It was a rather brief, but busy Tuesday Evening (Aug 27th) meeting for the Danville City Council Public Services Committee. Among items passed on to the full Council was the Fire Department’s application for a $350,000 grant from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall. It is not known yet if Danville will be building brand new fire stations or adding on to the three currently operating. But as Chief Aaron Marcott explains, if Danville receives this very competitive grant; it’s at least some more money in the bank, for what could be up to at $30 million project.
AUDIO: This grant’s new from the State Fire Marshall. So, really for on our end, we just want to be prepared for whatever usage we could make out of that grant. It’s going to be a very competitive grant, but it we can find a way to apply it to wherever we need it most, or whatever phase we’re in at the time, to help us through that process. I think that would be the best that we could hope for.
On the Police Department side of things, committee approval was given for acceptance of a $30,000 grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office for some of the cost for purchasing and installing surveillance cameras to promote safety and fight organized retail crime. Chief Christopher Yates says this system will take some time to build, but will be active as soon as possible.
AUDIO: We’re laying the foundation for being able to use different technical services to stop different crimes that happen in retail areas. But also, not just retail areas. Overall, just locking in a different use of technology, in order to help our businesses.
During Tuesday evening’s Public Services Committee meeting, Danville Fire Chief Aaron Marcott (2nd from left) and Police Chief Christopher Yates (3rd from left) both received positive votes for their departments concerning grants.
Also approved by committee was the $1.5 million dollar contract with Schomburg & Schomburg Construction for work involved in the planned relocation of Dines Machine and Manufacturing, from their Garfield Park location to the former Del Storm building at 2003 East Voorhees. Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk says this major piece of work on the overall project of clearing out old structures for the Garfield Park renovation has been in the planning stage for quite a while, and that the old Del Storm building is in good shape, and will work very well.
AUDIO: It’s been five-six years they’ve had it vacant. I met the prior owner at random one day; thought it would be a good fit for Dines to move there. It all worked out. It’s completely empty; nothing’s been done at this time yet. It’s a nice block biulding.
It was also announced by Director of Human Resources Sandra Finch that after last week’s complaints voiced by renters in Danville, a special tenants – landlords meeting has been scheduled for 5:30 to 7 PM; Thursday, September 19th in the City Council Chambers. Finch summarized what they hope to accomplish, as far as education about rights and what to do.
AUDIO: To our tenants, and even landlords, about tenant rights; in terms of what does it mean to have a lease and not have a lease. What it means in terms of filing a code enforcement complaint.
Finally, Logan Cronk did announce progress on the Sonic – Jimmy John’s project planned for the northwest corner of Vermilion and Fairchild. The developer’s plans for the Jimmy John’s have arrived, to go with their previously turned in plans for the Sonic. Cronk says the developer hopes to have civil site and drainage work done before winter, allowing for the structures to be ready to go up next year.
Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr is on vacation and was not in attendance at the committee meeting.
