BY JENNIFER BAILEY
Commercial-News
DANVILLE —
Carver Park improvements will be on their way to being completed.
The Danville City Council approved four more contracts for the work Tuesday night.
“I’m glad to see some local companies receive bids,” said Ward 4 Alderwoman Sharon McMahon.
Council members approved an additional $24,296 contract with Dodd’s Co. of Champaign for excavation and concrete work to assist in the construction of a concession and restroom building and an open-air shelter.
Aldermen rejected high bids for this work in July.
Aldermen previously approved a $272,808 contract with Dodd’s Co. The work includes site work of soil excavation and leveling, grading, surface drainage, resurfacing basketball courts, installation of sidewalks and concrete pads, lighting and other items.
Also Tuesday, the council approved: a $44,827 contract with GameTime C/O Recreation Concepts Inc. of Naperville for replacing the playground equipment with new swings, slides and climbers; a $21,830 contract with John Leverenz Masonry Inc. of Danville for concession building masonry work; a $47,538 contract with McDowell Builders Inc. of Sidell for concession building carpentry work; and a $27,600 contract with Venture Mechanical Contractors Inc. of Danville for concession building plumbing work.
The park work must be completed by December under grant requirements.
The city received $373,500 in grant funding through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development Program to renovate and add new facilities to the park on East Williams Street.
There also is a local city funding/labor match. The cash contribution is about $237,000.
The project includes: adding a new picnic shelter; replacing the existing restroom/concession-stand building and playground; making the softball field bigger; creating a lighted multipurpose field for baseball, youth football and soccer; moving the basketball and tennis courts; and upgrading parking.
Also Tuesday, council members:
--Heard from resident Leon Miller that he and several neighbors would like the city’s yard waste program to return to weekly pickups during the summer. The issue will be discussed more at next week’s Public Works Committee meeting.
--Authorized an agreement for voluntary dental insurance and voluntary vision insurance for current city employees and retirees.
--Approved several budget amendments, including increasing legal services by $30,000 for contract negotiations and creating a filing fee line item of $10,000 for a new $116 filing fee on municipal cases fined in Vermilion County Circuit Court.
--Approved the appointment of Lon Henderson and reappointment of Rick Strebing to the Danville Housing Authority board. Henderson replaces board member Jane Cline.
--Approved the appointment of Pat Monson to the Human Relations Commission and the reappointment of Martha Yusko to the Police Pension Fund board.
--Received a tax levy discussion schedule. A first draft will come before the city council on Oct. 5.
--Received a general fund cash flow report. Mayor Scott Eisenhauer reported that city sales tax revenue has been up 1 percent, while state sales tax revenue has been up 2 percent recently.
City officials have removed the December income tax receipt because they are not anticipating receiving any.
“We’re trying to be as extra conservative as possible,” Eisenhauer said about likely not receiving any income tax revenue in November and December.
