On Tuesday night, Danville City Council voted to submit a grant application for assistance in removal of the White Mill/Long Mill dam. The application is to the Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund. The grant could match up to 50% of a total award of $1 million for the removal of the dam.

Council also received a finance update from Director of Finance Michael Adkins. The city received a payment from the state of $1.35 million for December sales tax. The payment is the biggest the city has ever received for holiday sales and is about a 22% increase over last year.

Adkins also noted that both the meals tax and lodging tax is up significantly over last year. Meals taxes are up $715K over last year at this time and lodging taxes are up about $362k over last year. Adkins also noted the city has earned over $11 million in sales tax from the Danville Casino.