Voters are going to be deciding this fall whether to change Danville’s form of municipal government. Chief Circuit Judge Mitchell Shick of Charleston ruled today (Wednesday, June 13, 2018) that the petitioners seeking to change Danville to a city manager form of government have met all the requirements to place the issue on the November ballot.
‘’It’s been a long time coming,’’ was the reaction from Pat O’Shaughnessy – one of the co-chairs for the group Moving Danville Forward. O’Shaughnessy also said it was a ‘’great day for Danville’’. He added it will be the first time since 1926 that Danville residents get a chance to decide who’s making sound financial decisions for the city.
Now that the issue is going on the ballot, O’Shaughnessy adds there’s work to do. He says the Moving Danville Forward group will be hosting another public informational meeting on Monday, June 18th. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Bremer Conference Center at Danville Area Community College and feature the mayor and city manager of Streator, Illinois.
O’Shaughnessy was the only witness who testified during today’s hearing. He told the judge that 551 signatures of registered voters are needed to place the issue on the ballot – but that 704 eligible signatures were on the petitions.
The question that will be on the ballot asks Danville voters whether they want to change to a city manager form of government while continuing to elect aldermen from wards. If voters approve it, Danville would continue to have 14 aldermen – with two elected from each of the seven wards. The city would also have a part-time mayor and a full-time city manager.
