Danville City Council members meet Tuesday evening and are expected to hear an update from Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. on the casino. Last Wednesday was the deadline for developers to submit their proposal for a casino in Danville. But Alderman Steve Foster wants to extend the deadline. Recommendations from Foster are expected to be discussed at Tuesday’s meeting – including revising the selection process and the duties of the casino steering committee.
Also Tuesday, (August 6th), the city council is expected to consider an amendment to city codes to help prevent gaming cafes from popping up around the city. It would grandfather in existing liquor establishments allowing them to get over 49-percent of their gross revenue from video gaming machines. Mayor Williams said last month at a committee meeting that they would first have to check to see if it’s legal, and then possibly put forth new rules for any incoming businesses (wanting liquor licenses).
The Public Services Committee late last month also forwarded to the full council a proposal to allow existing liquor establishments to have 6 video gaming machines. The current limit is 5 machines.
Mayor Williams had earlier introduced a proposal that said for any liquor establishment allowing video gaming, the revenue from the gaming shall not exceed 49-percent of the license holder’s gross revenue. Some bar owners cautioned that if that proposal is approved it would force them to close. They explained that they get more of their gross revenue from video gaming than on sales of alcohol and food. The Mayor said he did not realize that was the case. And Mayor Williams added he was merely trying to prevent video gaming cafes from sprouting in Danville.
Among other items on the agenda are the presentation of the schedule for the 2019 tax levy and 2020-21 city budget, and a resolution approving a collective bargaining agreement with clerical employees.
The Danville City Council meets at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at Robert E. Jones Municipal Building at 17 West Main Street.
