Mayor Alonzo Jones on Tuesday officially declared the month of May as “Make Danville Shine Month.” The goal of the seventh annual “Make Danville Shine” campaign is to encourage residents and businesses to clean up and fix up their property and neighborhoods.
To assist residents, the Community Development Department will hold its home improvement expo and coordinate projects with neighborhood groups and organizations.
Also, the Public Works Department again this year will waive several fees and restrictions regarding yard waste, household debris, tire disposal, and appliance pickups.
Mayor Alonzo Jones, in proclaiming May as “Make Danville Shine Month,” said all citizens have a vested interest in protecting and preserving the beauty and cleanliness of the city.
“It’s so important to us to have a clean city, not only for our own pride but for the economy and everything else we do,” Jones said. “We have City departments and staff ready to assist.”
The kickoff event for this year’s campaign will be the annual “Make Danville Shine Home Expo,” which will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 4, at the Community Market on Craghead Street. The expo is free and open to the public, and it is being held in conjunction with the opening of the Farmers Market.
Home maintenance experts will be there to teach the tricks of their trades as well as give away discounts and freebies. Crafts and activities for kids of all ages are planned. Hot dogs and snacks will be provided.
The cleanup and fix up campaign involves simple steps that every resident and business can do, such as paint the exterior of their homes and buildings, landscape the yard, and clear their property of weeds, vines, and overgrowth.
Residents also can set debris, trash, appliances, and furniture at the curbside for city Public Works crews to pick up.
In support of the cleanup campaign, the Public Works Department again this year will allow oversized piles of yard waste and household debris to be placed at residential curbsides for collection. Residents should separate the yard waste from the household debris.
The department will waive the cost of tire disposal for up to four tires per household, and it will waive restrictions on construction and demolition debris if small projects done by the homeowner. Restrictions will remain in place for contractor’s debris.
The cost of appliance pickup also is waived, but an appointment is required for curbside collection.
By appointment, crews will collect heavy debris such as bricks, rock and cinder blocks.
