City council proclaims Feb. 8 as ‘Love Vermillion Day’

At the bimonthly Vermillion City Council meeting, a proclamation declared Feb. 8, 2018 as ‘Love Vermillion Day’ along with allocating money to purchase new vehicles for the city and for the police department. 

Love Vermillion Day will be celebrated at the men’s basketball game against Fort Wayne on Thursday evening.

The proclamation praised Vermillion for its business opportunities, its access to culture and its education. It also encouraged all citizens to proclaim their love for the city.

In addition, the proclamation also read that Vermillion is home to a community that knows how to care, cooperate and celebrate.

“Vermillion is home to spirited, progressive, friendly, generous, diverse, active citizens who take pride in their community and make it an amazing place to live,” the proclamation read.

The proclamation also praised Vermillion for its relationship with the university.

“Vermillion is home to our state’s flagship university and the harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship between our city and the University of South Dakota continues to flourish as our institutions grow together,” the proclamation read.

Mayor Jack Powell said he agrees that a cooperative relationship with USD is necessary for Vermillion to thrive.

“I think either alone couldn’t make it,” Powell said. “Without the university, I don’t know why people would stop through Vermillion, and by the same token, I think Vermillion offers a lot to the students.”

Tom Sorensen, a representative for the Northeastward of Vermillion, said an event like Love Vermillion Day can help decrease the division of “town and gown.”

“It’s all one community,” Sorensen said. “We need to do things together; we need to support each other.”

Nate Welch, president and CEO of the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company, said he is grateful for Love Vermillion Day because it will celebrate what’s great about Vermillion. 

“We hope we can be able to spread that message, and this kind of proclamation helps us to that,” Welch said.

In addition to the Love Vermillion Day proclamation, city council allocated money to purchase new vehicles for the city and for the police department.