Full agenda lined up for Danville City Council meeting

By Denice Thibodeau

Published: December 1, 2008

The ambulance ride to the hospital could become more expensive for some patients if City Council decides to approve a number of proposed rate increases for Regional One EMS.

Regional One has submitted a comparison chart of other EMS services in Southside and the proposed increases would keep its rates lower than others for basic life support, but higher for advanced life support services.

Mileage rates will be considerably higher than other providers in the region: Regional One EMS is asking for $12.09 a mile, while Altavista, Collinsville and Martinsville charge $9; Gretna charges $8.75 and Halifax charges $8.25.

Council also will decide whether to allocate money from the general fund to purchase property in the runway protection zone at Danville Regional Airport.

Since the Federal Aviation Administration defined the zone, properties have been acquired and others have settlement offers pending. The FAA will pick up 95 percent of the cost of the project and the Virginia Department of Aviation will cover 3 percent, leaving the city to pick up the remaining 2 percent, or $40,000.

Council also will hear a proposal to rezone property near the corner of South Boston Road and Airport Drive from neighborhood commercial to highway retail commercial to allow the development of a 7,000-square-foot auto parts store.

In addition, council will consider several amendments to the city charter that will increase the amount for which bonds can be issued without a referendum. Since the charter has not been amended since 1991, raising the amounts of allowable bonds will take inflation into account. It also will allow city officials to seek more financing options for utility projects.

If council approves the changes, the charter will need to be approved by the General Assembly before it can be enacted.

Danville City Council members will meet today at 7 p.m.

Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.