Danville groups working together on 'Arts in Alleys' program

Jan. 24—DANVILLE — The city, Downtown Danville Inc., Danville Public Library, Danville Area Visitors Bureau and Vermilion Advantage are working together on an Arts in Alleys program.

"The idea is that the alleys in our downtown area are a little bit, they are a little rundown and they're not very well lit and there's a lot that we can do to make them prettier, to make them more appealing to draw visitors and to make them safer," said Danville Community Relations Administrator Ashton Greer.

The Danville City Council's Public Services Committee recommended Tuesday night approving an application to the National Endowment for the Arts for a $50,000 grant for public engagement with arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector, according to the city resolution for the grant.

"If awarded, grant funding would assist in the establishment of 'The Arts in Alleys Program' which would provide a variety of art installations in our Downtown alleys, providing aesthetic, inspiration and safety for the citizens and visitors of Downtown Danville," according to city officials in the resolution.

The grant requires an equal match to be funded by the city and project partners.

Mural agreements also have already been secured with Towne Centre, Danville Family YMCA and Habitat for Humanity of Danville. Other locations have been mapped out, with more agreements pending.

City officials have been working with the railroad company to gain permission to also paint and have a mural on the rusty overpass coming into the city on Route 150.

Greer said with this program, the city is looking toward local foundations and other funding opportunities for putting a total of $200,000 in additional art in the city.

The mural project will tie into the city's new logo, now being chosen, and branding of "You Decide What's Possible."

The full city council will act on the grant application next week.

In other reports at Tuesday's committee meeting, it was announced a neighborhood association breakfast will be on April 27. The city also has $10,000 for matching grants, with funding or volunteer hours, for neighborhood association projects.

The committee also heard a video gaming tax and casino tax analysis report.

In other business, the committee recommended:

* Amending city code pertaining to compensation for municipal employees for salary increases in the new budget. A crime intel analyst is a new position proposed in the police department.

* Authorizing a $10,500 information technology budget amendment for upgrading the Tyler Cashiering Software and purchasing new credit card readers.

* An ordinance amending Danville city code for rental housing registration. The city plans on hiring two rental housing inspectors to inspect the interiors of rental properties every four years. The city wouldn't be inspecting U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development properties which have their own oversight. "The city council believes that rewriting the city's Rental Housing Registration ordinance (Danville City Code Chapter 163) and then enforcing in a stronger manner will improve the general safety and welfare of not only persons who rent residential dwelling units within the city but the overall livability of the city," the resolution reads. The city has about 4,500 rental units.

* Authorizing the purchase of a 2021 Ford Explorer police department patrol vehicle. Another vehicle would be traded in for $9,000 toward the purchase with Watt Police Auto Sales of Lakewood Ranch, Fla. The balance to be paid is $19,500.

* Approving an amendment to the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Laborers International Union of North America, the Southern and Central Illinois Laborers District Council and Laborers Local 703 to add a city plumber position.

* Approving the purchase of a sewer vactor truck from Coe Equipment of Rochester, Ill., through the national Sourcewell bid for $408,731. The cost includes a Sourcewell discount of $19,568, and a trade allowance of $70,500.

* Authorizing payment for emergency sanitary sewer cured in place pipelining and manhole rehabilitation within south Danville. There were emergency sewer repairs at 7 E. Second St. due to a collapsed sewer main that revealed the sanitary trunk mainline was in poor condition and continual sewer line collapses were imminent, according to city officials. "It was determined the sanitary trunk mainline sewer from 4th Street to 1st Street had significant pipe and joint deterioration and needed cured in place pipelining to stabilize and prevent further collapses of the lines," the city resolution reads. The cost is $116,977

* with Hoerr Construction, Inc.

* Approving the purchase of real estate at 515 W. Chandler St. from Reincom LLC, Jake Molenkamp, for $75,000; and 311, 313 and 319, 321, 323 Harmon St. and 410 Robinson St. and another property from Jerry and Pam Hawker for $254,800 for community improvement. Funding comes from city reserves. City Engineer Sam Cole said the purchases are related to the West Williams Street realignment project and general changes in that neighborhood.