Two things in the works in Danville are continuing, with the goal of both just needing some time: one for the very near future and other one, hopefully sometime down the road.
First, there’s the new ordinance requiring residents to remove their garbage toters from along the street after garbage is collected, which kicks in on February 1st. Right now, the city is printing flyers about this to be distributed, as well as ordering some new toters. Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr says, the toters will be along soon for those who need new ones, but he also says, old toter or new, getting those toters away from the street after pickup is something that should have been a habit in the first place. But the plan is to have plenty of new toters on hand for those that need them.
AUDIO: Well the thing is they should be following it now, so this is just an update of our law. But what we probably will do is order more. That will be coming to Public Services next week, and then City Council. We still have time to add to our order. So we will likely just add to our order in order to help prevent that problem from happening.
Meanwhile, there’s the issue of tearing down old Bresee Tower. The mayor says only one of the party of owners is in play right now, as the others have relinquished their rights to the property. But as far as when the courtroom proceedings can lead to the structure actually coming down, Mayor Williams says that, unfortunately, you just can’t set a definite date when going through the legal process.
AUDIO: Unfortunately, when you’re dealing with the law, and people who are derelict property owners, there isn’t necessarily a time frame. The Collins are the only owners of record at this point, so we will be continuing with a lawsuit against them. Which is good, because that means that the other people have given up their rights to the property.
So for now, the one lane of Main Street just south of Bresee Tower continues to be blocked off from traffic, as a precaution.