FIONA MORGAN

fiona@amnews.com

The Danville City Commission heard a proposal for a summer concert series at their meeting on Dec. 19. Michaelle Perros, Executive Director of the Brass Band Festival, made the proposal for the series to happen in downtown Danville.

Concerts would be once a month from April to October, held on the first Thursday of each month. The June concert would be part of the Brass Band Festival.

A main concert would be held at Weisiger Park with a secondary event at Constitution Square Park. Michaelle said this would allow people to walk up and down Main Street and stop in businesses, which would benefit downtown.

Michaelle said there’s very few live outdoor concerts in Danville outside of the Brass Band Festival. The music would be mainly local bands, and the project would be a joint effort of Brass Band, CVB and the Chamber of Commerce.

Michaelle asked for funding from the city to get things started, but may receive sponsorships later on. The rough budget is $22,500.

“Funding up front from the city would be most beneficial, that way we can host a really successful first go of it, and then get people invested once they understand that this is going to happen every month, they know what they’re getting, they know how much fun it’ll be,” Michaelle said. “There’s a really good music community around here that’s truly under-utilized.”

Commissioners expressed interest in the project, and discussed possibly using money previously allocated for the Heart of Danville, which is shutting down. Mayor Mike Perros asked that she present a more detailed budget at the next meeting in January.

Awards

The Danville Water Plant received an award from the U.S. EPA for achieving area-wide optimization goals in 2021. The recognition is for service providers who go above and beyond to deliver safe drinking water to customers.

“These are only bestowed to certain water service providers nationally,” Utilities Director Marshall Carrier said. “It’s just another testament to the good work that our folks at the water treatment plant and the water distribution systems are doing on a daily basis.”

Arts Commission Director Mimi Becker made an announcement that the Art Citizen of the Year is Madelyn Worley. They are also recognizing the farmer’s market for helping bring back the Constitution Square Festival this year. Becker said they also appreciate that the farmer’s market has started encouraging artist vendors at the market.

The presentation of awards will happen at the first meeting in January.

Becker said Kentucky School for the Deaf students will be presenting an art gallery in the city hall lobby for the month of January, celebrating the school’s 200th year in 2023.

The Arts Commission is also celebrating its 25th year in 2023.

“We hope that it says that the arts and the education and the government and the people of our community recognize the importance of all members of our community in making our community a better place,” Becker said.

The city’s Martin Luther King celebration is scheduled for Jan. 16. It will follow the same format as the program which was snowed out last year. People will meet at city hall, then walk over to Jennie Rogers Community Center where there will be a program.

Representative Derrick Graham from the Kentucky Legislature will be there, along with Terrance Sullivan from the Kentucky Commission on human rights.

In other business, the commissions:

• Recognized the Boyle County football team for winning the state championship.

• Recognized Debbie Smith who is retiring after 21 years with the city.

• Recognized the Danville Christmas Parade committee for their hard work on this year’s parade.

“It’s nice to see some fresh faces in the volunteer force,” Mike Perros said. “I’m thrilled and the community is thrilled; I’ve heard nothing but accolades on the Christmas parade this year.”

• Heard an update on the grant program for downtown businesses affected by sidewalk construction. Finance Director Leigh Compton said 14 businesses applied for grants and nine have been given so far. The grants are for up to $10,000 given by the city to businesses on Main Street or adjacent to Main Street that have lost business due to construction. Businesses can apply through the end of January.

City Manager Earl Coffey clarified that the grant program is unique, but the city has made public investments for economic vitality before.

• Passed the second reading of ordinance 2005 which gives the city guidelines for food trucks being approved on public property. Codes Enforcement Officer Bridgett Lester said the ordinance addresses things like noise, lighting, public safety, trash, where food trucks can be in relation to similar businesses, and liability.

• Approved $20,000 for sidewalk grinding for trip hazards on Broadway Street and Wilderness Road. City Engineer Josh Morgan said if there’s funds leftover, they will start on East Walnut and Bruce Court.

• Approved an additional $243,592 for the HDR wastewater treatment plant project, which has been going for several years. The cost and timeline of the project has increased because of supply chain and covid-related issues.

Phase 1 of the project addresses immediate needs at the wastewater treatment plant, and phase 2 will expand the capacity of the plant. Phase 1 should be done by October 2023.

• Approved a design fee increase for the tennis court construction project for $38,500. This will cover design firm Bayer Becker attending meetings, reviewing shop drawings and submittals, final inspections and walkthroughs, etc.

• An economic development symposium is scheduled to be held March 17 as a follow up to the symposium in the fall, which Coffey said was scaled back due to some schedule conflicts.