The Vermilion County Board’s Executive Committee has approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Danville, subject to modification by the city. The agreement calls for the simultaneous demolition of the city’s Bresee Tower and the county’s old courthouse in one project. The only thing the board wants the city to change is the county’s involvement in the agreement: If the selected contractor completes the work before 555 days, it will receive a bonus payment of $325 per day.
Committee member Steve Miller said that since the city will take over the annex’s footprint from the county upon completion of the project, it only makes sense for the county not to participate in the early completion bonus payments.
AUDIO: I don’t think it really benefits county taxpayers to have to participate in paying those costs. Basically, the land will ultimately belong to the city, that’s our agreement. And I don’t think we should be involved in paying an incentive to the contractor.
County Board Chairman Larry Baughn says he thinks once this is done, everything should be fine, and this intergovernmental agreement could actually be on the agenda of the full County Board on September 10th.
AUDIO: If we can meet that requirement, I think our board will have no questions at all. I think we’re moving forward, we’re ready to start the project, and we’re excited to work with the city on it.
The Danville City Council meets next Tuesday, September 3rd.
