News Flash

City Council last night tabled action on a resolution requesting the Virginia Department of Transportation to rename a portion of the U.S. 58/29 bypass as the “Wendell O. Scott Sr. Memorial Highway.”

The decision to table the matter will allow City Council additional time to discuss which portion of the bypass it wants to include in the resolution. Council was scheduled last night to vote on whether to rename the portion from Virginia/North Carolina state line to the South Boston Road exchange.

However, several Council members want to extend the designation to the city limits at the Route 360/Franklin Turnpike exchange.  

Scott is a Danville native and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver. To honor Scott, the City has learned that one way would be to petition the Virginia Department of Transportation to name a section of highway in honor of Scott.

In other matters last night, City Council voted to:

• transfer the property at 324 Bradley Road to the Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. On Nov. 21, the City of Danville came into possession of the property, which was subject to a mortgage secured by the City, upon the default of the owner. Virginia law authorizes localities to transfer surplus property to non-profit organizations.
• grant special use permits to Garrett Shifflett on behalf of Lynn Street LLC. The permits would allow residential uses in a structure with non-residential use on the first floor at 523 and 525 Lynn Street.
• amend the budget to provide for receipt and appropriation of a grant in the amount of $55,220 from the Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services board for use by the Parks and Recreation Department to conduct a recreation enrichment program and expanded summer program.
• amend the budget to provide for receipt and appropriation of a grant in the amount of $38,289 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for use by the Danville Fire Department’s technical rescue team.
• amend the budget to provide for receipt and appropriation of a grant in the amount of $78,000 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for use by the Danville Fire Department’s hazardous materials response team.

Also in the business session, Mayor John Gilstrap presented a proclamation for National Service Recognition Day 2018.

Council's meeting included a business session followed by a work session. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that may be voted upon in future business meetings.

During last night’s session, Council reviewed the recommendations of a mayor’s committee on entrance signs and held a closed meeting in the work session as allowed by state law for discussion of a prospective business or industry, discussion of acquisition of real property or disposition of publicly held real property, and consultation with legal counsel.

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 on his proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

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 recorded 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.