City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a new policy designed to coax customers to use natural gas as a primary source of heating. Under the new policy, Danville Utilities would install up to 300 feet of service line at no cost. An additional 50 feet at no cost will be installed if a customer has a second qualifying gas appliance.
The previous policy limited free installation to 100 feet from the main line at the street, with the customer responsible for the remaining distance to the building or meter location.
Danville Utilities supplies natural gas service to approximately 14,000 customers within the city limits and Pittsylvania County. In the past five years, approximately 2,500 residential customers have moved away from natural gas as their primary source of heating.
In other matters last night, City Council voted to:
- appropriate $12.5 million in bond proceeds for various capital improvement projects, which include electric substation and transformer upgrades and school projects.
- amend the budget to include a grant from the Danville Regional Foundation that would be used by Parks and Recreation to send 12 people, including staff and several City Council members, to visit two cities that have thriving riverfront parks. The trip will take the group to Chattanooga, Tenn., and Louisville, Ky., in order to see how strategically placed and designed downtown parks can serve as catalysts for not only recreation, but also economic development and tourism. Chattanooga and Louisville were chosen based on their recognition as being home to two of the top riverfront parks in the country.
- approve a priority list for federal funding of economic development projects. The list, which is updated annually, will serve as the basis for receipt of federal funds.
In addition to these votes, City Council held a first reading on the appropriation of $635,969 in insurance proceeds from flood damage that occurred to the hydroelectric generator at the Pinnacles complex. The money would be used to repair and replace damaged components of the generator.
The generator was installed at Talbott Dam in 1990 to provide additional generation from the facility. In September 2015, excessive rains resulted in flooding that damaged or destroyed the generator and supporting infrastructure. After engineering analysis and negotiations with the insurance provider, a settlement was reached that will allow the City to complete the restoration and repairs needed. It is expected to take about 12 months to complete the restoration.
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 cannot vote on this matter Tuesday. The earliest vote that can take place will be the March 6 City Council meeting.
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.
