The City Council on Tuesday night voted to accept a grant to upgrade the 911 phone system at the Emergency Communications Center. The upgrade in early 2021 will take the center from an analog system to an IP digital system that is capable of supporting the growing demands of a mobile society.
The grant of $179,560 comes from the Virginia 911 Services Board as part of the board’s second phase of statewide upgrades to “Next Gen 911.” The primary goal of NG 911 is to ensure calls and information received in one locality can be transferred to any surrounding locality without the call being dropped.
The upgrade also will improve text 911 capabilities.
The last time the 911 system was upgraded was in 2016. The project includes $22,078 in local funding.
The Emergency Communications Center is structured within the Fire Department. It was the first center in Virginia to implement and provide the services of all three disciplines of priority dispatch: emergency medical dispatch, emergency fire dispatch and emergency police dispatch.
In other matters, City Council voted to:
- Designate the Danville Office of Economic Development as the designated marketing organization for Danville and Pittsylvania County. This designation would allow the City to participate in certain marketing efforts and be better positioned for state tourism grants. Since 2017, the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce has coordinated tourism efforts for the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County. The Chamber of Commerce has made a request to the Virginia Tourism Corporation to relinquish its status.
- Grant a special use permit to allow for a restaurant at 1050 Main St.
- Grant a special use permit to allow accessory buildings without a primary structure on a parcel on Kingoff Drive.
The City Council also held first readings on grants for a police community engagement initiative, equipment for the Danville Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team, and funding for a victim-witness program and a domestic violence victim program.
Also, a first reading was held to formally accept the $15 million upfront casino revenue payment from Caesars Virginia as outlined in the development agreement between Caesars and the City.
A first reading is an introductory step required by City Code before some issues can be voted upon by the City Council. This step serves to provide public notice of pending action. The City Council can vote on these matters at its next meeting.
These matters took place during the Council’s business session. Also during the business session, the Danville Pittsylvania Community Service Board presented its annual report, and Caesars Virginia provided an update.
Following the business session, the Council met in a work session. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that will be voted upon in future business meetings.
In last night’s work session, the City Council reviewed appointments to the Planning Commission, Building Code Board of Appeals, Employee Retirement System, Fair Housing Board, and Danville Pittsylvania Community Services Board
In other work session matters, the City Council reviewed a request to vacate 0.58 acres that are not being used at 59 Old Farm Road. Also, it reviewed a proposal to acquire a vacant lot along the intersection of Pumpkin Creek Lane and South Main Street from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Also, the City Council held a closed meeting as allowed by state law to discuss a prospective business or industry related to economic development and to discuss the acquisition of real property or disposition of publicly held real property.
