Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Uncategorized

City of Galena announces Police Chief’s Retirement

The City of Galena would like to announce the retirement of Galena Police Chief Billy Joe Charles. Chief Charles will be closing out 26 years in law enforcement/corrections career of distinguished service on September 1, 2024. Chief Charles retired from the military after serving 11 years in the Army then another 12 years in the Missouri National Guard.  Chief Charles has held positions as an Inventory Controller for Lozier Corporation, Platoon Sergeant with Labette Woman’s Correctional Camp, and a Jail Administrator of the Cherokee County Jail before becoming the Police Chief for the City of Galena in February of 2016.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Chief Charles for his dedication and years of service to not only his fellow officers, but the city as a whole.

“Chief Charles has dedicated a huge part of his life to public service and in my opinion, that is the most commendable attribute any person can carry. It’s been an honor to work alongside Chief, as he is a man of integrity, a team player, and a visionary. Thank you, Chief, for pouring your time and energy into bettering our community.” Mayor Ashley Groves.

“Working for the City of Galena has been an honor. When I was young, my grandfather was a Police Officer here. Seeing him in uniform and hearing stories of how he helped those in the community encouraged me to establish a goal to follow in his footsteps. I appreciate the Mayor, Council, co-workers, and community for their support while serving the city, allowing me to achieve this goal, and be able to retire as chief.” Chief Billy Joe Charles. The city wants to acknowledge Chief Charles’ leadership, celebrate his career, and wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement. In the coming weeks, the city will share details regarding the search process for the next Police Chief. Visit our website and/or Facebook page for more details and updates.

Have you filled out your water line survey?

Dear Water Customer:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued regulations requiring all public water supply (PWS) systems to develop a Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) of both water system owned and your privately owned service lines. Your PWS system must submit this inventory to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) by October 16, 2024.

While these contaminants are not in the source water, they can enter tap water through the corrosion of service line piping and older household plumbing materials. Your water system is sending this survey to all customers asking that you complete and return the form below. We thank you for your cooperation in helping us with this to continue to serve clean and safe drinking water to our customers. Please take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire to the best of your ability and return to the address at the end of the questionnaire.

Additional information on the Lead and Copper Rule and identifying lead pipes and plumbing can be found on the KDHE website at: kdhe.ks.gov/547 or at the EPA Website at: epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-and-copper-rule

Name
Do you have active water service at the address listed above?
If you are unsure on the year your home was built you can visit Cherokee County Appraisers website at https://cherokeecountyks.gov/main/departments/appraiser.
Materials List (Check all the apply)

Plumbing Pipe Material Examples

Poly/Pex

Copper/Lead

Galvanized Steel

PVC

This may be the year the structure was built.

Plumbing Pipe Material Examples

Poly/Pex

Copper/Lead

Galvanized Steel

PVC

Plumbing Pipe Material Examples

Poly/Pex

Copper/Lead

Galvanized Steel

PVC

How old are the pipes inside your house?
During testing, a Water Supply Employee would bring an empty bottle to your house, provide you with documentation and instructions on collecting the sample, and return the next day for pick up.

Trash Pick Up Delay

Update as of 8:45 am. Trash Routes are postponed for today. We will resume Mondays trash route on Wednesday. We will keep everyone updated on dates for trash service pick up. Thank you for your patience.
Due to the extreme cold temperatures there will be a delay in trash pick up. We will be starting today, Tuesday January 16th with Mondays route. Tuesdays and Wednesdays route will be picked up on Wednesday, January 17th. Stay safe everyone.

Thanksgiving Safe Arrival

This Thanksgiving Holiday, make sure to buckle up, Kansans. If you don’t make occupant protection a habit now start a new tradition!

Beginning Saturday, November 18th through Sunday, Nov 26th, 2023 The Galena Police Department will join many other law enforcement agencies across the state, including the Kansas Highway Patrol, in the Kansas *THANKGIVING SAFE ARRIVAL traffic enforcement campaign. Although all Kansas Traffic Laws will be enforced, this extra provision will be actively enforcing our occupant protection laws.

The Galena Police Department will also provide education that serves as a reminder that BUCKLING UP SAVES LIVES.

Don’t be a turkey, buckle up, every trip, every time. Your friends and family are counting on you.

For Immediate Release: Boil Water Advisory for a Portion of the City of Galena (Empire)

Boil Water Advisory Issued for a Portion of the City of Galena, Cherokee County

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for a portion of the City of Galena public water supply system located in Cherokee County.  This advisory applies to customers in the Empire Neighborhood North of Eveningstar Road.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

  • 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.
  • If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
  • 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 August 5 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE 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 at 620-783-5265, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption

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.

Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for the City of Galena, Cherokee County, Kansas

For Immediate Release

July 3, 2023

For more information, contact:

Matthew Lara

matthew.lara@ks.gov

785-296-1317

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 on June 30, 2023 due to a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system.

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.

###