The city of Danville will launch on Saturday, May 4, a month-long effort to put a shine on Danville, and as the date nears, city officials urge all citizens to get involved and do their part.
Citizens can take part in the “Make Danville Shine” cleanup campaign in five easy ways.
“We’re talking about simple steps that every citizen can do around their house,” said Jerry Rigney, director of inspections for the Community Development Department.
He listed the following steps:
• Clean the gutters of the house.
• Paint the exterior,
• Clear the property of weeds, vines and overgrowth,
• Landscape yards using flowers, mulch and other materials,
• Set debris, trash, appliances and furniture at the curbside for city Public Works crews to pick up.
In support of the cleanup campaign, the Public Works Department will allow oversized piles of separated yard waste and household debris to be placed at residential curbsides for collection. It also will waive the cost of tire disposal for up to four tires per household, and it will waive restrictions on construction and demolition debris for the month.
By appointment, crews will collect heavy debris such as bricks, rock and cinder blocks. The department’s mobile recycling trailer will be placed in strategic locations throughout the city.
For neighborhood cleanups, groups can make an appointment for use of roll-off containers.
Public Works will waive rental fees for a grapple “bucket” truck and an 18 cubic-yard trailer. Appointments are required for the rental of the truck and trailer.
The Community Development Department has collected maintenance supplies, including paint brushes, 25 gallons of Valspar paint donated by Lowes, and plywood. The plywood was purchased with a $10,000 “Make It Happen” grant from the Danville Regional Foundation.
True Value Hardware is providing discounts on maintenance supplies during May.
Citizens also may take part in the cleanup campaign by assisting neighbors who are not able to perform property maintenance tasks due to age or disability. The Community Development Department has gathered a list of locations that need volunteer assistance.
Many individuals and groups already have contacted Community Development to volunteer their time and skills. More volunteers are needed to serve all the locations on the list.
Mayor Sherman Saunders on March 5 officially declared the month of May as “Make Danville Shine” month. The community cleanup is the first in several years, but one that Saunders and other city officials hope will become an annual event.
A kickoff event is planned for 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, at Ballou Park. During this event, volunteers willing to assist property owners and neighborhoods with projects aimed at cleaning and fixing up the community can show up and receive their assignment.
City Manager Joe King said the community cleanup is a big step in the city’s blight eradication efforts.
“The ‘Make Danville Shine’ campaign can lead to good things for area residents,” King said. “People fail to realize that it’s the intangible things like a clean community that make a difference in promoting business growth and the community as a whole.”
He encourages every citizen to participate, whether by cleaning up his or her own property or by volunteering to help a neighbor.
“We all have a part to play if we are to make Danville a community of choice,” King said.
Citizens are encouraged to submit photographs of their cleanup efforts throughout the month. The photos will be posted to the city’s website – www.danville-va.gov – and its Facebook page.
Any citizen or group wanting more information about the “Make Danville Shine” campaign may contact the Community Development Department at 799-5261 or go the city’s website and then click on the clean-up, paint-up, fix-up tab on the left rail of the page. The website also provides links to educational information regarding property maintenance.
River City TV is airing a 30-minute program on the cleanup campaign. The program airs at noon, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on Comcast cable channel 10. Viewers also can watch at these times a live web stream of the show at www.rivercitytv.org.
Rigney said he hopes the campaign is a huge success and that it will spur citizens to continue to maintain their property throughout the year.
“We want everyone to get excited, have fun and help their neighbors,” Rigney said. “We need to save our housing and maintain our property. The work of every citizen in every neighborhood reflects on the community as a whole.”