Danville Community Relations Administrator Ashton Greer has announced that she is stepping down from her position June 1st to pursue other opportunities in the Danville area. Known for creating the city’s First Fridays events, Greer was praised by Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr for spending the past three years helping him change the attitude towards Danville. Greer said after addressing the City Council Tuesday (March 19th) evening that she’s proud of having built the Community Relations staff and what it’s been able to do. Greer says her next venture will be made public soon, and she’s not going anywhere.
Danville Community Relations Administrator Ashton Greer informs the Danville City Council she is stepping down from her position on June 1st.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: I am staying in Danville; investing in Danville. I will continue working in Danville, and I’m very committed to the city, It’s my home, and I love it so much.
Meanwhile, the move to take $275,000 in ARPA COVID relief funding and give it to the David S. Palmer Arena Board for help in the purchase of a new HVAC system was passed by the Council 12-2, with Jon Cooper and Ed Butler voting “no.” Arena GM Teri Gaffney confirmed afterwards that yes, the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation had pledged up to $750,000, and combining that with what the city has committed does put them over the $909,500 bid awarded to the local Blackie’s Heating and Cooling. But Gaffney said there is still the question of will the County Board offer anything, which could lesson what the foundation needs to give.
(1st Picture) David S. Palmer Arena GM Teri Gaffney addresses the City Council prior to their vote on committing ARPA money to a new arena HVAC system. (2nd Picture) David S. Palmer Arena (3rd Picture) The City Council also committed $38,000 for an assessment study on what the city would need to do to repair and save the Downtown Danville Adams Building at 139/141 North Vermilion.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: The Hegeler Foundation had stated that they would provide $750,000; contingent upon what the city and the county would provide. So, I’m still looking to the county to see if they will contribute as well.
County Board Chairman Larry Baughn has told Neuhoff Media that he believes the County Finance Committee will look at the issue again in April.
By another 12-2 vote, with Cooper and Alderman Rick Strebing voting “no,” the $38,000 for an assessment of the Downtown Adams Building was passed. City Engineer Sam Cole says he very much likes the potential of what this building could still be used for, once the assessment tells the city how much it will cost to fix it up. He says this is a much better situation for reuse than Bresee Tower.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: The footprint of each floor is better. It’s set up to where it can be redeveloped into multiple units; multiple uses. We don’t have a facade falling off of the building. It’s just a more cost effective building to redo.
At the start of Tuesday evening’s meeting, Sergeant First Class Johnathan Strand presided over the honoring of 14 future U.S. Army soldiers participating in high school R.O.T.C. programs around Vermilion County. Numerous family members were present for the occasion.
