A Danville City Council committee pondered the idea Tuesday evening of possibly trying to buy the local water system. It is just one of the ideas being considered to raise funds to help pay for needed storm water system improvements.
Alderman Tom Stone says the operational advantages would all be with the City if it decided to purchase the system.
‘’They don’t have to pay any federal income taxes. They don’t have to pay any state income taxes. They don’t have to pay property taxes,’’ said Stone. ‘’They don’t have to pay dividends to their shareholders. They don’t even have to pay sales tax on the equipment that they buy and the materials that they use. So there are a lot of advantages for the City to operate something like this,’’ added Stone.
The system is currently owned by Aqua Illinois Water Company and it is unknown whether the company would be willing to sell. Danville Urban Services Director David Schnelle told committee members that typically water companies are not willing sellers. He says it might require the city going through an imminent domain process which might pay rewards in the end – but could be a long process.
Danville Alderwoman Sharon McMahon wants more information before she would support buying the system.
‘’I really don’t know a whole lot about it. But I do know that I have heard that other communities that do own their water company are looking at problems now,’’ said McMahon during an interview with VermilionCountyFirst.com News. ‘’You know when you buy something, and you think it’s all hunky dory, then you get into problems with infrastructure that are very, very expensive – especially if we would just buy it. So I think there has to be a lot of work put into it, and a lot of money spent looking at the condition of the system,’’ added Alderwoman McMahon.
The committee took no position on the issue, but instead will see whether Mayor Scott Eisenhauer wants to put a panel together to study the possible purchase. But committee members were told something needs to be done soon to address the storm water issues.
[In the photo, Danville Urban Services Director David Schnelle addresses members of the committee. Standing behind him is Danville Public Works Director Doug Ahrens.]
