ABOVE: Newly elected Danville City Council Ward 1 Alderman Jaleel Jones takes the oath from Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr.
During a busy Tuesday (May 6th) Danville City Council meeting; newly elected Aldermen Jaleel Jones (Ward 1), Thomas Hightower (Ward 3), and Doug Ahrens (Ward 7) all took the oath from Mayor Williams. Also sworn in were reelected Aldermen Carolyn Wands (Ward 2), Tricia Teague (Ward 4), Mike Puhr (Ward 5), and James Poshard (Ward 6). Heidi Wilson and Darren York said goodbye; as did Robert Williams, who was not in attendance. Alderman Eve Ludwig was elected as the new vice-mayor.
Newly elected Aldermen Thomas Hightower (Ward 3) and Doug Ahrens (Ward 7) receive the oath from Mayor Williams.
Prior to all that happening; after a long discussion, an update on the city’s Rental Registration program was finally passed after weeks, months, and actually a couple years of discussion. An effort to table it yet again came up one vote short. Lots of landlords were there saying it still needs some work, including local landlord and County Recorder Matt Long; who wondered why they didn’t lean more on a new state law.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: There is a brand new landlord retaliation act that became effective January 1st of 2025. That was completely ignored in that new ordinance. Instead of trying to create something, they should have just referred back to that state ordinance.
Aldermen Carolyn Wands, James Poshard, Tricia Teague, and Mike Puhr all addressed council meeting attendees after being sworn in for new terms.
Alderman Sherry Pickering was adamant that passed ordinances CAN BE AMENDED and FINE TUNED. And Mayor Williams agreed, saying that the important thing was to have some new teeth in the ordinance for both the tenants and landlords.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: While there’s still room for improvement, I think that what we have on record now is excellent; and will help protect both our landlords and our tenants. And that’s the whole goal, is just to be fair and equitable to everyone.
Mayor Williams presents gifts to outgoing Aldermen Heidi Wilson and Darren York. Robert Williams was not in attendance.
Meanwhile, the deal to have some land northwest of downtown at Seminary and Oak donated to Taylor Construction and Design of Champaign for the building of some new homes in Danville was passed. And Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk says once the six lots are deeded over and work can begin, the parties are on the same wavelength on what happens next.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: We fully expect to see four homes. Minimum of two, but if everything goes as planned; there should be four market rate homes. There will be a little bit of combination of lots on Oak and Seminary, to make them large enough to fit the homes.
Cronk says it was the Hayley Siefert team from Keller Williams that first told the city about Taylor’s idea; telling the city “we have someone we’d like you to talk to.”
