The City of Danville is considering approving a contract with a private company to mow city-owned and non-city-owned vacant and abandoned lots. Sprague Lawn Care would be paid $29 per lot, based on an average mowing of each property every six weeks (over a 30 week period). And the total cost to the City of Danville would not exceed $105-thousand dollars.
There are 239 city-owned lots and 278 privately-held non-city owned lots that would be mowed if the agreement wins final city council approval. The council is expected to vote on the proposal next week.
Ward 4 Alderman Mike O’Kane says he would like to see the city reduce the cost for neighbors or others who may want to purchase lots. Some council members have even considered the idea of giving a lot to a next-door neighbor if they are willing to take care of it.
The Vermilion County Land Bank has been marketing some of the property but some aldermen believe prices for the land should be lowered in order to find new owners.
