The 12 Danville City Council aldermen in attendance at Tuesday (Sept 15) evening’s meeting unanimously approved Danville’s taking over of 45 to 50 acres of land from the old Quaker site, donated by parent company PepsiCo. Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk pointed out that Norfolk Southern will be helping the city market this property to interested business and industry; because since they own the railroad spur on the property, the future of this spot is a major concern to the major railroad as well.
A November, 2024 picture of the old Quaker Oats building being torn down.
AUDIO: They have just as much of an advantage as the City of Danville for this site getting developed. They would look for a freight type of business to move there. And that means money in their pockets, just like the City of Danville’s.
An interesting moment came at the end of Tuesday night’s meeting when Danville Corporation Counsel Leon Parker gave a preview of what the final recommendation from Chicago area law firm Klein, Thorpe, & Jenkins might say about a possible change in Danville’s Treasurer position. Parker said that communications with the firm’s Lance Malina have indicated that; first, any changing of the Danville Treasurer position from elected to appointed should be done by referendum, not ordinance. And second, Malina believes that the consent decree from Danville’s change to an alderman form of government in 1987 DOES NOT, in Malina’s opinion, hold Danville to being required to always having two at large elected positions. A final recommendation from Klein, Thorpe, and Jenkins is expected soon.
Parker stated that if the City Council does choose to have such a referendum; it would have to be declared by December 6th to be on the February 23rd primary ballot, and by January 17th to be on the April 6th Consolidated Election ballot; in order to follow the rule of “79 days before the election.”
