It’s April and a trade has been made. But it has nothing to do with baseball. During Tuesday (April 16th) evening’s Danville City Council meeting, David Ruwe was appointed Director of Public Works. Previous director Carl Carpenter will now take Ruwe’s old Operations Administrator position. Carpenter says, this was all his idea.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: It was actually something that I approached him about. I’m older, stale, old ideas; he’s new, young, and young ideas. And that’s what the city needs to move forward. I’ll be over the day to day operations. No more dealing with engineering and everything else.
For Ruwe, the eight year veteran of Danville Public Works did admit he was a bit shocked at first when approached about this.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Anytime your boss kind of approaches you with an idea like this, it’s a little surprising. But yes, I think we’re a good team. He’s been a great mentor and a great leader to me. So I’m excited to kind of take the reins; and hopefully lead us even further down the path.
(1st Picture) New Director of Public Works David Ruwe takes the oath from Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr; while previous director Carl Carpenter (far left) looks on. (2nd Picture) This past January’s MLK Scholarship recipient Davari Boyd reads his winning essay for the City Council. (3rd Picture) Alderman Ed Butler (left) encourages Davari Boyd to stay the course in his plans to be a Danville Police Officer.
In other Danville City Council action, the “Planning and Zoning Commission approved” TotalEnergies solar energy system, for the old H & L city landfill at Highland Boulevard and Greenwood Cemetery Road; was passed 12-0, with Alderman Rick Strebing and Vice-Mayor Tricia Teague absent. TotalEnergies will rent the space from the city and install solar panels, with plans to produce enough energy for 2,700 homes starting in 2026. Nearby residents will be given first dibs on subscription plans to save money on their energy bills.
As for the recently “Public Works Committee passed” garbage collection fee changes; they were passed by the full council 10-2, with Aldermen Jon Cooper and Darren York voting no. Public Works’ Carl Carpenter restated that these first fee changes since 2016 are designed simply to keep Danville’s Public Works Department from operating in the red; with their own costs, such as for trucks and dumping fees, seeing solid increases.
Also during Tuesday evening’s meeting, this past January’s MLK Scholarship winner, DHS Senior Davari Boyd, read his winning essay for the City Council; and received encouraging works from both Alderman Ed Butler and Police Chief Christopher Yates on his desire to be a Danville Police Officer.
Speaking of Chief Yates, he is reminding Danville residents that this Thursday, April 18th, is the final day to sign up for the upcoming Danville Citizens Police Academy, which Davari Boyd will be participating in. Chief Yates says this looks to be the largest Citizens Police Academy class they’ve ever had, and it begins April 25th.
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