With the Danville City Council having already passed a non-binding resolution against it, the actual battle in the courtroom on the state’s desire to reopen the shooting range at the Danville Correctional Center has just begun. Friday morning (April 4th) at the Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse, Judge Nicolas J. Boileau heard from a spokesperson for the state; as well as representatives from two of the businesses objecting to the range’s reopening, Auto Zone and Seven Point of Illinois.
The parties agreed to meet again in 45 days; with 2 PM on Tuesday, May 20th established as the date for a follow up case management conference. At that time, evidentiary hearing and pre-trial dates could be set as well.
A permanent injunction closed down the shooting range in August of 1988, and area businesses are objecting to the possible reopening of the range due to noise and safety issues. Meanwhile, a union spokesperson recently told the Danville City Council that sending state prison personnel away from the prison, for training at a shooting range two hours away in Robinson, actually makes the prison less safe; and that on site training to keep the personnel there if needed should be reestablished.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE FROM THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S JENNIFER BAILEY
DANVILLE — Vermilion County Circuit Court Judge Nicolas Boileau approved the additions Friday of Seven Point cannabis dispensary and record store and AutoZone Distribution Center joining the fight to stop the Danville Correctional Center from reopening its firing range.
Both businesses filed petitions to intervene, to be added to the parties in the litigation, on Monday and Thursday, respectively.
Boileau at a case management conference Friday morning also allowed the requested 30 days for the added parties to file written response objections to Danville Correctional Center’s motion to vacate the firing range’s permanent closure injunction.
The parties agreed to another case management conference in 45 days, at 2 p.m. May 20.
“I’ve looked at case law,” Boileau said.
Whether the injunction will be upheld or dissolved will be based on testimony, he said.
Deadlines and dates also will be set for the next steps including final evidentiary hearing, depositions and pre-trial.
Others present at Friday’s hearing included attorneys John Beardsley for Seven Point, Carrie DeLange for AutoZone and Julie Themer for the state; area hotel and business representatives including with Golden Nugget Danville Casino, and the Danville Area Visitors Bureau.
FOR MORE FROM THIS ARTICLE PLEASE GO TO https://www.news-gazette.com/news/two-businesses-added-to-ligation-against-danville-prison-firing-range/article_f10b2094-b570-4765-9ebf-b2799c5be390.html
