By a 7-6 Tuesday (Oct 15th) evening vote by the Danville City Council, a proposal to adjust the work week for employees at City Hall to Monday through Thursday, allowing for extra open time during the lunch hour to allow people to stop in and take care of business person to person at midday; was voted down. Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr was asked why the Monday-Friday work week could not stay, with some lunch hour adjustments; and the mayor pointed out that the current collective bargaining agreements will not allow that. The mayor said he would love to make the change to serve the public more conveniently, but it came up short.
AUDIO: My bottom line is, I just want to make sure that we can serve the public. And it’s frustrating everyday to have people in the parking lot upset. The other day there was an elderly gentleman with a cane, sitting on our garbage can, waiting to get in the door. And it’s just frustrating for me not to be able to serve our citizens when they need it most.
(1st Picture) Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk introduces a presentation from Place Foundry on Danville’s proposed next comprehensive plan. (2nd Picture) Place Foundry CEDO David A. Sidney explains plans for the initial stage of the comprehensive plan. (3rd Picture) Retired Danville Mass Transit Director Lisa Beith speaks out against a change in the Danville work week.
By a unanimous 13-0 vote, the Council voted down, as did the Planning and Zoning Commission, a proposal for a zoning change that would allow the owners of the The Blue Store liquor stores in Danville and Westville to place an upscale tavern at 3234 North Vermilion, in the old Midwest Gymnastics building. Mayor Williams says he has respect for the Blue Store owners; but the requests of the area residents to vote it down, including the five who spoke Tuesday night, were too loud to ignore.
AUDIO: It’s tough, because I believe the Singhs do good business in our community, and I applaud their effort to want to invest more. However, the location was the problem. And, given that the neighbors were overwhelmingly against this, I think it’s important that we support our citizens.
Meanwhile, $157,000 was adjusted in the 2024-25 budget to allow the first stage of work on the new City of Danville 20-year comprehensive plan. David A. Sidney from Place Foundry in Rockford was on hand to explain every aspect about Danville that his company would research between now and December of 2025. Place Foundry has already done feasibility studies on the Lynch Road corridor, and the southeast corner of Fairchild and North Vermilion. Mayor Williams says this is a good start.
AUDIO: I like the fact that this will have actionable items; that we can assess whether or not we’re truly making any progress. Because we’re not spending $160,000 to let something collect dust.
In other action, the resolution allocating for the city’s portion of the planned Bresee Tower- Vermilion County Court Annex Building tear down was approved, with a reminder that Wednesday, October 16th is the day for the mandatory meeting that all interested contractors must attend.
Finally, this Saturday, October 19th, has been declared “Arbor Day” in Danville, as part of its efforts to be a designated as part of “Tree City USA.” From 1:30 to 2:30 at the Danville Public Library this Saturday, little Red Oak trees will be given away for planting.
