By Kaighla White
Commercial-News, Danville, Ill.
DANVILLE, Ill. — More interest is picking up in the case filed with the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court between the State of Illinois and several businesses in Danville, including Seven Point Dispensary and Auto Zone.
Friday morning, Honorable Judge Nicolas J. Boileau set a date for a case management conference in the matter for May 20, to give all parties 45 days to get their evidence and witnesses lined up.
The firing range, located at Danville Correctional Center, was originally shut down in 1986, when Stanley D. Parr and Gracie Parr, owners of the Redwood Motor Inn, filed a complaint in the circuit court of Vermilion County against defendants Michael Neal, warden of the Danville Correctional Center, and Michael Lane, director of Illinois’ Department of Corrections, according to public records.
Stanley also said during the hearing that several bullet casings and projectiles had been found on his land on three separate occasions in 1986 and 1987, including rifle bullets, which expert Robert Lucas testified had a kill range of one mile.
Seven Point, which is located within the “kill zone” for those shots, “wants to protect its customers against the danger of injury or death from stray gunfire,” according to attorney John Beardsley of law firm Saikley, Garrison, and Colombo in Danville.
Beyond concerns about possible harm, Seven Point is also concerned about noise from the firing range.
“Seven Point believes its customers, which include a number of military veterans suffering from PTSD, would be bothered and discouraged from patronizing the store by the sound of gunfire coming from the nearby prison,” Beardsley said.
Jeanie Cooke, Executive Director of Danville Area Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, expressed similar concerns, especially as it concerns student players and coaches who attend the annual NJCAA basketball conference at DACC and would be staying in the hotels on Lynch Road, near the prison.
“We would lose the conference. Why would they want to send their students to Danville when their sleep will be disturbed all night by gunfire?” Cooke said, adding that she may file a petition to be added to the case against the State.
“Ultimately, this is not just an issue for Seven Point, but for all of the businesses in the kill zone. The kill zone encompasses a number of businesses, including but not limited to various hotels, and Danville’s casino,” Beardsley said.
“There has been nearly 40 years of development in the area since the injunction was put in place. I think you will see more businesses getting actively involved in opposing this motion as the case goes on,” he added.
Julie Themer, the attorney for the State, could not speak on record as to the State’s motivation to request the overturning of the injunction.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Austin Johnson, correctional officer and Vice President of AFSCME Council 31, spoke in defense of re-opening the firing range.
“This firing range on the grounds is facing east. It’s not facing any businesses. We fire a couple weapons, a nine millimeter and a 223 rifle. I’m not an expert, but I don’t feel they would be loud enough to actually harm any businesses around there,” Johnson said.
His primary reason for supporting the range re-opening, he said, was union concerns over the cost to taxpayers to keep it closed.
“It costs taxpayers quite a bit of money to send correctional officers two hours away to shoot, and it can be a burden on safety and security of the institution for our members,” he said. “I just ask that you really clearly think about this.”
The council voted unanimously 13-0 to officially oppose the re-opening of the firing range, with City Council Chair Rick Strebing abstaining from the vote.
“Since the permanent injunction entered on August 10, 1988, the area surrounding the Danville Correctional Center has been developed with numerous businesses including several hotels and the Golden Nugget Casino, all of which are well within the established killing range,” the resolution reads. “Through this resolution, the City Council voices its strong opposition to the reopening of Danville Correctional Center’s firing range.”
Trial and pre-trial hearing dates will be scheduled at the May 20 conference, Judge Boileau said, adding that both parties will need to prepare witnesses and evidence ahead of that conference.
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