City Council voted Tuesday night to accept state money to purchase two propane buses for a shuttle service along Mount Cross Road to Averett University’s north campus.
In October, the state approved a contract to fully finance the purchase of the buses and construction of a bus shelter for the new service. The contract would provide $269,226 from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
State funds will finance 100 percent of the project cost. No local share is required for this appropriation. Averett University will provide contract revenue to offset operating costs for the new service. The bus service would start in August.
In other matters, City Council voted to:
- declare 205 Jefferson Ave. as a blighted property and adopt an abatement plan for the property.
- rezone property at 156 Spring Ave. to allow the parcel to be consolidated with 4750 Riverside Drive, which is the site of Piedmont Custom Conversions. The Planning Commission has recommended approval of the change. A public hearing was held prior to the vote.
- issue a special use permit to allow for a towing business with ancillary vehicle repairs and short-term vehicle storage at 1525 South Boston Road. The Planning Commission had recommended approval of the permit subject to four conditions, including construction of a fence so that all vehicle storage and repair is not visible from South Boston Road. A public hearing was held prior to the vote.
- vacate two unopened street right-of-ways off near Eastwood Drive to allow the property owner to consolidate properties. A public hearing was held prior to the vote.
- reappoint Bruce Wilson and James Bolton to the Planning Commission, Katherine Harvell to the Fair Housing Board, Arthur Craft to the Dan River Alcohol Safety Action Program, and Lenard Lackey to the Employee Retirement System Board of Trustees.
A first reading was held on whether to accept a grant of $13,491 to purchase body worn cameras to replace aging and out of date units in use. A first reading is an introductory step required by City code before certain matters can be voted upon by City Council. This step serves to provide public notice of pending action. Council could vote on these matters Tuesday. The earliest votes that can take place will be the Dec. 20 City Council meeting.
Council's meeting included a business session followed by a work session. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that will be voted upon in future business meetings. In Tuesday’s work session, City Council reviewed the city employee benefit package, discussed an emergency access for the Pine Tag neighborhood and held further debate on short-term and long-term strategies to reduce violent crime.
In addition to the business and work session, a special session was held at 5:30 p.m. for a presentation by City Manager Ken Larking and Police Chief Philip Broadfoot of a plan that consists of nearly 30 short-term and long-term strategies to reduce violent crime in Danville.
River City TV airs live all Council business sessions. The first rebroadcast will be at 8 p.m. Thursday. Watch it on cable (Comcast channel 10 and Gamewood channel 122). The taped broadcast is available now on the City’s YouTube channel -- DanvilleVAGov.
River City TV does not air work sessions, but they are open to the public.
