City Council voted Tuesday night to provide a customer credit for water leaks that are the result of a break in the underground line from the customer’s premise to the water meter.
Danville Utilities receives reports of more than 100 water leaks annually due to underground leaks on the customer's side of the water meter. These leaks are not found until the customer bill is received indicating a large increase in their monthly water consumption. Some of the leaks are significant and costly.
To provide for a credit, City Council had to revise the municipal code. As adopted last night, the revised code provides a credit for one month in the amount that is determined to be the excessive flow of water through a meter due to a leak in, or a rupture of, a water pipe.
The customer is eligible for one credit in a 12-month period and must repair the damaged piping and have the work inspected by the City's Inspection Division. This revision in the municipal code is not applicable for leaking faucets, toilets, or any other customer owned water devices. A customer must request an adjustment within 60 days of the billing period that the leak occurred.
In other matters last night, City Council voted to:
- Authorize the city manager to execute documents related to a site classification study for the Berry Hill Industrial Park. The study will access the readiness of potential industrial or commercial sites for marketing. The Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA), City of Danville and Pittsylvania County jointly own the park. RIFA has received a matching grant to pay for the study, which must be submitted to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
- Submit a list of priority economic development projects to be included in a regional plan as required by the federal Economic Development Administration.
- Grant an easement for ingress and egress upon City-owned properties near the Danville Regional Airport.
In addition to these votes, City Council held a first reading on three matters:
- A budget amendment to provide for receipt and appropriation of $1.6 million from the issue of special no-interest bonds. The money will be used for the planned precision machining program at George Washington High School.
- A budget amendment to provide for receipt and appropriation of a grant in the amount of $125,000 to pay the salary and benefits of a new crime analyst position and to pay patrol overtime, travel and training and equipment and supplies as needed in efforts to reduce violent crime. The grant will require no matching funds. The award is the second year of an anticipated three-year grant program.
- A budget amendment to provide for receipt and appropriation of a grant in the amount of $18,000 to review and update the Police Department’s policy manual and to create a separate procedural manual.
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 not vote on the budget amendment last night. The earliest vote that can take place will be the March 7 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 monthly financial statements and received an update from consultants on refinancing industrial development bonds through a master lease program.
City Council also scheduled votes on the following items for its next business session, which will be held on March 7.
- a grant in the amount of $413,269 to renovate the house at 407 Holbrook St. for use as the Williams Community Resource Center. The project is designed to protect and enhance the integrity of the historically significant structure as well as create a location open to the public where the past, present and future of African American Civil Rights can be displayed, discussed and advanced.
- a resolution to designate the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce as the marketing organization for Danville.
- a request to vacate an unused right of way to allow for consolidation of property near Spring Avenue.
- a request to vacate an unused right of way on Joplin Street to allow for consolidation with adjoining parcels.
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 River City TV’s Facebook page.
River City TV does not air work sessions, but they are open to the public.
