Published: February 06, 2008 10:09 am      

Seniors can catch a bus ride for free

State mass transit funds to cover fares

DANVILLE — The Danville City Council on Tuesday night approved free bus rides for senior citizens, starting Feb. 25.

Ward 7 Alderman Ron Candido who just turned 65 last month abstained from voting, with aldermen DeMarko Wright and Steve Foster absent.

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer brought up how other aldermen also could take advantage of the free rides, but they didn’t have to abstain from voting.

It now costs seniors, ages 65 and older, 35 cents to ride or less if a senior purchases 10 reduced-fare ride tickets for $3.

The free rides will be for all times and any fixed route, including the Champaign route.

Danville Mass Transit Director Dick Brazda said any senior citizen who needs an identification card for riding can go to the DMT office, 101 N. Jackson St. Seniors must provide proof of age.

Free rides are possible after a state mass transit funding bill passed in Springfield in January that provides for a sales tax increase for the Chicago area served by mass transit systems. The sales tax increase will reportedly bring in about a half billion dollars in revenue annually to the state.

Downstate, grant funding the DMT receives from the state will cover lost revenue and then some.

Also Tuesday, the council didn’t act on a Policemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Unit #11 contract. It was removed from the agenda.

In other business, the council approved:

--February being AMBUCS month.

--Accepting the donation from R & S Ventures LLC of the former Chittick Family Eye Care property downtown at Vermilion and Harrison streets to the city.

The city has no purpose for it, but will oversee its future control.

A fire claimed the building at 159 N. Vermilion St. in August 2006.

The city will seed the property.

Ward 2 Alderman Rick Strebing asked that city officials make sure election signs are removed from the property now that the city owns it.

Ward 3 Alderman Dale Brandenburg offered to keep the site mowed.

Eisenhauer told him to talk to Public Works Director Doug Ahrens, who said he also could give Brandenburg another 10 vacant lots to mow in the city.

--The city’s 2008-09 annual action plan to spend almost $957,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Funding will be used for rehabilitating at least seven owner-occupied houses, accessibility modifications, economic development opportunities/pedestrian system improvements and administrative costs.

Also, $80,000 is earmarked for rehabilitation for resale to low- to moderate-income people of at least one single-family abandoned/neglected house.

--Replacing 10 computers and other computer equipment and software for $12,500 in the police department.

The department has been having problems with older computers and incompatible software.

--An updated personnel policy.

--Donating a 1981 Pierce Pumper fire truck that is no longer useful to the city to Sidell.

Eisenhauer said the city has no liability. The village accepts the truck as is.

--Adopting the National Incident Management System concept of emergency planning and unified command to be in compliance to receive federal grants under homeland security laws.

Assistant Fire Chief Don Hanetho said this is a formal nationwide system to put everyone on the same page in responding to storms, natural disasters and terrorism incidents.

Deputy Director of Fire Bobby Lillard said short online training courses are involved for city departments to learn more about incident management.

These are management tools when more than one agency must work together in incidents, such as the police, fire and public works departments.