The city council voted Thursday to bid out the contract instead of allowing Beech's Body Shop to continue to perform the towing service for free.

Last December, tow operators complained that some of them were getting skipped over on the wrecker rotation schedule and the tows were given to Beech's, and Craig said it was a "serious issue" that the operators believe that the police were funneling business to Beech's.

The wrecker service for the city will be bid out and the cars would be towed to either the department's facility or to public works, and not to a particular business. After the city's insurance adjuster gives his estimate, then the city would get at least three bids on the repair work.

The council also approved a motion to take bids for the towing and storage of seized vehicles.

In other action Thursday night:

* A resolution was passed to authorize turning over delinquent property taxes from 2006 to the city attorney for collection.

* The council voted to make another change to the city's retirement plan for full-time employees. The normal retirement age under the current plan is 65, however, employees covered by the plan may retire with an actuarial deduction in benefits if they are currently working when they retire and are age 62 or above, or if they are certified police officers or firefighters age 60 or over.

* Approved was a motion to execute a grant contract for the Historic Zoning Commission for preparation of a publication that would explain its work in the amount of $2,800, with the city's portion being $1,120.

* Also passed was a motion to authorize executing the contract for the design and implementation of Phase V of the city's Greenway project. The design firm of Gresham Smith and Partners will provide the engineering, landscape architecture and planning services for the project for $13,075.

Phase V will begin at Butterfly Pointe, which is next to The Fly Arts Center, and includes East Side School, the proposed new library site and continues alongside the old city cemetery behind First Baptist Church, along the abandoned railroad track to the Adult Learning Center. It was described last year as an extension of existing sidewalks.

City manager Ed Craig told the council that Phase VI is now in the planning stages.

* The council authorized the addition of Northside Park Drive to the plans for the widening of North Main Street at a cost of $22,050. Gresham, Smith and Partners will add the redesign of of the road to the project, which would widen North Main from its current four lanes to five, beginning at Madison Street and ending at Palmer Drive, for a distance of 1.2 miles.

* A contract will be executed with Melrose Display Company for the July 4 fireworks show at a cost of $8,500 with one half of the costs for the display to be paid by Bedford County. The mayor was also authorized to execute a contract for the Spring Carnival that is to be held at H.V. Griffin Park on March 25-29.

* An easement was executed with Duck River Electric Membership Corporation to provide services to the airport's new maintenance hanger.

* A purchase order was approved with Verizon Wireless for the city that will result in discounts for city employees.

* Expenditures of $2,500 were also authorized to help bring the Veterans Memorial Wall to Shelbyville in the fall.

* A motion was granted to approve a list of surplus items and list them on govdeals.com.

* The council authorized the fire department to apply for a 6,000 psi air compressor, cascade system and fill station.

* The topic of dealing with wild dogs will be addressed at next month's study session. Councilman Lee Roy Cunningham brought the subject up after receiving several calls.

* Councilman Al Stephenson also stated that the intersection at Bethany Lane and Madison Street is a hazard and the Tennessee Department of Transportation is to be notified and asked if anything that can be done to correct it.

* Approved on third and final reading was an ordinance that amends the city's zoning regulatons to make it easier to develop apartments on the square. The change would allow C-1 (Central Business District) and C-2 (Highway Service District) zones for multi-family uses, or apartments.

* Also approved on third and final reading was a rezoning request for 1909 Madison St. and an adjoining lot from R-1 (low density residential) to C-2 (highway service district), which takes up about three acres. Stephenson, who made the rezoning request, recused himself from voting.

* A rezoning request for 705 Ridgeway Ave., consisting of 0.3 acres, from R-3 (medium density residential) to C-2 (highway service district) was also approved on third and final reading

* A rezoning request made by Jeffrey Bush was approved on second reading for 0.22 acres at 912 Sevier St. from C-2 (highway service district) to I-1 (light industrial). The facility will be a small operation making replacement joints for patients.

* Another rezoning request, made by Kathy and Milford Prater, was also approved on second reading for 800 Union St, 802 Union St., and 103 Dover St., consisting of .85 acres from R-3 (medium density residential) to C-2 (highway service district).

* Passed on first reading were two rezoning requests. Donnie Pogue asked the council to rezone 3.81 acres at 700 West Lane St., the old Empire building, from I-1 (light industrial) to PUD (planned unit development). Activities at the site would include auto repair, climate-controlled self storage, and a separate building to be used as a wood pallet facility.

* Another rezoning request was granted on first reading to Buchanan Beauty College at 925 Sevier St., with the 0.38 acres to be rezoned from R-3 (medium density residential) to C-2 (highway service district).