Council approves garbage fee increases, Danville to see department head changes

Apr. 16—DANVILLE — The Danville Public Works Department and Engineering Division will be seeing new leadership.

At Tuesday night's Danville City Council meeting, current Public Works Operations Administrator David Ruwe was named and sworn in as Public Works Director. He is switching positions with Carl Carpenter, who had been Public Works Director.

Carpenter said he's not retiring yet, but just stepping back.

Carpenter, then superintendent of solid waste and vehicle maintenance, was named interim Public Works Director in Nov. 2018. In May 2019, he became Public Works Director.

Ruwe has been with public works for eight years.

Mayor Rickey Wiliams Jr. said he has confidence in Ruwe, who he said has great character and a great work ethic.

Ruwe said he's excited for the new role and said Carpenter has been a great mentor. Ruwe said he looks forward to continuing to serve the public.

City Engineer Sam Cole also has announced he's leaving his position in mid-May. He's been city engineer since Aug. 2019.

The council also approved two board reappointments, Carla Boyd to the Vermilion Housing Authority Board and Lisa Monson to the Police Pension Board.

In other business Tuesday, the city council voted 10-2, with aldermen Rick Strebing and Tricia Teague absent, to approve garbage fee increases starting in May. Those voting against the fee increases were Ward 6 Alderman Jon Cooper and Ward 7 Alderman Darren York.

Cooper said the timing of the fee increase is bad with Quaker Oats employees losing their jobs, high inflation and many people on social security.

"I have a problem raising fees right now," Cooper said.

Ward 1 Alderman Ed Butler agreed, saying, "People right now are hurting. It's bad timing."

Butler said this will be doing more of an injustice to people who just lost their jobs, on top of everything else going up in cost.

City officials say the fees are not keeping up with increased dumping fees and equipment and truck replacement costs.

Williams said the city only asks for fee increases when it's necessary.

The $23.50 monthly fee for weekly household solid waste collection would increase $1.50 the first year and increase 2 percent each of the next four years. Proposal: effective 5/1/2024 $25 per month; effective 5/1/2025 $25.50 per month; effective 5/1/2026 $26.01 per month; effective 5/1/2027 $26.53 per month; and effective 5/1/2028 $27.06 per month.

Other ordinance language changes would allow the city to fine residential structure owners, not just tenants, regarding toters and garbage issues.

Cleanup collection fees also would increase.

For minor cleanup collections (less than or equal to 5' x 10' x 3'): First collection in calendar year: no fee; Second collection in same calendar year, the $20 per collection fee would increase to $100 for the second collection and to $200 for the third and subsequent collections in the same calendar year, starting May 1, 2024.

For major cleanup collections (between 5' x 10' x 3' (150 cu ft) and 7' x12' x 4' (336 cu ft) it would remain at $300 per collection.

Any collection exceeding 7' x 12' x 4' (336 cu ft): it would be $300 plus fees per collection (regular charge plus associated collection charges such as, but not limited to labor, dump and equipment costs).

In other business, Williams read a proclamation for "A Day of Fasting and Prayer" in Danville on May 2, 2024; and the council heard the 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Committee Scholarship recipient Davari Boyd's essay, and also a city treasurer's report.

Also Tuesday, the council approved:

* A Downtown Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Incentive Project grant application and amending the Downtown TIF District 2023-2024 budget for a $23,618 grant to Shawn Davis doing business as Fred & Ma, LLC for a new roof and HVAC system at the former Lainey's Ice Cream property at 57 N. Vermilion St. The building will house Healthy Prep and another food business. The total amount to be invested in the Downtown TIF District is projected to be $47,236 with the project. Fred & Ma LLC is requesting a Downtown TIF RIP Grant for a 50% reimbursement.

* A Western Gateway TIF RIP grant and amending the 2024-2024 Western Gateway TIF District budget for This is It Furniture for a new roof and HVAC system at 103 E. Main St. According to the grant application, the total amount to be invested in the Western Gateway TIF District is projected to be $114,215. This is It Furniture is requesting a grant for a 50% reimbursement to not exceed $50,000. Danville

* Authorizing a 2023-2024 Community Reinvestment Budget amendment of $50,000 for additional dumping fee costs due to demolition of dilapidated structures.

* Amending the funding source for the Williams Street improvement from Bowman Avenue to State Street due to unresolved city motor fuel tax reconciliation and reporting issues. The city's project funding will come from a transfer of $320,000 from infrastructure development reserves.

* Purchasing real estate for community improvement at: 501 W. Madison St. for $10,000 from Kevin Prast/KKR Partners; 505 N. Grant St. for $40,000 (of which $5,000 is for relocation assistance) from Mikhayla Mikel; and 27 N. Jefferson St. for $45,000 from Charles H. Wolfe.

* Amending the Lincoln Park tennis court improvements contract. The city previously approved a $485,510 contract with Petry-Kuhne Company. Additional costs are $45,260 for repairing building damage and adding gutters. Funding for the now $530,770 project would come from: $500,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funding and $30,770.00 from maintenance of buildings.

* A $116,074 contract with Patten Services for Danville Tennis Center exterior upgrades of paint and new overhead garage doors and exterior entry doors.

* A budget amendment to 2023-2024 parks and police budgets for the Friendly Town perimeter fence replacement. The contract is $54,177 with SK Exteriors.

* Amending the purchase order to Vermeer Sales and Service of Central Illinois for repairs to the yard waste horizontal grinder. The additional cost of $48,706.12 made the total cost $175,061.

* Accepting a $34,000 proposal from Triple A Asbestos

for asbestos abatement of 1238 Cleveland Ave.

* A memorandum of understanding between the City of Danville and Laborer's Local 703 (Clerical Bargaining Unit) for $2,000, $5,000, $7,000 or more increased annual salaries and wages based on the city wage chart. There's still two years left with the current contract.