Danville Commission approves certified-local-government grant application, multiple utility contracts and easement; delays ordinance on meeting time

The Danville City Commission on Monday approved a certified-local-government (CLG) grant application to update downtown design guidelines and approved a package of professional services, licensing and procurement actions while postponing a second reading on an ordinance that would change commission meeting times.

The grant application, introduced by Joanie House of the Danville Architectural Heritage Board, would fund an update to the city's historic-district design guidelines and pay for a new Architectural Review Board website. "We can hire a consultant, have public meetings, figure out how to handle the signage issue downtown," House said, adding the design-guidelines work would also have to meet National Park Service standards. House told commissioners the design-guidelines project would likely cost between $20,000 and $30,000; the CLG application seeks roughly $12,480.80 in federal funds for the guidelines and would leave the city with an estimated…