks 66739. Applications can also be filled out online (see below). Questions may be directed to Chief Dobkins at 620-783-1900.
City offices closed for Thanksgiving
The city offices will be closed Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, 2024 for Thanksgiving.
Thursday Solid Waste Route will be picked up on Monday, December 2, 2024. Friday Solid Waste Route will be picked up on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
For utility emergencies please call 620-783-1991.
Boil Advisory for a Portion of Galena Rescinded
For Immediate Release
November 5, 2024
Contact: Jill Bronaugh
Jill.P.Bronaugh@ks.gov
Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for the City of Galena, Cherokee County
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Galena public water supply system located in Cherokee County. The advisory was issued because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in a portion of the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Galena indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 620-783-5265 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service.
Boil Water Advisory for a Portion of Galena
Boil Water Advisory Issued for City of Galena, Cherokee County.
The City of Galena located in Cherokee County has issued a Boil Water Advisory for its distribution system for all residences on Shaw Hill Rd and Mercy Specialty Hospital and all buildings on that campus.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on 11/02/2024 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. City of Galena officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.
Water Leak Repair
Galena Public Works is currently working on a water line break on Shaw Hill Road. Please avoid the area so that our crews can repair the line as quickly and safely as possible.
It is possible that water pressure may be briefly reduced in some areas of town.
Thursday Night Storm Clean Up
Galena Public Works will be cleaning up City Park after a large tree was struck by lightning. The tree was heavily damaged and will need to be removed. Please be careful around the area of debris.


Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for City of Galena, Cherokee County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 9, 2024
Contact: Jill Bronaugh
Jill.P.Bronaugh@ks.gov
Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for City of Galena, Cherokee County
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Galena public water supply system located in Cherokee County. The advisory was issued because the city could not maintain the minimum required chlorine residual. Failure to maintain required chlorine residual levels may put the system at risk for bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Galena indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 620-783-5265 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption.